Rising from the ruins is what makes an athlete stand out from the rest. The league honors that growth each season with the Most Improved Player award, given to the player who shows the greatest year-over-year development.
A panel of 100 media members votes at the end of the regular season, selecting their top three candidates. First-place votes are worth five points, second-place votes earn three, and third-place votes receive one. Since 2023, the winner has also received the George Mikan Trophy.
Every NBA Most Improved Player Winner in History
Below is a chronological list of every Most Improved Player winner from 1986 through 2025:
- 1986: Alvin Robertson (San Antonio Spurs)
- 1987: Dale Ellis (Seattle SuperSonics)
- 1988: Kevin Duckworth (Portland Trail Blazers)
- 1989: Kevin Johnson (Phoenix Suns)
- 1990: Rony Seikaly (Miami Heat)
- 1991: Scott Skiles (Orlando Magic)
- 1992: Pervis Ellison (Washington Bullets)
- 1993: Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf (Denver Nuggets)
- 1994: Don MacLean (Washington Bullets)
- 1995: Dana Barros (Philadelphia 76ers)
- 1996: Gheorghe Mureșan (Washington Bullets)
- 1997: Isaac Austin (Miami Heat)
- 1998: Alan Henderson (Atlanta Hawks)
- 1999: Darrell Armstrong (Orlando Magic)
- 2000: Jalen Rose (Indiana Pacers)
- 2001: Tracy McGrady (Orlando Magic)
- 2002: Jermaine O’Neal (Indiana Pacers)
- 2003: Gilbert Arenas (Golden State Warriors)
- 2004: Zach Randolph (Portland Trail Blazers)
- 2005: Bobby Simmons (Los Angeles Clippers)
- 2006: Boris Diaw (Phoenix Suns)
- 2007: Monta Ellis (Golden State Warriors)
- 2008: Hedo Türkoğlu (Orlando Magic)
- 2009: Danny Granger (Indiana Pacers)
- 2010: Aaron Brooks (Houston Rockets)
- 2011: Kevin Love (Minnesota Timberwolves)
- 2012: Ryan Anderson (Orlando Magic)
- 2013: Paul George (Indiana Pacers)
- 2014: Goran Dragić (Phoenix Suns)
- 2015: Jimmy Butler (Chicago Bulls)
- 2016: C.J. McCollum (Portland Trail Blazers)
- 2017: Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks)
- 2018: Victor Oladipo (Indiana Pacers)
- 2019: Pascal Siakam (Toronto Raptors)
- 2020: Brandon Ingram (New Orleans Pelicans)
- 2021: Julius Randle (New York Knicks)
- 2022: Ja Morant (Memphis Grizzlies)
- 2023: Lauri Markkanen (Utah Jazz)
- 2024: Tyrese Maxey (Philadelphia 76ers)
- 2025: Dyson Daniels (Atlanta Hawks)
The Atlanta Hawks’ Dyson Daniels earned the 2024-25 Most Improved Player award after averaging 14.1 points, 4.4 assists, and 5.9 rebounds per game. He shot 49.3% from the field and 34.0% from three. Compared to last season, his stats jumped by 8.3 points, 1.7 assists, and 2.0 rebounds per game. Daniels received 44 first-place votes, 36 second-place votes, and four third-place votes.
The 2024-25 Kia NBA Most Improved Player is… Dyson Daniels! #NBAAwards | #KiaMIP | @Kia pic.twitter.com/GSaRR2lDfy
— NBA (@NBA) April 30, 2025
No player has ever won the NBA Most Improved Player award more than once. Pascal Siakam is the only player to win the award and an NBA championship in the same season. Only eight non-U.S.-born players have earned the honor. The Indiana Pacers and Orlando Magic share the lead for the most winners from a single team, with five apiece.
MORE: List of Every NBA Defensive Player of the Year
To be eligible, a player must appear in at least 65 games, playing a minimum of 20 minutes in each. If a player suffers a season-ending injury, the league allows up to three missed games under that threshold.
