2024 NBA Most Improved Player Odds: Maxey Seals the Win

This year's NBA odds to win Most Improved Player have been mostly dominated by Tyrese Maxey, who had been a comfortable favorite all season. While others, including Coby White, made a serious MIP push at various points, Maxey ultimately held on, officially named the 2024 Most Improved Player on April 23. 

With a new crop of players making "the leap" in 2023-24, let's check out where the Most Improved Player odds settled before the market closed at the regular season's end.

NBA Most Improved Player odds

Player	Team
Tyrese Maxey	Philadelphia 76ers	-1,600	-1,350	-1,400
Coby White	Chicago Bulls	+700	+700	+750
Jalen Williams	Oklahoma City Thunder	+8,000	+7,500	+8,000
Jonathan Kuminga	Golden State Warriors	+15,000	+15,000	+15,000

All odds OTB, closing prices listed as of last update.

NBA Most Improved Player favorites

Tyrese Maxey (-1,350 to -1,600)

Tyrese Maxey had seemed somewhat neutered in Philadelphia. 

The 76ers' would-be breakout guard still managed to score a career-high 20.3 ppg last season, but saw James Harden devour a bunch of his touches, and even spent part of the season coming off the bench behind DeAnthony Melton.

With Harden doing Harden things and getting himself shipped out of town yet again, Maxey took full advantage of the added touches he'd been given, boosting his scoring to 26 ppg, while dishing out 6.3 assists per.

Maxey was already an odds-on leader across the industry, and news of Joel Embiid's season-halting meniscus procedure sent Tyrese skyrocketing up the boards to near-lock status. Coby White made a late move, scaling Maxey back as low as -200 at some books as of mid-March, but 37 and 52-point performances down the stretch all but sealed Maxey as the 2024 MIP.

Not only is Maxey's offensive volume up, but he turned the ball over at a ridiculously low rate given his increased usage and defensive attention.

Coby White (+700 to +750)

The Chicago Bulls' season was an astounding commitment to mediocre basketball, but Coby White's emergence as a legitimate building block had been a welcome plus for a team that was (or at least should have been) looking to jettison most of its core talent at this past trade deadline. 

White's scoring clip more than doubled since last season, taking full advantage of the giant chasm of minutes the absences of Lonzo Ball and Zach LaVine have left in the Bulls' backcourt. His supplementary popcorn stats also shot up with the increased minutes, and as a player who came relatively out of nowhere (compared to several other favorites, who were tabbed by many for a stardom arc), he gained a lot of narrative momentum post-All-Star break.

White was in the +2,500 range at most books back in late February, then rising as short as +200, the first player truly within striking distance of overtaking Maxey in months. But it was too little too late, with Maxey winning by the slimmest of margins (319 total points vs. White's 305).

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Understanding NBA Most Improved Player odds

Most sportsbooks will display odds in the American format as listed above. We'll use 2022-23's MIP race as an example: 

As the season progressed, with Lauri Markkanen having been a big favorite, his odds had a minus (-) sign ahead of the number: 

• Lauri Markkanen -200

This means that a bettor needs to wager $200 to win $100. Other candidates with worse odds would have a plus (+) sign ahead of the number. Early in the season, before any clear favorite is established, betting options will be listed as such: 

• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander +650

Here, a bettor stands to profit $650 for every $100 wagered. 

If American odds aren't your thing, simply use our odds converter to switch the odds to decimal or fractional format. Most online sportsbooks also give you the option to change the odds format that you see.

NBA MIP betting trends

Here are some trends you'll want to consider when betting on NBA Most Improved Player futures: 

• Forwards have won 14 of the past 20 MIP awards.
  
  
• No true center has won since Jermaine O'Neal in 2002.
  
  
• MIP has tended to favor players making "the leap" to stardom recently. Nine of the past 10 winners have averaged 20.0 ppg or more.
  
  
• In a very weird coincidence, an Orlando Magic player has won MIP four times since 1999, and each time, an Indiana Pacer has won the award the following year.

How is NBA Most Improved Player decided? 

The NBA Most Improved Player Award is bestowed upon the player who has demonstrated a significant improvement in performance from the previous season. This improvement is evaluated based on the following key criteria:

Statistical improvement

Consideration is given to notable increases in key statistical categories, including traditional box score stats, shooting efficiency, and the various advanced metrics.

Role expansion or redefinition

Consideration will be given to players who have taken on new roles, and significantly expanded their responsibilities, thereby positively impacting their team.

Consistency and sustainability

The improvement should be consistent and sustained throughout the season, rather than a short-term surge in performance. Candidates should demonstrate their enhanced production over a substantial portion of the regular season.

Impact on team success

The player's improvement should directly contribute to the overall success and performance of their team. Factors such as wins, team rankings, and positive influence on team chemistry can be taken into account.

NBA Most Improved Player history

NBA Most Improved Player odds FAQ

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