2027 NBA Most Improved Player Odds: MIP Favorites & Tracker

• Which NBA players are in the running to win Most Improved Player this season?
• Ajay Mitchell skyrocketed up the betting board, moving from +3500 opening odds to +350
• Track the odds movement for all contenders of the 2026-27 NBA Most Improved Player award

This page tracks odds movement for the 2026-27 NBA Most Improved Player award. Brandon Miller (CHA), Dylan Harper (SAS), and Peyton Pritchard (BOS) have opened as favorites to win the ’27 NBA MIP award.

The graphs below are generated by calculating the average NBA MIP odds taken from many of our most-trusted online sportsbooks. We’ll continue to update these odds throughout the season, up until the final day of the year. Beneath the graphs, you’ll find a table containing current odds from various sportsbooks for the top contending players for the award.

2027 NBA Most Improved Player Odds

Ty Jerome has established himself as the clear Most Improved Player favorite early in the season. Currently sitting at +240 odds (shortened drastically from his +1800 opening odds), the Memphis Grizzlies guard averages 26.6 points and 5.2 assists per game while shooting 50.3% from the field.

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Ajay Mitchell has also seen massive line movement. Opening at +3500, Mitchell’s odds plummeted to +350 as he contributes 18.9 points per game on 51.7% shooting to a loaded Thunder roster.

San Antonio Spurs guard Dylan Harper sits third on the board at +1100. Harper is posting strong across-the-board numbers with 18.1 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per contest, keeping his odds relatively steady from his +1000 open.

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NBA Most Improved Player Odds Movement Timeline

• November 9: Memphis Grizzlies guard Ty Jerome has seen the most dramatic odds shift, surging from an opening mark of +1800 down to +240 to become the betting favorite. His leap is fueled by an explosive start, averaging 26.6 points and 5.2 assists per game on 50.3% shooting. Ajay Mitchell skyrocketed up the board for the Oklahoma City Thunder, moving from +3500 opening odds to +350. His efficiency has been key, shooting 51.7% from the field while contributing 18.9 points per contest.
• August 10: Brandon Miller (+1000) has opened as a narrow favorite over Dylan Harper (+1100) and Peyton Pritchard (+1250).

2027 NBA Most Improved Player Favorites

NBA MIP odds are updated every 15-60 minutes. Claim the Polymarket bonus code to bet on the NBA awards.

Most Improved Player has been a launchpad to stardom for most of its winners, which NBAer can win this year and make the leap going forward?

Looking for the latest NBA odds? – Get current spreads, totals, and moneyline odds for tonight’s games here.

Past 10 NBA Most Improved Player Award Winners

Who Will Win NBA MIP This Season?

The 2026–27 NBA Most Improved Player market at Kalshi showcases a competitive mix of high-usage scorers, role-expanded starters, and young breakout talents. Here is a breakdown of the top contenders currently leading the odds:

Ty Jerome – Memphis Grizzlies, Guard (33¢)

Jerome leads the field as the consensus frontrunner, driven by a massive offensive leap with the Memphis Grizzlies. Stepping into heavy primary creator minutes, Jerome has exploded out of the gate averaging 29.8 points and 6.5 assists while shooting 50.6% from the floor and 37.0% from three-point range. After showing flashes in a limited 15-game sample last season (19.7 PPG), his elevation into a nightly 25-plus point weapon on a competitive Western Conference squad fits the classic “unheralded guard turned focal point” archetype that voters love to reward.

Ajay Mitchell – Oklahoma City Thunder, Guard (27¢)

Mitchell holds the second-highest odds on the board behind steady year-two growth with the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder. After a dependable rookie campaign where he produced 13.6 points and 3.6 assists in 57 games, Mitchell has expanded his offensive repertoire, posting 16.0 PPG on 51.0% shooting in an increased rotational role. Operating with high efficiency in an elite backcourt system gives Mitchell a high floor, though he will need to continue scaling his raw scoring output to stay neck-and-neck with higher-volume starters.

Walker Kessler  – Los Angeles Lakers, Center (16¢)

Kessler’s candidacy is fueled by a high-profile change of scenery and an offensive renaissance with the Los Angeles Lakers. Playing alongside Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves, Kessler has elevated his scoring output to 16.7 points and 8.0 rebounds per game while converting an eye-popping 82.1% of his field goal attempts. Transforming from a low-usage, rim-protecting specialist in Utah into an active, double-double interior force under the bright lights of Los Angeles gives him massive media visibility.

Naz Reid – Charlotte Hornets, Center/Forward (13¢)

After spending his earlier career as an elite sixth man in Minnesota (averaging 13.6 PPG and 6.2 RPG last season), Reid has stepped into an expanded featured role following his move to the Charlotte Hornets. Reid has taken full advantage, averaging 19.5 points and 9.5 rebounds per game while knocking down 41.2% of his three-pointers on significant volume. His transition from a spark-plug bench big to an indispensable, floor-spacing starting anchor makes him a dangerous threat to surge if Charlotte stays competitive in the East.

Brandon Miller – Charlotte Hornets, Forward (10¢)

Rounding out the top tier, Miller represents the coveted “good-to-great” star trajectory. Following an impressive sophomore campaign where he averaged 20.2 PPG and 4.9 RPG across 65 appearances, Miller has shouldered Charlotte’s alpha scoring burden in 2026–27, pushing his scoring average to 24.3 PPG. While third-year top lottery picks historically face higher voter scrutiny for MIP, crossing the 24-point threshold on a resurgent Hornets squad gives him legitimate ballot momentum.

How Is the NBA Most Improved Player Award Decided?

The NBA Most Improved Player Award is decided through an official voting process conducted at the conclusion of the regular season by an independent global panel of sportswriters and broadcasters. Each selected media member receives a ballot with three ranked slots: a first-place vote (worth five points), a second-place vote (worth three points), and a third-place vote (worth one point).

Voters evaluate players based on tangible year-over-year progress in their per-game production, expanded on-court responsibilities, offensive efficiency, and overall impact on winning. Once all ballots are collected and verified by an independent accounting firm, the player who accumulates the highest total point score is named the recipient.

To be eligible for consideration, players must also satisfy the league’s strict 65-game participation minimum introduced under the collective bargaining agreement. Specifically, a candidate must appear in at least 65 regular-season games, logging a minimum of 20 minutes in at least 62 of those contests, with up to two games between 15 and 19 minutes eligible to count toward the total.

While the award has no rigid statistical requirements, voters typically reward individuals who have made dramatic leaps from bench contributors to high-impact starters, players who transitioned from solid starters into All-Star-caliber leaders, or those who sustained exceptional efficiency while handling substantially heavier usage.

The next section breaks down what makes a legitimate MIP contender.

What Makes a Strong MIP Candidate?

A strong NBA Most Improved Player (MIP) candidate combines tangible statistical growth, an elevated on-court role, efficiency maintenance, and team success. While voter criteria have evolved over the award’s four-decade history, the profile of a winning candidate typically features the following key elements:

1. The Per-Game Statistical Leap

The most visible hallmark of an MIP frontrunner is a dramatic year-over-year jump in traditional counting stats, particularly points per game:

• The 5-to-10+ PPG Jump: Historical winners typically boost their scoring average by at least 6 to 10 points per contest (e.g., Tyrese Maxey leaping from 20.3 to 25.9 PPG, Lauri Markkanen from 14.8 to 25.6 PPG, and Ja Morant from 19.1 to 27.4 PPG).
• Multi-Category Expansion: Elite candidates do not just score more; their secondary metrics also explode. Increases in assists per game, rebounding rate, or defensive stocks (steals plus blocks) – such as Dyson Daniels’ league-leading steal rates in 2024-25 – signal all-around growth rather than one-dimensional shot-hunting.

2. Role Expansion and Usage Shift

Voters strongly favor players who take on a substantially larger offensive burden rather than those merely benefiting from increased garbage time:

• Bench-to-Starter or Primary Option Transition: Moving from a rotational reserve or spot-up role player to a starter, primary playmaker, or late-game closer carries immense weight (e.g., Nickeil Alexander-Walker stepping into a primary starting two-way role, or Pascal Siakam evolving from energy wing to co-star in 2018-19).
• Elevated Usage Rate (USG%): A legitimate candidate sees their usage rate climb substantially (often jumping into the 24%-30% tier), demonstrating that the coaching staff entrusts them with orchestrating halfcourt possessions.

3. Scaling Efficiency with Volume

Empty stats on poor shooting rarely win awards. True MIP frontrunners maintain or even improve their efficiency despite facing tighter defensive coverages and tougher matchups:

• True Shooting (TS%) and Effective Field Goal (eFG%) Resilience: When a player’s shot attempts double, defenses game-plan to stop them. Maintaining a TS% above league average (typically 57%+) while absorbing higher volume is one of the most respected analytical indicators of real development.
• Shot Diet Maturation: Growth often manifests in improved shot selection – such as developing a consistent pull-up three-pointer, mastering high-percentage floater ranges, or generating higher free-throw attempt rates (FTR) through rim pressure.

4. Narrative and Archetype Appeal

Voter psychology heavily shapes the MIP race, and certain career trajectories resonate far more than others:

The Second-Round / Undrafted Success Story: Players drafted outside the lottery or who fought through the G League to become primary contributors consistently earn extra narrative favor over top-three overall picks whose stardom was already anticipated.

The Late-Bloomer / Journeyman Breakout: Players who were previously written off as career backups or low-ceiling role players and suddenly emerge as indispensable high-impact starters (like Ty Jerome or Nickeil Alexander-Walker) generate strong media momentum.

The “Good to All-Star” Leap: While controversial among some voters who prefer rewarding unheralded talent, jumping from a solid starter to a legitimate All-Star or All-NBA talent (e.g., Paul George in 2012-13, Giannis Antetokounmpo in 2016-17, Julius Randle in 2020-21) has historically carried heavy ballot power.

NBA Most-Improved Player FAQs

Archived Most Improved Player Odds Trackers:

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