Upcoming Match-ups

Most Improved Player Odds Favor Brandon Ingram at +140; Bam Adebayo & Devonte’ Graham Are +300

Robert Duff

by Robert Duff in NBA Basketball

Updated Apr 2, 2020 · 11:19 AM PDT

Zion Williamson and Brandon Imgram
Brandon Ingram ha been hot from beyond the arc recently, draining 7 of his past 14 long range looks. Photo by: Erik Drost [Flickr]
  • Sportsbooks list Brandon Ingram as the +140 favorite to win the 2019-20 NBA Most Improved Player Award
  • Can Ingram win, or will his accomplishments be overshadowed by teammate and Rookie of the Year contender Zion Williamson?
  • Read on to see all the odds, picks and value bets connected to the NBA MIP

In youth basketball, most improved player is that award they give to the kid who goes from tripping over their own feet to not being an embarrassment when on the floor.

No wonder that in the NBA, the Most Improved Player Award is often overlooked in terms of appreciation.

True, improvement does imply a significant uptick in performance. Yet in the past, some of the best players in the game have earned this recognition. Tracy McGrady, Paul George and CJ McCollum are among those with their name inscribed on this award.

Pascal Siakam of the Toronto Raptors was last season’s winner. Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks went from NBA MIP in 2016-17 to NBA MVP in 2018-19.

The point being that the player who wins this award only figures to keep on improving.

Sportsbooks currently list Brandon Ingram of the New Orleans Pelicans as the +140 favorite to be the NBA’s most improved player in 2019-20. Talk about improvement, since sportsbooks posting opening odds on this award in October, Graham has made a quantum leap.

He was the longest shot on the board then at +3000.

2019-20 NBA Most Improved Player Award Odds

Player Team Current Odds Opening Odds (Oct. 15th)
Brandon Ingram Pelicans +140 +3000
Bam Adebayo Heat +300 +2000
Devonte’ Graham Hornets +300 N/A
Luka Doncic Mavericks +500 +2500
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Thunder +1200 +1400
Fred VanVleet Raptors +2000 N/A

Odds taken March 2nd

Bam Adebayo of the Miami Heat (+300), Devonte’ Graham of the Charlotte Hornets (+300) and Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks (+500) are other top contenders for NBA MIP.

Ingram Improved Across the Board

Ingram was part of the package the Pelicans got from the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis. While playing virtually the same amount of minutes as last season, he’s shown significant improvement this season in nearly statistical category.

Ingram’s points per game have jumped from 18.3 to 24.6. That’s good for 14th in the NBA.

His 3-point field goal percentage (.330 to .392), and free-throw percentage (.675 to .861) all display upticks. Looking at it analytically, Ingram’s points per 100 possessions leapt from 25.1 to 33.5.

An additional element that could push Ingram over the top in NBA MIP balloting is that late last season he was given a diagnosis of a deep vein thrombosis. At the time, there were questions whether he’d ever play again.

Bam Could Be a Slam Dunk

Moving from center to power forward, Adebayo is playing a key role for the resurgent Heat. He’s already clicked for a pair of triple doubles this season while nearly doubling his points per game from 8.9 to 16.2.

He’s currently posting career per-game highs in points, rebounds (10.5), assists, (5.1) steals (1.2), and blocks (1.3).

Struggling Hornets Could Hurt Graham

If the voting is based purely on increase in raw numbers, Graham should be the MIP. The sophomore point guard has jumped from 4.7 PPG to 17.6. His 3-point field-goal percentage went from. .281 to .366. He’s logged the seventh most minutes in the NBA (2,063).

A second round draft pick, most scouts viewed Graham as a solid pro prospect. No one saw him as the All-Star he’s become. But the Hornets are 21-39, and that could hurt Graham’s chances against players contributing to winning teams.

An Intriguing Value Play

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been an afterthought in these odds all year long. He opened at +1400 and idles today at +1200.

With 19.3 PPG, he’s well above last last season’s 10.8 for the Clippers. At the age of 21, he’s the leading scorer on an Oklahoma City team that everyone was expecting to miss the playoffs but is the sixth seed in the West.

And the NBA’s Most Improved Player is . . .

While Gilgeous-Alexander might be worth a small play at those odds, the fact is Ingram checks off all the boxes. He’s upped his performance while logging similar minutes.

That’s not just a sign of taking advantage of new opportunities. It’s a true indication of personal improvement as a player.

Factor in overcoming a career-threatening illness and he’s the logical choice to be the NBA’s most improved player.

Pick: Brandon Ingram (Pelicans) +140

Author Image