A number of NBA players take massive leaps forward every season that change the trajectory of their careers. It's tough to predict who has an extra gear in them, but there are a few solid candidates heading into the 2022-23 season.
A number of NBA players take massive leaps forward every season that change the trajectory of their careers. It's tough to predict who has an extra gear in them, but there are a few solid candidates heading into the 2022-23 season.
The latest: Anthony Edwards hopes playing alongside an improved squad can help him reach the next level, Cade Cunningham might be ready for stardom and Keldon Johnson is one of the league's most underrated scorers.
Here are the latest NBA Most Improved Player odds.
Check out the latest odds to win NBA Most Improved Player. Click linked odds to add selection to your betslip.
| Player | Latest Odds | Odds on September 23 |
| Anthony Edwards | +1,000 | +1,000 |
| Tyrese Haliburton | +1,400 | +1,400 |
| Jalen Brunson | +1,600 | +1,600 |
| RJ Barrett | +2,000 | +2,000 |
| Cade Cunningham | +2,000 | +2,000 |
| Lauri Markkanen | +2,000 | +2,000 |
| Zion Williamson | +2,000 | +2,500 |
| Keldon Johnson | +2,500 | +2,500 |
| Jalen Green | +2,500 | +2,500 |
| Devin Vassell | +2,500 | +2,500 |
Odds as of 5:55 p.m. on 10/02/2022.
The favourite: Anthony Edwards (+1,000)
Edwards already took a big step from his rookie season to his sophomore year by producing more points, rebounds and assists on a per-game basis and shooting more efficiently from the floor, beyond the arc and at the charity stripe.
That said, there's still plenty of room to grow for the physically imposing shooting guard. Edwards has outstanding size, strength and explosiveness. The Minnesota Timberwolves are hoping the mental side of his game catches up to his physical gifts in his third season.
Last year's jump in three-point shooting efficiency (32.9% to 35.7%) showed Edwards is capable of rapid improvements, and the sky is the limit for him offensively.
On the defensive side, he's already made strides but has the tools to become a lock-down defender. From a statistical standpoint, his on-court defensive metrics are sure to improve playing alongside new addition Rudy Gobert, who is the league's top difference-maker on that side of the floor — at least in the regular season.
Best value: Cade Cunningham (+2,000)
The 2021 first overall pick's combination of creative playmaking, smooth scoring and versatile defence opened eyes around the league in Cunningham's rookie year, but there's still plenty of room for growth.
Perimeter shooting is the facet of his game that seems likely to take a step forward. His 84.5% free throw rate hints at a shooting touch beyond what we saw from him as a rookie and he shot 40% from beyond the arc in college.
Those numbers suggest he can do better than the 41.6% field goal percentage he posted last year — with a 31.4% mark on 3-point shots.
If Cunningham can improve his efficiency, his scoring numbers could skyrocket enough for him to grab this award. The good news for the Detroit Pistons' centrepiece is that he was on an upward trajectory throughout the 2021-22 season in terms of both scoring and playmaking.
If we divide his debut season into three parts it looks like this:
| Time Period | PPG | APG | FG% |
| First 21 games | 15.8 | 4.6 | 38.2% |
| Middle 21 games | 15.7 | 5.8 | 41.2% |
| Final 22 games | 20.6 | 6.3 | 44.6% |
It's rare to find a player who combines Cunningham's elite talent with such pedestrian numbers to build off of. The sky's the limit for the rangy guard. If he comes even close to reaching his potential it will look like a huge step forward.
Player to watch: Keldon Johnson (+2,500)
Johnson doesn't get much attention playing for the middling San Antonio Spurs, but his rapid improvement as a scorer last season was a sight to behold.
Once the calendar flipped to 2022 he took strides in scoring, playmaking and efficiency while his role expanded.
| Month | PPG | APG | Usage Rate | FG% |
| January | 15.4 | 1.9 | 18.7% | 45.4% |
| February | 19.3 | 2.1 | 22.5% | 46.3% |
| March | 20.0 | 2.8 | 23.7% | 46.7% |
| April | 22.6 | 3.8 | 25.4% | 48.1% |
Johnson finished the season with 17.0 points per game, and we'd expect him to easily clear that bar in 2022-23. Not only is the 22-year-old improving as a player, but he should also account for an even bigger percentage of San Antonio's offence with Dejounte Murray getting shipped to Atlanta.