NBA Most Improved Player of the Year Odds: Tyrese Maxey Paces the Market

With NBA All-Star Weekend from Indianapolis now in the rear view, respective teams will buckle down for the regular-season home stretch.

The 2023-24 campaign has provided many storylines, but an exciting race of note is the NBA's Most Improved Player (MIP) Award. As it is now, Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey is the odds-on favorite (-140) in this market at FanDuel Sportsbook.

Being that we are now on the other side of St. Valentine's Day, we have less than two months before postseason play begins; let's check out the NBA Most Improved Player of the Year Betting Odds market.

For reference, last season's winner here was Utah Jazz big man Lauri Markkanen.

All NBA odds via FanDuel Sportsbook.

NBA Most Improved Player of the Year Odds

Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia 76ers (-140)

Through the better part of four seasons at the NBA level, Tyrese Maxey has steadily improved in each campaign.

Having been drafted by Philadelphia with the 21st overall selection back in 2020, Maxey has spent his entire professional career in the "City of Brotherly Love." As a rookie, Maxey was mostly ineffective, averaging just 8.0 PPG. Fast-forward to now, and the Kentucky alum is scoring 25.7 PPG on the year -- good enough to earn Maxey his first All-Star nod.

Standing at 6-foot-2, Maxey has a dynamic skill set that allows him to thrive at either guard position. He shoots the basketball with efficiency, showing clips of 44.9%/37.8%/84.4% from the field/3PT/FT.

"Mad" Maxey has made waves in the MIP market once prior. In his sophomore campaign with the Sixers, he transitioned to an everyday starter after logging only eight starts as a rookie. Along with an increase in playing time, Maxey displayed prolific scoring abilities. Maxey finished sixth for the 2022-23 Most Improved Player.

Coby White, Chicago Bulls (+300)

In addition to DeMar DeRozan, veteran Coby White has been a top contributor for the Chicago Bulls in 2023-24.

Chicago is enduring another tough season on the hardwood, but the 6-foot-5 White has output his best campaign to date. In his fifth year with the Bulls, White is currently averaging career highs in scoring (19.6 PPG), rebounding (4.7 RPG) and passing (5.3 APG).

Heading down the stretch of 2024, White has already made 55 starts for Chicago. Previously, he started a combined 19 contests over the past two seasons.

As a North Carolina alum, White's outside shooting has noticeably improved since entering the league. In year five, he has converted 395 total three-point attempts at a clip of 39.7% thus far (another personal best).

With most teams having 27 or so contests left to play in the 2023-24 regular season, there is still ample time remaining for White to overtake Maxey in this market. Right now, White is labeled with three-to-one odds at FanDuel Sportsbook to earn the upcoming MIP Award.

Alperen Sengun, Houston Rockets (+750)

The Houston Rockets appear to have a quality talent at center these days. Towering at a height of 6-foot-11, Alperen Sengun has made incredible strides through only two and a half seasons of NBA work.

As a 19-year-old rookie, Sengun managed just 9.6 PPG along with 5.5 boards back in 2021-22. This season, the big man from Turkey has started all 53 games he has appeared in. From there, Sengun has developed myriad scoring moves as exemplified by his 21.2 PPG clip. In the rebounding category, he has brought 9.1 RPG, which includes 2.7 boards on the offensive glass.

On par with other centers who grew up overseas, Sengun has an intuitive basketball IQ, often serving as a passing hub from the middle. The Turkish star is currently averaging 5.0 APG, logging as many as 12 assists in a single game this year. Heading into All-Star Weekend, Sengun produced at least six dimes in three of his last four performances.

As alluded to, the next two months will be "make-or-break" time around the Association. Showing +750 odds within FanDuel's 2024 NBA MIP betting market, Sengun is a long shot to win this award. Still, his listing presents the third-shortest odds available. On February 20th, I'd say there is still value on Sengun here.

Jonathan Kuminga, Golden State Warriors (+850)

A Swiss Army knife for the Golden State Warriors, forward Jonathan Kuminga offers diverse talents. Strangely, Kuminga has seen an increase in production and playing time since publicly expressing displeasure with his role.

In his third year with the Dubs, Kuminga has already started a career-best 26 games. Of course, some of those starts have come in lieu of stars Andrew Wiggins and Klay Thompson, both of whom have displayed rocky results on the hardwood in 2024. Through that, Kuminga has reached a double-digit scoring threshold for the first time in his short career -- JK is getting 15.5 PPG at the moment.

Kuminga appears to have the trust of Warriors head coach Steve Kerr. Heading into the break, the Democratic Republic of Congo product started the final 11 games. Additionally, the 6-foot-8 Kuminga offers Golden State fantastic defensive versatility. Utilizing his seven-foot wingspan and 38-inch vertical jump, Kuminga can match up with the game's most electric scorers at many different spots.

Like Sengun above, Kuminga is a long shot at FanDuel Sportsbook (+850 odds) to win NBA Most Improved Player this season. Kuminga has undoubtedly propelled his game to new heights, but his increase in action may have come a little too late in the year.

However, with two months left in the NBA's regular season, anything can happen!

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.