Basketball fans love a good glow-up. There is something uniquely satisfying about watching a guy who spent last season buried on the bench suddenly start torches the league for 25 points a night. That’s the magic of the NBA Most Improved Player award, or the "MIP." But if you actually dig into the history of this trophy, you’ll find it’s one of the most controversial, inconsistent, and downright confusing honors in professional sports.
It’s not just about who got better. Honestly, it’s about who the media noticed getting better.
The Weird Origins of the George Mikan Trophy
The NBA didn't always hand out a trophy for getting better. They actually used to have something called the "Comeback Player of the Year" award in the early 80s, but that was a bit of a mess because it often rewarded players returning from drug suspensions or serious injuries. The league wanted something more positive. In 1985, they pivoted.
The first winner was Alvin Robertson of the San Antonio Spurs. He was a second-year guard who basically decided to become a defensive terror, averaging 3.7 steals per game. Since then, the award has undergone a major rebrand. It’s now officially called the George Mikan Trophy.
Naming it after Mikan is kinda ironic. Mikan was the NBA's first true superstar, a 6'10" giant who dominated the 1950s. While he didn’t necessarily "improve" his stats every year—mostly because he started at the top—he’s credited with inventing the "Mikan Drill," the fundamental footwork and layup exercise every middle schooler has to do. That spirit of constant refinement is why his name is on the hardware today.
Why Second-Year Players Are the MIP's Biggest Controversy
If you want to start a fight on NBA Twitter, just suggest a sophomore for the MIP. People hate it. The logic is simple: you’re supposed to get better in your second year. That’s just natural development.
Take Ja Morant in 2022. He won the award after jumping from 19 points to 27 points per game. He was electric. He was a human highlight reel. But he was also the #2 overall pick. A lot of fans felt like giving it to him was a waste. They argued the award should go to someone like Jordan Poole, who went from being the "worst player in the NBA" according to some advanced metrics to a vital championship piece.
Even Ja seemed to agree; he famously gave his trophy to teammate Desmond Bane.
The "Star" Jump vs. The "Role Player" Leap
There are basically two ways to win this thing.
- The Giannis Path: You go from being a "pretty good" young player to a "holy crap, he’s an MVP candidate" superstar. Giannis Antetokounmpo (2017), Paul George (2013), and Tracy McGrady (2001) all did this.
- The "Out of Nowhere" Path: This is for the guys who were barely rotation players and suddenly become 20-point scorers because a superstar left or they got traded. Dale Ellis (1987) is the poster child here. He went from 7.1 PPG in Dallas to 24.9 PPG in Seattle.
NBA Most Improved Player History: The Winners Who Changed the Game
Looking back at the timeline, certain names stand out because they used the MIP as a literal launchpad to the Hall of Fame.
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Tracy McGrady is a great example. In Toronto, he was Vince Carter's cousin who came off the bench. When he signed with the Orlando Magic in 2000, the handcuffs came off. He doubled his scoring average from 15.4 to 26.8. He didn't just improve; he transformed into one of the most unstoppable offensive forces of the era.
Then there’s Pascal Siakam. He’s the only player to win MIP and an NBA Championship in the same season (2019). He went from being a "non-shooter" hustle guy to a playmaking forward who could drop 30 in a Finals game.
The Teams That "Farm" This Award
Some franchises just seem to know how to develop talent—or they’re just really good at giving guys the green light.
- Indiana Pacers: They’ve had five winners, including Jermaine O'Neal, Danny Granger, Paul George, Victor Oladipo, and Tyrese Maxey (who played for Philly but fits the "Pacers-style" breakout mold). Actually, Tyrese Maxey won it in 2024 as a Sixer, but the Pacers lead the all-time count alongside the Orlando Magic.
- Orlando Magic: Also five winners. They’ve historically been a place where young players get to "eat" once the established stars leave.
The New 65-Game Rule and Future Winners
The NBA changed the rules recently. To win any major award now, including the Most Improved Player, you have to play at least 65 games (and usually at least 20 minutes in those games). This changed the math.
In 2025, Dyson Daniels took home the trophy for the Atlanta Hawks. He’s a perfect example of what voters are looking for now: a "defensive specialist" who moved to a new team and suddenly showed he could actually play-make and score when given the minutes. It wasn't just a scoring jump; it was a total utility-belt expansion.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Vote
People think it’s just about PPG (Points Per Game). It’s not.
If you look at the 2023-24 race, Tyrese Maxey won it not just because his scoring went up, but because he took over the primary ball-handling duties after James Harden left. He showed he could be a lead guard, not just a secondary scorer. Voters are suckers for a "narrative" of increased responsibility.
Also, it’s almost impossible for a veteran to win. The oldest person to ever win was Darrell Armstrong at age 30, and that was way back in 1999. Since then, the award has skewed younger and younger. If you haven’t made your "leap" by age 26, the voters have usually decided who you are already.
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How to Predict the Next Most Improved Player
If you're trying to spot the next winner before the season starts, don't just look for the best player. Look for these three things:
- The "Vacancy" Factor: Did a high-usage star leave the team? (Think Maxey after Harden or Siakam after DeRozan).
- The "Contract Year" Energy: Players often find an extra gear when they are playing for a $200 million extension.
- The "Third Year" Leap: Statistically, the third year is when most NBA players have their biggest statistical spike.
Keep an eye on players who are moving from a "crowded" roster to a rebuilding one. High minutes plus high shot volume usually equals a massive stat jump, and in the eyes of the media, that’s often enough to secure the George Mikan Trophy.
Next Step: You should check out the current NBA standings and look for players whose "Usage Rate" has increased by more than 5% compared to last year—that's usually where the MIP winner is hiding.