NBA Most Improved Player Award History
The NBA Most Improved Player Award recognizes the player who shows the
greatest improvement from one season to the next. The award was first
presented following the 1985-86 season.
Alvin Robertson of the San Antonio Spurs became the
first player to win the award. Since then, the honor has recognized
players ranging from emerging stars to established veterans who made
major leaps in their performance.
The winner now receives the George Mikan Trophy,
named in honor of one of professional basketball's earliest superstars.
NBA Most Improved Player Winners
| Year |
Player |
Team |
Pos |
| 2026 | Nickeil Alexander-Walker | Atlanta | G |
| 2025 | Dyson Daniels | Atlanta | G |
| 2024 | Tyrese Maxey | Philadelphia | G |
| 2023 | Lauri Markkanen | Utah | F |
| 2022 | Ja Morant | Memphis | G |
| 2021 | Julius Randle | New York | F |
| 2020 | Brandon Ingram | New Orleans | F |
| 2019 | Pascal Siakam | Toronto | F |
| 2018 | Victor Oladipo | Indiana | F |
| 2017 | Giannis Antetokounmpo | Milwaukee | F |
| 2016 | C.J. McCollum | Portland | G |
| 2015 | Jimmy Butler | Chicago | G |
| 2014 | Goran Dragic | Phoenix | G |
| 2013 | Paul George | Indiana | F |
| 2012 | Ryan Anderson | Orlando | F |
| 2011 | Kevin Love | Minnesota | C |
| 2010 | Aaron Brooks | Houston | G |
| 2009 | Danny Granger | Indiana | F |
| 2008 | Hedo Turkoglu | Orlando | F |
| 2007 | Monta Ellis | Golden State | G |
| 2006 | Boris Diaw | Phoenix | F |
| 2005 | Bobby Simmons | LA Clippers | F |
| 2004 | Zach Randolph | Portland | F |
| 2003 | Gilbert Arenas | Golden State | G |
| 2002 | Jermaine O'Neal | Indiana | F |
| 2001 | Tracy McGrady | Orlando | G |
| 2000 | Jalen Rose | Indiana | G |
| 1999 | Darrell Armstrong | Orlando | G |
| 1998 | Alan Henderson | Atlanta | F |
| 1997 | Isaac Austin | Miami | C |
| 1996 | Gheorghe Muresan | Washington | C |
| 1995 | Dana Barros | Philadelphia | G |
| 1994 | Don MacLean | Washington | F |
| 1993 | Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf | Denver | G |
| 1992 | Pervis Ellison | Washington | C |
| 1991 | Scott Skiles | Orlando | G |
| 1990 | Rony Seikaly | Miami | C |
| 1989 | Kevin Johnson | Phoenix | G |
| 1988 | Kevin Duckworth | Portland | C |
| 1987 | Dale Ellis | Seattle | G |
| 1986 | Alvin Robertson | San Antonio | G |
Most Improved Player Facts
-
Alvin Robertson became the first NBA Most Improved
Player Award winner in 1985-86.
-
The award has been presented every season since 1985-86.
-
Several winners later became major NBA stars, including
Tracy McGrady, Jermaine O'Neal, Paul George, Jimmy Butler,
Giannis Antetokounmpo and Ja Morant.
-
Giannis Antetokounmpo won the award in 2016-17 and
later became a multiple-time NBA Most Valuable Player.
-
Atlanta became the first franchise to produce
back-to-back Most Improved Player winners when Dyson Daniels won in
2024-25 and Nickeil Alexander-Walker followed in 2025-26.
-
Nickeil Alexander-Walker averaged a career-high 20.8 points per game
during his 2025-26 award-winning season.
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