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A list of NBA Most Improved Player award winners over the years
Grace Waruguru
May 15, 2024 at 8:56 PM
The list of NBA Most Improved Player Award winners features some of the best players in the sport. These stars made their mark in the sport and enjoyed decorated careers. We reveal the list of these award winners throughout NBA history and the years they attained the accolade.
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Table of Сontents:
The Most Improved Player (MIP) is an annual accolade awarded to NBA stars with visible growth and improvement in a season. These players remain committed to attaining their goals and have become invaluable assets. Here is the list of MIP Award winners over the years, according to Land of Basketball and other reliable sources.
List of NBA Most Improved Player award winners
The MIP winner is selected by a group of sports journalists across America and Canada who vote for the first, second, and third place. The athlete with the most votes wins the prize. Players must appear in at least 65 games to be eligible.
Since the 2023 season, MIP winners have received the George Mikan Trophy named after the five-time NBA Champion. Here is a list of all the Most Improved Player NBA winners since 1986.
NBA Most Improved Player award winners from 1986-1990
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The first MIP award was given in 1986. The selection process was initially open-ended. Here is every NBA Most Improved Player for the first five years since its inception.
Player | Year | Team |
Alvin Robertson | 1986 | San Antonio Spurs |
Dale Ellis | 1987 | Seattle Supersonics |
Kevin Duckworth | 1988 | Portland Trail Blazers |
Kevin Johnson | 1989 | Phoenix Suns |
Rony Seikaly | 1990 | Miami Heat |
List of NBA Most Improved Players from 1991-2000
Between 1991 and 2000, Washington Bullets stars won the award three times. Gheorghe Muresan is the only winner born outside the United States. Here is the list of MIP winners in that decade.
Player | Year | Team |
Scott Skiles | 1991 | Orlando Magic |
Pervis Ellison | 1992 | Washington Bullets |
Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf | 1993 | Denver Nuggets |
Don MacLean | 1994 | Washington Bullets |
Dana Barros | 1995 | Philadelphia 76ers |
Gheorghe Muresan | 1996 | Washington Bullets |
Isaac Austin | 1997 | Miami Heat |
Alan Henderson | 1998 | Atlanta Hawks |
Darrell Armstrong | 1999 | Orlando Magic |
Jalen Rose | 2000 | Indiana Pacers |
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Most Improved Player winners from 2001-2010
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Tracy McGrady is a retired shooting guard and small forward who has been a member of seven NBA All-Star teams. He won the accolade in 2001 with the Orlando Magic.
McGrady is the only recipient to win a scoring title and become the first MIP winner named to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Here is a list of the NBA's Most Improved Player winners by year in that decade.
Player | Year | Team |
Tracy McGrady | 2001 | Orlando Magic |
Jermaine O'Neal | 2002 | Indiana Pacers |
Gilbert Arenas | 2003 | Golden State Warriors |
Zach Randolph | 2004 | Portland Trail Blazers |
Bobby Simmons | 2005 | Los Angeles Clippers |
Boris Diaw | 2006 | Phoenix Suns |
Monta Ellis | 2007 | Golden State Warriors |
Hedo Turkoglu | 2008 | Orlando Magic |
Danny Granger | 2009 | Indiana Pacers |
Aaron Brooks | 2010 | Houston Rockets |
NBA's list of Most Improved Players from 2011-2020
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In this decade, Jimmy Butler, Kevin Love, Victor Oladipo, and Brandon Ingram won the MIP and were selected to the All-Star game the same year. Here are the 10 NBA players who won the award between 2011 and 2020.
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Player | Team | Year |
Kevin Love | 2011 | Minnesota Timberwolves |
Ryan Anderson | 2012 | Orlando Magic |
Paul George | 2013 | Indiana Pacers |
Goran Dragic | 2014 | Phoenix Suns |
Jimmy Butler | 2015 | Chicago Bulls |
C.J. McCollum | 2016 | Portland Trail Blazers |
Giannis Antetokounmpo | 2017 | Milwaukee Bucks |
Victor Oladipo | 2018 | Indiana Pacers |
Pascal Siakam | 2019 | Toronto Raptors |
Brandon Ingram | 2020 | New Orleans Pelicans |
MIP winners from 2021-2024
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In recent years, the incentive to win the coveted MIP has seen increased competition among athletes. According to Phillyburbs, Tyrese Maxey attained 25.9 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 6.2 assists during his breakout season. Here are the winners since 2021.
Player | Year | Team |
Julius Randle | 2021 | New York Knicks |
Ja Morant | 2022 | Memphis Grizzlies |
Lauri Markkanen | 2023 | Utah Jazz |
Tyrese Maxey | 2024 | Philadelphia 76ers |
Frequently asked questions
The MIP is among several NBA honours given to exceptional athletes every season. Here are some common questions concerning the accolade:
Who is the Most Improved NBA player of all time?
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The award has been awarded annually for the last 37 years. Every year, a different talent receives the trophy and earns recognition in other areas of the sport.
Has any player won the MIP twice?
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No athlete has won the MIP twice in NBA history. The team with the most athletes on the list is the Indiana Pacers, who have earned the honour five times. (2000, 2002, 2009, 2013, 2018).
What is the Most Improved Player award description?
The MIP recognizes the star who has significantly improved since the previous regular season. Journalists from America and Canada vote for the winner of the annual accolade.
Which MIP winner is on the list of NBA MVP award winners?
The Most Valuable Player (MVP) award is given annually to the best-performing players of the season. Winners receive the Michael Jordan Trophy. Giannis Antetokounmpo is the only player to receive the MIP and NBA MVP in the same season (2017).
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Final word
The list of NBA Most Improved Player award winners has evolved, given the changing criteria for selecting and awarding winners. NBA fans can expect a thrilling experience as upcoming players play to improve their game in subsequent seasons.
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