NBA's Most Improved Players of 2026

Joel Piton
1 day ago
8 min read

by Joel Piton

1/21/2026 - Sportz Nation

This year's Most Improved Player race is more competitive than it’s been in recent memory, with a growing list of players making undeniable cases for real, lasting growth. A handful are pushing toward their first All-Star selections, while others—once anonymous role players—have vaulted themselves into opposing teams' gameplans.

These aren’t fluky hot streaks either, we're halfway through the season and these guys have not wavered. These are offseason leaps that reshaped expectations and trajectories for some franchises, improvements so significant they force to take notice and ask whether we’re watching the same player from a year ago.

Let’s take a look at the ten players who made the leap from good to great—and in the process, made the Most Improved Player race more thrilling.

1. Jay Huff

Indiana Pacers (C)

2024-25 Stats:

6.9 PPG, 2.0 RPG, .6 APG, .9 BPG, 51.5 FG%

2025-26 Stats:

8.7 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 1.3 APG, 2.1 BPG, 46.9 FG%

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Relatively unknown off the Memphis bench last season, Jay Huff has emerged as one of the league’s most impactful interior defenders, ranking second in the NBA in blocks at 2.1 per game. Thrust into a larger role amid injuries, Huff has stepped seamlessly into a Myles Turner–like prototype—rim protection, floor spacing, and mobility—while arguably being even more efficient in extended minutes. While his three-point percentage has dipped from last year’s 40% mark, context matters. Huff is taking more threes, often late in the clock or against set defenses, and he still can’t be left wide open. At 7’1”, he’s also proven to be a surprisingly strong perimeter defender, capable of holding his own and closing out. On an Indiana Pacers roster hit hard by injuries, Huff’s emergence has been one of the season’s most unexpected developments—and the reason Indiana has remained at times, genuinely exciting.

2. Ryan Rollins

Milwaukee Bucks (PG)

2024-25 Stats:

6.2 PPG, 1.9 RPG, 1.9 APG, 48.7 FG%

2025-26 Stats:

16.2 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 5.5 APG, 46.2 FG%

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A sharpshooting combo guard, Ryan Rollins has emerged as Milwaukee’s premier backcourt scorer in the post–Damian Lillard era. Averaging just five points per game across his career, Rollins looks like a completely different player this season, one entrusted with real offensive responsibility and delivering on it nightly. Rollins leads the Milwaukee Bucks in shot attempts with 548 field-goal attempts, surpassing even Giannis Antetokounmpo. He scores with intent, operating as a player who is expected to put points on the board against the toughest contender. Whether attacking downhill or spacing the floor, Rollins has been reliable from all three levels, knocking down nearly 40% from beyond the arc. This isn’t a hot streak or a short-term bump in usage—it’s a full-blown transformation. Rollins’ leap is one of the season’s most shocking developments, and one nobody saw coming.

3. Jalen Johnson

Atlanta Hawks (PF)

2024-25 Stats:

18.9 PPG, 10.0 RPG, 5.0 APG, 50.0 FG%

2025-26 Stats:

22.8 PPG, 10.1 RPG, 8.0 APG, 51.4 FG%

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A surefire candidate to make his first All-Star team, Jalen Johnson was already on the brink of something special before last season’s shoulder injury cut his momentum short. Fast-forward to now, and it’s clear injuries won't slow him down. Johnson has taken yet another leap, firmly establishing himself as the frontman of Atlanta basketball. With Trae Young gone, Johnson has shouldered the responsibility of driving wins, operating as a true do-it-all forward who impacts every corner of the game. He can initiate offense, knock down shots, defend multiple positions, and consistently dominate the glass. Ranking top 10 among forwards in both rebounds and assists, Johnson’s versatility has turned him into a nightly matchup problem.

This is a legendary breakout and Johnson has gone from a promising role player to the franchise's pillar: the Hawks’ future now runs directly through him.

4. Nickeil Alexander-Walker

Atlanta Hawks (SG)

2024-25 Stats:

9.4 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 2.7 APG, 43.8 FG%

2025-26 Stats:

20.4 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 3.4 APG, 44.6 FG%

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Nickeil Alexander-Walker has been no slouch either, emerging as another dangerous offensive weapon on this Atlanta roster. He caught the league’s attention last season by being one of the few players to appear in all 82 games, carving out value as a reliable 3-and-D contributor off Minnesota’s bench. Whatever Alexander-Walker did in the offseason deserves serious study. He’s transformed into a nightly 20-point-per-game scorer, establishing himself as one of the Southeast Division’s most lethal perimeter threats. His scoring average has effectively doubled, and impressively, he’s doing it with even better efficiency than a year ago. Now entrusted with real offensive responsibility on the Atlanta Hawks, Alexander-Walker’s shot-making has given Atlanta a much-needed scoring punch. If this leap is sustainable, his emergence could be a major swing factor in whether the Hawks climb past the bottom of the standings.

5. Keyonte George

Utah Jazz (PG)

2024-25 Stats:

16.8 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 5.6 APG, 39.1 FG%

2025-26 Stats:

23.8 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 4.8 APG, 45.9 FG%

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Keyonte George has brought excitement back to Utah basketball. After a sophomore campaign split between starting and bench minutes, efficiency was the glaring concern, George shot below 40% from the field across his first two seasons, often playing without clear confidence. That version of George feels is gone. This season, he’s a threat to score at any moment, operating as an electrifying combo guard alongside Lauri Markkanen. His handle is tighter, his shot selection sharper, and his aggressiveness unmistakable. The result: 24 points per night and legitimate All-Star consideration at just 22 years old. George isn’t just filling up the stat sheets—he’s bending defenses, and carrying stretches of offense with ease. For Jazz fans who’ve been longing for a dynamic scoring guard since Donovan Mitchell’s departure, the wait may already be over.

6. Dillon Brooks

Phoenix Suns (SF)

2024-25 Stats:

14.0 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 1.7 APG, 42.9 FG%

2025-26 Stats:

20.7 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 1.7 APG, 44.5 FG%

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Dillon “The Villain” Brooks has long been one of the league’s premier perimeter defenders, earning an All-Defensive Team selection in 2023. One of the most feared lockdown wings in basketball, Brooks has built his reputation on physicality, discipline, and an unapologetic edge. This season, he’s added something new and game changing. Brooks is now pairing elite defense with over 20 points per night, answering a massive offensive need for a Phoenix Suns roster searching for scoring after the departures of Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal. The Suns needed reliable buckets from somewhere, and Brooks has delivered, proving he’s far more than just a defensive specialist. That evolution makes him exponentially more valuable—and makes Phoenix far more competitive. If Brooks can bump his three-point volume back toward last season’s level, defenses will be forced into impossible choices. Once that happens, the Villain becomes a full-blown problem.

7. Anthony Black

Orlando Magic (PG)

2024-25 Stats:

9.4 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 3.1 APG, 42.3 FG%

2025-2026:

15.9 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 4.0 AST, 46.7 FG%

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Anthony Black went viral after a detonating dunk over four Pelicans at once, but he's been on a tear all season, confirming that the talent has always been there. A 6’7” point guard, Black’s size and defensive versatility have long been his calling cards, a disruptive presence on the perimeter and in passing lanes. With Jalen Suggs sidelined, Black has seized the opportunity to step up in Orlando’s backcourt and show more of his offensive game. Averaging 16 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists—mostly off the bench—he doesn’t need much runway to make an impact. He’s a downhill finisher with a more-than-capable three point jumper, and his passing continues to evolve as his confidence grows. Black has been especially aggressive this month, pouring in 18 points per game, and if that stretch carries through the rest of the season, his leap will be impossible to ignore.

8. Deni Avdija

Portland Trail Blazers (SF)

2024-25 Stats:

16.9 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 3.9 APG, 47.6 FG%

2025-26 Stats:

26.2 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 6.9 APG, 47.0 FG%

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The fan favorite for Most Improved Player, Deni Avdija was already on the award radar last season. Few expected him to take another leap of this magnitude. Now fully unleashed, Avdija is posting 26 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists per game, cementing himself as one of the league’s most complete wings. Statistically, Avdija mirrors players like Jalen Johnson, but his offensive edge separates him. He’s a more advanced scorer and shooter, ranking second among small forwards in points while also sitting 13th league-wide in assists. His shot creation, confident perimeter shooting, and refined decision-making have turned him into a nightly offensive engine. On a young, talented Portland Trail Blazers roster, Avdija’s willingness to move the ball only amplifies his impact. With him firmly established as the frontman, it’s hard not to wonder just how dangerous Portland could become when Damian Lillard eventually comes back.

9. Kyshawn George

Washington Wizards (SF)

2024-25 Stats:

8.7 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 2.5 APG, 37.2 FG%

2025-26 Stats:

15.4 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 4.9 APG, 46.8 FG%

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This Swiss swingman is doing everything he can to keep Washington basketball competitive. New York has to be kicking itself for giving him up, because Kyshawn George is flashing the kind of upside that hints at something special down the line. After posting rough shooting splits last season, George has completely flipped the narrative. Now a reliable catch-and-shoot threat, George is averaging 15 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists, providing production on a rebuilding Wizards roster. At 6’8”, he’s an adept passer for his size, comfortable making reads on the move, and confident rising up over defenders with his length. Shooting 40% from three, George has quickly established himself as a perimeter weapon defenses can’t ignore. The confidence is there and the skill set is expanding, and he’s only just getting started.

10. Peyton Watson

Denver Nuggets (SF)

2024-25 Stats:

8.1 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 1.4 APG, 47.7 FG%

2025-26 Stats:

13.9 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 1.8 APG, 50.7 FG%

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Peyton Watson didn’t get to showcase his full game during Denver’s championship run, but circumstances have changed. In the wake of multiple on-and-off injuries, the Nuggets have leaned on Watson more than ever—and he’s answered the call. As Denver fights to hold onto the No. 3 seed, Watson has been electric as a versatile swingman, averaging 14 points per game on 50% shooting from the field. The production jump is impossible to miss, but the efficiency is what truly stands out. On a roster featuring six 40% three-point shooters, Watson’s own shooting growth has accelerated which is an eye-opening shift for a player who shot just 29% from deep a few seasons ago. Compared to last season, Watson’s offensive leap has been dramatic. He’s a reliable rotation weapon on a contender and that kind of growth doesn’t happen quietly, and it deserves recognition.

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While Deni Avdija may have emerged as the early favorite in the race, the growth displayed by all these players deserves recognition from the league in one way or another. This is one of the rare seasons where improvement comes where least expected. Each of these players put in real grunt work, polishing their games, expanding their roles, and raising their teams’ potential in the process.

The margins are thin and the race is far from settled. Whether the award ultimately goes to Avdija or elsewhere, think someone else deserves a spot in the Top 10? Let us know!