The MIP Gauntlet: Qualification Rules and Disqualified Contenders
The NBA's Most Improved Player award is always a hotbed of debate, celebrating players who ignite their game and surprise us all. As the 2025-26 season winds down, the race for the coveted MIP trophy is tighter than ever, with several rising stars making undeniable leaps. This analysis cuts through the noise, focusing purely on raw statistical evolution to highlight the truly transcendent campaigns.
Key MIP Candidate Insights:
- Ryan Rollins and Reed Sheppard are posting massive all-around per-game improvements, showcasing significant growth.
- Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Jaylen Brown are demonstrating elite per-36 minute jumps, signaling increased on-court impact.
- Efficiency master Reed Sheppard leads the league in True Shooting Percentage growth, proving a refined scoring touch.
- Several key contenders, including Deni Avdija and Jalen Duren, face crucial game qualification hurdles in the final stretch.
To even be considered for the Most Improved Player award, a player must meet stringent criteria: at least 63 games played, with a minimum of 61 games logging 20 minutes or more, plus two additional games of at least 15 minutes. This rule shapes the entire discussion, unfortunately sidelining several promising candidates who showed remarkable improvement but couldn't meet the threshold.
Players like Dillon Brooks (Phoenix), Keyonte George (Utah), Kyshawn George (Washington), Daniss Jenkins (Detroit), and Ajay Mitchell (Oklahoma City) have all displayed significant statistical surges this season. However, due to insufficient games or minutes played, their names will not appear on the official ballot. It's a tough break for players like Brooks, who saw a massive 24.4 points per 36 minutes thanks to a usage rate surge.
Dominance on the Stat Sheet: Biggest Per-Game Leaps
When we look at sheer volume of production, some players have simply exploded. This metric combines points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks per game (PRASB/G) to give a holistic view of a player's all-around impact. The numbers from the 2025-26 season compared to 2024-25 reveal some astonishing jumps.
| Player | 2024-25 GP | 2024-25 MIN/G | 2024-25 PRASB/G | 2025-26 GP | 2025-26 MIN/G | 2025-26 PRASB/G | Improvement (26-25) | Ratio (26/25) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ryan Rollins | 56 | 14.6 | 11.1 | 72 | 32.1 | 29.3 | +18.2 | 2.6x |
| Jaylon Tyson* | 47 | 9.6 | 6.9 | 64 | 27.0 | 21.6 | +14.8 | 3.1x |
| Reed Sheppard | 52 | 12.6 | 8.3 | 76 | 26.4 | 22.2 | +13.9 | 2.7x |
| Nickeil Alexander-Walker | 82 | 25.3 | 16.4 | 74 | 33.2 | 29.6 | +13.2 | 1.8x |
| Matas Buzelis | 80 | 18.9 | 14.4 | 75 | 29.3 | 26.4 | +12.1 | 1.8x |
| Collin Gillespie | 33 | 14.0 | 11.4 | 75 | 28.9 | 23.4 | +12.0 | 2.1x |
| Neemias Queta | 62 | 13.9 | 10.5 | 71 | 25.4 | 22.1 | +11.6 | 2.1x |
| Donovan Clingan | 67 | 19.8 | 17.7 | 72 | 27.2 | 28.1 | +10.4 | 1.6x |
| Deni Avdija* | 72 | 30.0 | 29.6 | 61 | 33.1 | 38.9 | +9.4 | 1.3x |
| Jaime Jaquez Jr. | 66 | 20.7 | 16.7 | 70 | 28.2 | 25.8 | +9.1 | 1.5x |
*Asterisked players may not qualify by season's end. Note: Jaylon Tyson has effectively been disqualified due to recent missed games and an inability to meet the minute requirements. Deni Avdija needs to play in all five remaining games for the Blazers, with specific minute totals in each, to qualify.
Beyond the Box Score: Per-36 Minute Powerhouses
Jaylen Brown scores a team-high 43 points in the Celtics' road win over the Miami Heat.
While per-game numbers are exciting, per-36 minute statistics offer a deeper dive into a player's efficiency and impact when actually on the court. It measures how productive they are relative to their playing time, revealing true skill development.
| Player | 2024-25 MIN | 2024-25 PRASB/36 | 2025-26 MIN | 2025-26 PRASB/36 | Diff (26-25) | Ratio (26/25) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nickeil Alexander-Walker | 2,073 | 23.4 | 2,459 | 32.1 | +8.7 | 1.4x |
| Jaylen Brown | 2,158 | 35.8 | 2,305 | 44.4 | +8.7 | 1.2x |
| Kawhi Leonard* | 1,180 | 36.8 | 1,926 | 45.3 | +8.5 | 1.2x |
| Deni Avdija* | 2,161 | 35.5 | 2,017 | 42.4 | +6.9 | 1.2x |
| Jalen Johnson | 1,284 | 36.8 | 2,404 | 43.7 | +6.9 | 1.2x |
| Reed Sheppard | 654 | 23.9 | 2,009 | 30.2 | +6.4 | 1.3x |
| Jalen Duren* | 2,034 | 36.8 | 1,829 | 43.1 | +6.3 | 1.2x |
| Jamal Murray | 2,418 | 33.1 | 2,533 | 39.3 | +6.2 | 1.2x |
| Victor Wembanyama* | 1,527 | 47.6 | 1,784 | 53.4 | +5.8 | 1.1x |
| Ryan Rollins | 820 | 27.2 | 2,310 | 32.9 | +5.6 | 1.2x |
Here, Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Jaylen Brown share the top spot, demonstrating not just more minutes but dramatically increased effectiveness when on the floor. While Kawhi Leonard and Victor Wembanyama show impressive per-minute jumps, their status as established stars (or generational rookies) makes them unlikely MIP winners, despite the statistical evidence. Jalen Johnson also solidifies his case with a notable per-36 rise.
The Efficiency Revolution: True Shooting Surges
Beyond just raw numbers, how a player scores is crucial. True Shooting Percentage (TS%) measures a player's scoring efficiency, accounting for field goals, three-pointers, and free throws. A significant jump here indicates a player is making smarter decisions and hitting shots at a much higher clip.
| Player | 2024-25 FGA | 2024-25 TS% | 2025-26 FGA | 2025-26 TS% | Diff TS% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reed Sheppard | 239 | 46.5% | 882 | 56.5% | +10% |
| Jaylon Tyson* | 149 | 52.3% | 639 | 61.4% | +9% |
| Wendell Carter Jr. | 491 | 54.4% | 593 | 61.8% | +7.4% |
| Tim Hardaway Jr. | 680 | 56.7% | 744 | 62.8% | +6.1% |
| Bruce Brown* | 309 | 50.4% | 485 | 56.0% | +5.7% |
| Jaden McDaniels | 834 | 56.2% | 774 | 61.7% | +5.6% |
| Kris Dunn | 437 | 53.1% | 448 | 58.6% | +5.6% |
| Stephon Castle* | 988 | 52.2% | 762 | 57.5% | +5.3% |
| Scottie Barnes | 1,063 | 52.3% | 1,057 | 57.4% | +5.1% |
| Keldon Johnson* | 770 | 57.2% | 722 | 62.2% | +4.9% |
*Asterisked players may not qualify by season's end. Note: Jaylon Tyson has effectively been disqualified due to recent missed games and an inability to meet the minute requirements. Bruce Brown needs to play at least 20 minutes in all five of the Nuggets' remaining games to qualify. Stephon Castle and Keldon Johnson also have specific minute requirements to meet qualification.
The MIP Frontrunners: A Holistic View
Combining these different statistical lenses gives us a clearer picture of the 2025-26 Most Improved Player landscape. While Jaylon Tyson and other asterisked players show promising numbers, their inability to meet qualification standards impacts their overall candidacy.
| Player | 2024-25 PRASB/36 | 2024-25 TS% | 2025-26 PRASB/36 | 2025-26 TS% | Diff PRASB/36 | Diff TS% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nickeil Alexander-Walker | 23.4 | 57.9% | 32.1 | 60.5% | +8.7 | +2.6% |
| Deni Avdija* | 35.5 | 60.5% | 42.4 | 59.8% | +6.9 | -0.7% |
| Jalen Duren* | 36.8 | 70.3% | 43.1 | 68.6% | +6.3 | -1.8% |
| Collin Gillespie | 29.4 | 57.8% | 29.2 | 58.2% | -0.2 | +0.3% |
| Jalen Johnson | 36.8 | 56.9% | 43.7 | 58.4% | +6.9 | +1.5% |
| Neemias Queta | 27.2 | 67.4% | 31.3 | 66.2% | +4.1 | -1.3% |
| Ryan Rollins | 27.2 | 60.0% | 32.9 | 58.1% | +5.6 | -1.9% |
| Reed Sheppard | 23.9 | 46.5% | 30.2 | 56.5% | +6.4 | +10% |
*Asterisked players may not qualify by season's end. Note: Deni Avdija and Jalen Duren still have specific minute requirements to meet qualification.
Reed Sheppard emerges as a frontrunner due to his dual threat: significant per-game statistical improvements combined with an unparalleled jump in efficiency. His transformation is undeniable. Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Jalen Johnson also present strong, well-rounded cases with impressive gains across the board. The final days of the season will be critical for players like Deni Avdija and Jalen Duren, as their qualification status could make or break their MIP aspirations. The debate rages on, but the numbers paint a compelling picture of who truly elevated their game this season!
