Who won the Kia NBA Most Improved Player Award 2025-26? Complete Winners List Since 1986

The NBA Most Improved Player (MIP) award, inaugurated in 1985-86, honors the player who has demonstrated the most significant progress during the regular season compared to previous years. Often cited as the "MIP Award" or informally known as the "breakout player award," winners are selected via media voting and receive the George Mikan Trophy.

Purpose: Recognizes dramatic, statistically backed improvement in performance, rather than simply a comeback from injury.

Voting: A panel of sportswriters in the U.S. and Canada cast votes, with a 5-3-1 point system determining the winner.

Back-to-Back History: The Atlanta Hawks made history in 2025-26 by having players win in back-to-back years (Dyson Daniels, 2024-25).

Recent Winner 2026: Nickeil Alexander-Walker (Atlanta Hawks) won the 2025-26 award, doubling his scoring average to 20.8 points per game.

Kia NBA Most Improved Player Award: Full List of Winners 1986-2026.

Below is the all-time list of winners of the Kia NBA Most Improved Player Award since first award given to Alvin Robertson of San Antonio Spurs in 1986..

1985-86 – Alvin Robertson, San Antonio

1986-87 – Dale Ellis, Seattle

1987-88 – Kevin Duckworth, Portland

1988-89 – Kevin Johnson, Phoenix

1989-90 – Rony Seikaly, Miami

1990-91 – Scott Skiles, Orlando

1991-92 – Pervis Ellison, Washington

1992-93 – Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, Denver

1993-94 – Don MacLean, Washington

1994-95 – Dana Barros, Philadelphia

1995-96 – Gheorghe Muresan, Washington

1996-97 – Isaac Austin, Miami

1997-98 – Alan Henderson, Atlanta

1998-99 – Darrell Armstrong, Orlando

1999-00 – Jalen Rose, Indiana

2000-01 – Tracy McGrady, Orlando

2001-02 – Jermaine O’Neal, Indiana

2002-03 – Gilbert Arenas, Golden State

2003-04 – Zach Randolph, Portland

2004-05 – Bobby Simmons, LA Clippers

2005-06 – Boris Diaw, Phoenix

2006-07 – Monta Ellis, Golden State

2007-08 – Hedo Türkoğlu, Orlando

2008-09 – Danny Granger, Indiana

2009-10 – Aaron Brooks, Houston

2010-11 – Kevin Love, Minnesota

2011-12 – Ryan Anderson, Orlando

2012-13 – Paul George, Indiana

2013-14 – Goran Dragić, Phoenix

2014-15 – Jimmy Butler, Chicago

2015-16 – CJ McCollum, Portland

2016-17 – Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee

2017-18 – Victor Oladipo, Indiana

2018-19 – Pascal Siakam, Toronto

2019-20 – Brandon Ingram, New Orleans

2020-21 – Julius Randle, New York

2021-22 – Ja Morant, Memphis Grizzlies

2022-23 – Lauri Markkanen, Utah Jazz

2023-24 — Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia 76ers

2024-25 — Dyson Daniels, Atlanta Hawks

2025-26 — Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Atlanta Hawks

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