The end of the regular season doesn’t mean the end of awards discussion. Three weeks after the last installment of our NBA Most Improved Player rankings, here’s what our hypothetical ballot looks like.
You know the drill. Official voters get three spots for Most Improved, but we’re going five to take a deeper look at the field.
1. Jalen Duren
Duren has increased his offensive output without adding a three-point shot or demanding more post-ups. Instead, he’s become a smarter interior player, developing a wider range of finishes around the basket to complement his passing.
Detroit needed more playmaking around Cade Cunningham. The team’s success with Duren on the floor without Cunningham doesn’t suggest they’ve found a permanent answer, but it does give the Pistons another way to generate quality looks without relying solely on the pick-and-roll.
The jump from solid starting center to legitimate star is significant for both Duren and Detroit. At a time when roll-men are more replaceable than ever, Duren emerging as an offensive hub while improving defensively is a career-altering development.
2. Nickeil Alexander-Walker
Alexander-Walker will be a popular Most Improved selection. His points, rebounds, assists, and stocks per 36 leaped from 23.4 to 32.1, and his true shooting percentage rose by 2.6 points.
Previously known as a Sixth Man of the Year contender and an excellent defender, Alexander-Walker has produced at a level that draws fringe All-Star consideration. He’s scored efficiently across all three levels and hit a career-high 39.9% from beyond the arc.
That blend of higher volume and improved efficiency stands out. His offensive breakout has been a key factor in the Hawks finishing sixth in the Eastern Conference after moving on from Trae Young.
3. Neemias Queta
Among the league leaders in estimated defensive plus-minus, Neemias Queta was a solid reserve big last season. In 2025-26, he’s turned into a dependable starting center for the East’s second-best team.
Entering the season, Queta had played fewer than 900 NBA minutes. He finished with 1,926 in the regular season, and Boston has been 9.8 points per 100 possessions better with him on the floor.
His game isn’t flashy, and his numbers don’t jump off the page like other contenders, but Queta has done enough to merit consideration.
4. Jalen Johnson
The counting stats have surged with Johnson embracing a primary playmaking role in Young’s absence. He’s also getting to the line far more frequently.
Much of this progress was already visible in his 36 games last season. The playmaking has taken another step, and he’s creating more of his own offense in 2025-26, but the year-to-year jump isn’t as dramatic as it’s sometimes portrayed.
That may be because his 2024-25 sample was easy to overlook. This time, he’s sustained that level across a full season, which carries real value for the Hawks and still warrants recognition in this race.
5. Ryan Rollins
Rollins’ leap has largely gone under the radar amid another lost season for the Bucks. He averaged 11.9 minutes per game across 81 career appearances entering the year, with a 5.1 scoring average. That number climbed to 17.9 in 2025-26.
His efficiency dipped only slightly despite a major increase in usage, and his per-36 production improved across the board, including a notable rise in assists.
Rollins also created more of his own looks from beyond the arc, with fewer of his three-point attempts assisted, while maintaining similar efficiency.
Before this season, Rollins had logged fewer than 1,000 career minutes across three years. He more than doubled that total in 2025-26, finishing with over 2,300 minutes.
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