The following is a comprehensive list of the NBA Most Improved Player Award winners, arranged chronologically by year. The award is given annually to the player who has shown the most progress in their skills and abilities throughout the season.
Starting from the latest year, the 2022-23 NBA Most Improved Player Award winner is Lauri Markkanen of the Utah Jazz. The previous year’s recipient is Ja Morant of the Memphis Grizzlies, while the 2020-21 award went to Julius Randle of the New York Knicks.
In 2019-20, Brandon Ingram of the New Orleans Pelicans was honored with the award, while the 2018-19 award winner was Pascal Siakam of the Toronto Raptors. The 2017-18 award went to Victor Oladipo of the Indiana Pacers, and the 2016-17 award winner was Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks.
C.J. McCollum of the Portland Trail Blazers was named the NBA Most Improved Player for the 2015-16 season, while the 2014-15 award went to Jimmy Butler of the Chicago Bulls. In 2013-14, the award was given to Goran Dragic of the Phoenix Suns, and Paul George of the Indiana Pacers won it in 2012-13.
Ryan Anderson of the Orlando Magic was named the NBA Most Improved Player for the 2011-12 season, while Kevin Love of the Minnesota Timberwolves won it in 2010-11. Aaron Brooks of the Houston Rockets won the award in 2009-10, and Danny Granger of the Indiana Pacers won it in 2008-09.
The 2007-08 award went to Hedo Turkoglu of the Orlando Magic, while Monta Ellis of the Golden State Warriors was honored with the award in 2006-07. Boris Diaw of the Phoenix Suns won the award for the 2005-06 season, and Bobby Simmons of the LA Clippers won it in 2004-05.
Zach Randolph of the Portland Trail Blazers was named the NBA Most Improved Player for the 2003-04 season, while Gilbert Arenas of the Golden State Warriors won it in 2002-03. Jermaine O’Neal of the Indiana Pacers won the award in 2001-02, and Tracy McGrady of the Orlando Magic won it in 2000-01.
Jalen Rose of the Indiana Pacers won the award for the 1999-00 season, and Darrell Armstrong of the Orlando Magic won it in 1998-99. Alan Henderson of the Atlanta Hawks won the award for the 1997-98 season, while Isaac Austin of the Miami Heat won it in 1996-97.
Gheorghe Muresan of the Washington Bullets was named the NBA Most Improved Player for the 1995-96 season, while Dana Barros of the Philadelphia 76ers won it in 1994-95. Don MacLean of the Washington Bullets won the award for the 1993-94 season, and Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf of the Denver Nuggets won it in 1992-93.
Pervis Ellison of the Washington Bullets won the award for the 1991-92 season, while Scott Skiles of the Orlando Magic won it in 1990-91. Rony Seikaly of the Miami Heat won the award for the 1989-90 season, while Kevin Johnson of the Phoenix Suns won it in 1988-89.
Kevin Duckworth of the Portland Trail Blazers was named the NBA Most Improved Player for the 1987-88 season, while Dale Ellis of the Seattle SuperSonics won it in 1986-87. Finally, Alvin Robertson of the San Antonio Spurs won the award for the 1985-86 season.
A year-by-year list of the Kia NBA Most Improved Player Award winners:
2022-23 — Lauri Markkanen, Utah Jazz (Voting)
2021-22 — Ja Morant, Memphis Grizzlies (Voting)
2020-21 — Julius Randle, New York Knicks (Voting)
2019-20 — Brandon Ingram, New Orleans Pelicans (Voting)
2018-19 — Pascal Siakam, Toronto Raptors (Voting)
2017-18 — Victor Oladipo, Indiana Pacers (Voting)
2016-17 — Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks (Voting)
2015-16 — C.J. McCollum, Portland Trail Blazers (Voting)
2014-15 — Jimmy Butler, Chicago Bulls
2013-14 — Goran Dragic, Phoenix Suns
2012-13 — Paul George, Indiana Pacers
2011-12 — Ryan Anderson, Orlando Magic
2010-11 — Kevin Love, Minnesota Timberwolves
2009-10 — Aaron Brooks, Houston Rockets
2008-09 — Danny Granger, Indiana Pacers
2007-08 — Hedo Turkoglu, Orlando Magic
2006-07 — Monta Ellis, Golden State Warriors
2005-06 — Boris Diaw, Phoenix Suns
2004-05 — Bobby Simmons, LA Clippers
2003-04 — Zach Randolph, Portland Trail Blazers
2002-03 — Gilbert Arenas, Golden State Warriors
2001-02 — Jermaine O’Neal, Indiana Pacers
2000-01 — Tracy McGrady, Orlando Magic
1999-00 — Jalen Rose, Indiana Pacers
1998-99 — Darrell Armstrong, Orlando Magic
1997-98 — Alan Henderson, Atlanta Hawks
1996-97 — Isaac Austin, Miami Heat
1995-96 — Gheorghe Muresan, Washington Bullets
1994-95 — Dana Barros, Philadelphia 76ers
1993-94 — Don MacLean, Washington Bullets
1992-93 — Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, Denver Nuggets
1991-92 — Pervis Ellison, Washington Bullets
1990-91 — Scott Skiles, Orlando Magic
1989-90 — Rony Seikaly, Miami Heat
1988-89 — Kevin Johnson, Phoenix Suns
1987-88 — Kevin Duckworth, Portland Trail Blazers
1986-87 — Dale Ellis, Seattle SuperSonics
1985-86 — Alvin Robertson, San Antonio Spurs