Philadelphia 76ers’ rising star point guard Tyrese Maxey has been a front-runner for the NBA’s Most Improved Player award for the 2023-24 season. However, ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins suggests that Maxey’s hold on the trophy is not guaranteed, with another first-time All-Star closely trailing behind.
Perkins took to Twitter to weigh in on the Most Improved Player race, acknowledging Maxey’s current status as the favorite but highlighting New York Knicks’ standout point guard Jalen Brunson as a formidable contender.
“Maxey has the slight edge right now for winning Most Improved, but he better finish strong because Jalen Brunson is on his a** like back pockets!!! Carry the hell on,” Perkins tweeted.
Both Maxey and Brunson are enjoying career-best seasons, but while Maxey leads the MIP betting odds at -200 on FanDuel, Brunson isn’t prominently featured among the top contenders for the award.
Despite this, Brunson’s omission from the betting odds may be attributed to his already impressive performance last season, where he showcased star-level statistics. Meanwhile, several other players have exhibited significant statistical improvements since the previous year.
Among Maxey’s closest competitors for the MIP title is Chicago Bulls’ emerging guard Coby White, who holds the second-best odds according to FanDuel at +380. White has notably increased his scoring average by nearly 10 points from last season, albeit on a struggling Bulls team.
In contrast, Maxey’s improvement has been coupled with impactful contributions to the success of the competitive Philadelphia 76ers. As a key factor in their winning record, many pundits favor Maxey for the Most Improved Player honor due to his elevated performance and positive impact on his team’s results.
