Atlanta Hawks Guard Dyson Daniels Wins 2025 NBA Most Improved Player Award
On Wednesday, Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels was named the 2025 NBA Most Improved Player, beating out Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham and L.A. Clippers big Ivica Zubac for the prestigious award.
Daniels dominated the competition, receiving 44 first-place votes and totaling 332 points, which was almost double what Zubac earned for his second-place finish. Cunningham trailed in third place with 122 points.
Arriving in Atlanta this season after playing for the New Orleans Pelicans for two years, Daniels witnessed a remarkable surge in his performance with the Hawks. He ended his first season with career-high averages of 14.1 points, 5.9 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and a league-leading three steals per game.
His shooting percentage also saw a significant improvement, rising from 43.5% in his first two seasons to 49.3% this year. Daniels’ outstanding performance earned him a spot in the starting lineup, a position he did not attain during his time with the Pelicans.
Cunningham had an impressive season with the Pistons, averaging 26.1 points and 9.1 assists, leading his team to the playoffs for the first time since 2019. On the other hand, Zubac recorded 16.8 points and a career-best 12.6 rebounds per game with the Clippers.
The Most Improved Player Award, like many NBA accolades, is decided by a panel of 100 journalists and broadcasters who cover the league. Votes are cast shortly after the regular season concludes. Previous winners announced alongside Daniels include Stephon Castle for Rookie of the Year, Evan Mobley for Defensive Player of the Year, Jalen Brunson for Clutch Player of the Year, and Payton Pritchard for Sixth Man of the Year.
Despite Daniels’ remarkable achievements, the Hawks finished the regular season with a 40-42 record, securing the ninth seed but ultimately losing both play-in games to Orlando and Miami.