NBA Most Improved Player Award odds: Can Jalen Brunson close the gap?

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The NBA All-Star break is nearly over, which means the home stretch of the season is finally here. The NBA Most Improved Player odds are certainly one of the most competitive NBA futures markets, as there are three viable candidates for the award. Our expert will analyze these odds at Caesars Sportsbook, and break down New York Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson’s chances of taking home this award.

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The NBA Most Improved Player odds were released at Caesars Sportsbook following the All-Star break, and it appears that there are a couple of clear candidates at the top. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Lauri Markkanen are listed at the top of the board, but Jalen Brunson isn’t far behind. Let’s take a look at the complete NBA Most Improved Player odds below:

• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (+135)
• Lauri Markkanen (+135)
• Jalen Brunson (+350)
• Tyrese Haliburton (+5000)
• Nicolas Claxton (+5000)
• Cam Thomas (+9000)
• Anthony Edwards (+16000)
• Alperen Sengun (+16000)
• Jordan Poole (+49000)
• Tyrese Maxey (+50000)

Given his outstanding performance and emergence as a star in the NBA this season, it’s hard to believe that anyone else will get this award except Gilgeous-Alexander. The Oklahoma City guard is averaging over 30 points per game on excellent efficiency, and that team might make the play-in tournament. even after losing their first round draft pick before the season started.

Our expert still leans toward backing Gilgeous-Alexander at a plus-money price, but let’s get into Jalen Brunson’s chances for the award.

Jalen Brunson is having a phenomenal season in his debut year in New York. The Knicks point guard is averaging 24 points per game on nearly 49 percent shooting, and 41.1 percent shooting from beyond the three-point arc. In addition to Brunson posting career-best efficiency numbers on all fronts, he’s also getting his teammates involved, averaging over six assists per game this season with at least five assists in nine of his last 10 games.

The Knicks have been playing some of their best basketball of late, having won three straight and seven of their last 11 games. This has catapulted New York into the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference, and the No. 5 seed is certainly within reach. If the Knicks are able to pass the Brooklyn Nets in the standings and Brunson continues to be the engine of their offensive success, we expect his NBA Most Improved Player odds to draw closer to that of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Lauri Markkanen.

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The Knicks have been clicking in recent weeks, especially in the games leading up to the All-Star Break. New York has rebounded from its early-season struggles, and Brunson is the catalyst for that change, as he’s scored 25 or more points in nine of the Knicks last 10 games. The Knicks are now 7th in offensive rating and 8th in NET rating on the season, and Brunson’s orchestration of the offense deserves the majority of the praise for their success.

The schedule isn’t easy coming out of the break for New York, but the Knicks should be either favorites or short underdogs in the majority of their games down the stretch. That means those games are certainly winnable. While the NBA Most Improved Player odds don’t list Brunson as the favorite, his chances of winning the award would drastically increase if the Knicks are able to stay hot down the stretch and secure the No. 4 or No. 5 seed in the Eastern Conference Standings heading into the playoffs.

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