NBA Most Improved Ladder, Vol. 5: Evan Mobley, Tyler Herro Could Win Award Over Cade Cunningham

With only a few weeks remaining in the 2024-25 NBA season, we’re close to a full season of data for players. Let’s dive into another update for our Most Improved Player ladder as the basketball year winds down (read our last edition here).

1) Evan Mobley

Betting odds view this award as a two-man race between Cade Cunningham and Dyson Daniels. Still, Mobley’s tangible improvements this season outweigh any other player, especially as of late. Donovan Mitchell’s slump has led Mobley to even more offensive usage and creation responsibility.This season, Mobley is hitting career-highs in efficiency (64.3 percent true shooting), usage (22.7 percent) and on-ball rate (15 percent). His shifted usage manifests in more inverted ball-screens, transition grab-and-go sequences and 3-point shooting aggression. He’s shooting 36.7 percent from deep this season, despite more than doubling last year’s volume.

Mobley’s increased offensive agency has led to massive gains in counting stats and impact. He ranks 11th this season in Estimated Plus-Minus (plus-3.9) after ranking 75th last year (plus-1.5). It’s improbable Mobley wins the award, but he has transformed his game and his team’s short- and long-term outlook.

2) Tyler Herro

Since Jimmy Butler’s trade to the Golden State Warriors, Herro has only elevated his game. He’s having by far his most effective offensive season, notching career-highs in points per game (23.6) and true shooting (61 percent). EPM views Herro this season as a top-15 offensive player (plus-3.5) and top-50 player overall.

Unlike other candidates, Herro’s statistical improvement doesn’t result solely from a boost in usage rate. His usage sits in line with the rest of his career, but he’s shifted his approach from a midrange-heavy profile to more 3-point attempts. Fewer contested intermediate jumpers has spiked his efficiency there; Herro has made an elite 53.6 percent of his midrange shots this season.

He deserves credit for evolving his game to better match his talent level with his impact on the court. He’s a substantially different player for the better and helps the Miami Heat’s long-term outlook feel a bit rosier.

3) Cade Cunningham

Cunningham feels like an obvious modern Most Improved Player — a young, first-time All-Star leading a once-bottom-feeding squad to the playoffs. His Detroit Pistons are the Eastern Conference’s fifth seed and a virtual lock to avoid the Play-In Tournament.

Always an ascending star, Cunningham has blossomed into a full-fledged lead initiator while defending at the highest level of his career. He’s hit career-highs in points (25.7) and assists (9.2) per game, true shooting (56.2 percent) and EPM (plus-3.1). Improving his off-dribble shooting and honing his defense has made Cunningham an All-NBA contender.

I viewed him as closer to this level last season than the metrics suggested, resulting in his placement lower on my list than what the betting odds say. He’d still be a worthy award winner, given the value of his ascension to franchise-changing stardom.

4) Dyson Daniels

The bulk of Daniels’s growth this season comes on the defensive end, where he’s evolved from a great defender in New Orleans to an All-Defensive First Team lock. Daniels’ defensive season has been historic, posting an absurd 4.2 percent steal rate while leading the NBA in deflections per game (5.9).

Defensive EPM views him as a top-10 defender (plus-2.3) alongside a top-75 mark overall. His counting stats have jumped substantially from last season, leaping to career-highs in points (13.9) and assists (4.3) per game.

Daniels still struggles to score efficiently, placing below the 30th percentile for true shooting this season. He’s made some tangible strides as a handler this season, but more of his perceived offensive improvement stems from usage and minutes increases, which are notable themselves.

5) Christian Braun

Questions about the Denver Nuggets’ depth may sink their season, but Christian Braun has done his part to absolve them. He’s grown into a solid full-time starting wing, improving his consistency on both ends of the floor this year.

Braun is seeing more minutes and has nearly doubled his points per game this season to 15.1. He impressively skyrocketed his efficiency, despite a huge boost in minutes and shot attempts; Braun’s true shooting relative to league average has jumped from minus-2.9 last year to plus-8.4 (65.9 percent) in 2025.

He’s a more consistent off-ball defender than before and takes tougher on-ball assignments. The Nuggets can rely on him for spot-up shooting, closeout creation, paint scoring and positive decision-making, something they couldn’t do last season.

Honorable Mentions: Christian Braun, Max Christie, Dyson Daniels, Jalen Williams, Ivica Zubac

All stats are accurate prior to games played on March 30.