Tyrese Maxey knows what it takes to win Most Improved Player, having done so during the 2023-24 NBA season. Now, as candidates start to take shape for the 2025-26 winner, the Philadelphia 76ers guard offered praise to Ryan Rollins, the Milwaukee Bucks guard who has burst onto the scene and made as strong of a case as anyone.
"Right now, I think Ryan Rollins should be the leader [for Most Improved Player]," Maxey said when speaking on NBA on NBC's Eye for the Game with Austin Rivers. "I don't know who is, but he's doing so good."
Tyrese Maxey picks Ryan Rollins for Most Improved Player
Bucks fans knew Ryan Rollins was due for a big year, but his breakout has been even bigger than even most diehards expected.
Last season, he averaged 6.2 points, 1.9 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 0.8 steals per outing. This season, he's at 17.4 points, 5.8 assists, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.6 steals per contest. The guard has gone from the Bucks' second-unit feel-good story to a legitimate force on both sides of the ball and a trusted go-to option this team needs to succeed.
The most impressive part of Rollins' ascension has been his scoring uptick. Averaging over 11 more points than he did last season is a testament to his work and ability to capitalize in his new role. Yet, voters can't ignore this defense, where he's emerged as a premier option players don't want to face.
Other players in the running for the award include Portland's Deni Avdija, Atlanta's Jalen Johnson, and Detroit's Jalen Duren. All of those players are solid, but they've been recognizable names for the past couple of years. Last season, Rollins was an unknown commodity outside of Milwaukee playing on a two-way contract with an uncertain NBA future. His leap has put him on the map.
Of course, there's still a lot of basketball left to be played. Ryan Rollins has to keep the ball rolling if he wants to stay competitive in this race. Yet, if the season ended today, there's a good chance he'd end up taking home Most Improved Player while making his way onto an All-Defensive team. He wouldn't be the only Buck to do so in recent memory, as Giannis Antetokounmpo achieved the same feat.
The Milwaukee Bucks haven't had too much success finding young contributors in recent memory, but they have a hidden gem in Ryan Rollins. The fact that they signed him to a three-year deal worth $12 million this past summer is still unbelievable. Milwaukee has a rising star on one of the best deals in the NBA, and if he keeps this up, it will only get better.
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