Which NBA player has progressed the most during this regular season compared to previous seasons? Despite the betting odds showing a two-man race between the Pistons’ Cade Cunningham and Norman Powell of the Clippers, Most Improved Player voters must consider Christian Braun.
The Denver Nuggets’ new starting two-guard is an MIP candidate flying criminally under the radar this year. Let’s dive into the numbers highlighting Braun’s remarkable leap:
Season | PPG | RPG | APG | FG% | 3P% | SPG | BPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2022-23 | 4.7 | 2.4 | 0.8 | 49.5 | 35.4 | 0.5 | 0.2 |
2023-24 | 7.3 | 3.7 | 1.6 | 46.0 | 38.4 | 0.5 | 0.4 |
2024-25 | 14.9 | 5.1 | 2.2 | 57.5 | 36.7 | 1.1 | 0.5 |
Seeing a player’s numbers soar in a new role is unsurprising. What makes Braun’s case so compelling is how he’s maximized his increased opportunity. In Kentavious Caldwell-Pope’s stead as a starter, Braun’s minutes jumped significantly (from 20.2 to 33.1 per game), yet his usage rate remains identical to last season, at 15.7. In an expanded role, Braun’s averaging career highs almost across the board and has more than doubled his points and steals per game from the season prior.
If you ask me, his production surge is not only a byproduct of playing more alongside Nikola Jokic (although that certainly helps!) but a testament to his improved footwork in transition and basketball IQ.
The raw numbers only tell part of the story. It’s how Braun accumulates these stats that catches the eye.
An Incredibly Efficient Transition Demon
What stands out to me about Braun’s growth is his efficiency in transition.
Through 57 regular season games, Braun has achieved something unprecedented for his position: CB currently boasts the highest true shooting percentage among all qualifying NBA guards this season.
Rather than settling for contested jumpers, Braun relentlessly attacks high-percentage areas, as evidenced by his 9.3 paint points per game — well above average for a guard and more than big-name players like Kyrie Irving, Victor Wembanyama, Joel Embiid and Jayson Tatum.
Part of the efficiency equation is that Braun really separates himself in transition. The Kansas product leads the entire NBA in transition points, with 358. As one of the league's most terrifying fast break threats, he weaponizes his underrated athleticism and on-court smarts to punish defenses before they can set up, helping the Mile High crew convert opponent misses or turnovers into prime scoring opportunities.
From my eye test, Christian Braun's footwork has improved this season in transition (and just in general) pic.twitter.com/iC7e4jYhWq
— Matt Brooks (@MattBrooksNBA) February 21, 2025
Braun’s statistical case stands on its own, but let’s compare his transformation to the other supposed frontrunners for the award.
Christian Braun’s Competition for Most Improved Player
As of this writing, Cade Cunningham and Norman Powell sit atop the betting markets for MIP. Cunningham recently surged ahead amidst the Pistons’ eight-game winning streak.
Cunningham’s campaign remains strong, averaging a career-best 25.7 points per game, good for 10th in the league. He’s also third in assists at 9.5 per contest. Across the board, Cunningham’s upped his PPG by three and RGP and APG by two each, earning his first All-Star selection. His improvement comes after missing significant time due to injury in the 2022-23 campaign.
To me, the argument against Cunningham is that he’s essentially returning to his expected trajectory as a No. 1 pick rather than making an unprecedented leap. Many people thought he’d eventually put up these numbers out of college at Oklahoma State — this year is a regression to that mean.
Powell’s case is equally robust, At 31 years old in his 10th NBA season, Powell is experiencing a late-career scoring bump primarily driven by a massive uptick in shot attempts. This year, Powell is chucking up more than 3.5 more field goal attempts per game (17.0) than in any of his previous outings.
Given Kawhi Leonard’s injury history, Powell has adopted an occasional top-scorer role at times for the Clippers. But if you ask me, a veteran having a career year shouldn’t necessarily overshadow a young player making a legitimate developmental jump.
And the other contenders fail to match Braun’s overall improvement:
- Tyler Herro has seen outstanding offensive efficiency improvements this year — career highs in TS%, PER, 3PAr, FTr, AST%, and USG% — but nothing approaching Braun’s statistical explosion.
- Dyson Daniels has indeed improved — growing into one of the best wing defenders in the league — but his offensive ceiling remains limited compared to what Braun has showcased.
- Evan Mobley’s development, while promising, has been gradual rather than Braun’s seemingly overnight offseason transformation. The former No. 3 pick is averaging a career-high 18.7 points per game.
- Trey Murphy III has meaningfully boosted his scoring, as Nuggets fans know, having watched him torch Denver for 66 points over a two-game stretch in early February. However, much of his improvement stems from Zion Williamson’s frequent absences and a return to health after missing significant time to start last season. Like Cunningham and Powell, this is more about availability than a true developmental leap.
- Amen Thompson — a wildly talented second-year pro — simply hasn’t impacted winning at Braun’s level. Plus, I believe the year one to year two jump should be largely ignored in the MIP race.
Beyond the numbers and cross-player comparisons, Braun’s impressive improvement is happening on a championship-contending team where touches are at a premium. He’s not putting up empty stats on a rebuilding squad but blossoming in a larger role on a team with championship aspirations.
Weighing all factors — the statistical leap, the historic efficiency, the competition, and the team context — the conclusion becomes inescapable.
CB for MIP
The NBA’s Most Improved Player award should recognize genuine developmental leaps, not simply returning to form after injuries or incremental improvements from established veterans. By doubling his scoring output with identical usage, maintaining solid defense with increased minutes, leading the league in transition scoring, and posting historic efficiency numbers for his position, Christian Braun authors the most compelling MIP case of the 2024-25 NBA season.
The betting markets can favor the bigger names and the flashier stories. But this Nuggets fan’s eyes tell me a different story: Christian Braun deserves more shine as the league’s most improved this season.