Darius Garland Deserves More Love in Odds to Win Most Improved Player Award

If there’s one under-the-radar name that should be an NBA All-Star this season, it may be Cleveland Cavaliers guard Darius Garland. 

The third-year point guard is blossoming in the 2021-22 season for the Cavs, as he is averaging career-highs in points (19.5), rebounds (3.0) assists (7.3), steals (1.4) and minutes (34.2) per game. 

Garland has stepped up in a huge way for Cleveland with guard Collin Sexton out for the season, and the Cavs are currently 20-13 and the No. 5 seed in the Eastern Conference because of it. 

WynnBET Sportsbook has moved the Cavs’ futures odds significantly since the start of the season, as they are now +4000 to win the Eastern Conference and +10000 to win the NBA title. 

Despite that, Garland is still significantly behind in the odds to win the NBA’s Most Improved Player award, sitting at +1600. He is behind Miles Bridges, Ja Morant, Dejounte Murray and LaMelo Ball at WynnBET, and was the only player to stay healthy this season until he was placed in the league's health and safety protocols on Tuesday.

Personally, I think Garland deserves even more consideration than fifth on the odds list, especially if the Cavaliers make the playoffs.  

Since the 2012-13 season, all but one player who has won the Most Improved Player award has done it on a playoff team. Only Brandon Ingram in the 2019-20 season has won the award for a non-playoff team since 2013.

Cleveland has gotten huge contributions from Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley, but Garland has really turned things around over the past two seasons after posting a -5.5 box plus/minus in his rookie season.

The argument for Garland may hinge on a playoff berth, but if he makes an All-Star team and the Cavs do make the postseason, he is on an extremely similar path to the one that Julius Randle followed to win the award last season. 

Don’t sleep on Garland at +1600 to win this award.