At the end of the 2026 NBA season, the Atlanta Hawks became the first team to have back-to-back winners of the Most Improved Player Award.
The George Mikan Trophy has been given out since the 1985-86 season, and multiple teams have had two winners in three years; none had done it in two straight years.
Now, Atlanta has a chance to make it three in a row. The key to the Most Improved Player award is a player who made a statistical jump that didn't just come from an increase in playing time, and most times it isn't a second-year player.
Luckily for the Hawks, their transactions this offseason have brought in a new wave of candidates who are prime examples of players who could make the jump necessary to win the M.I.P.
3. Devin Carter
A lottery pick just two seasons ago, Carter and the Kings just didn't fit. He played just 74 games in his two seasons in Sacramento due to injuries.
The Kings decided to part ways with the 6'2'' guard, and Atlanta is taking their chance. Carter is a primary ball handler, a spot where the Hawks could use another player, which could give the Providence College alum his chance.
Carter has a chance to win the backup point guard spot early in the season if he can outplay Kingston Flemings. Should he earn his playing time, he has the ability to outplay his numbers from last year.
In his 38 games, Carter played 18.4 minutes per game and averaged 2.7 assists and 3.3 rebounds. In Atlanta's offense, even at a similar minutes per game, Carter could get an uptick in points and definitely assists.
While the projected starting five has multiple playmakers, the projected bench unit, including Aaron Wiggins, Lu Dort, and Jock Landale, doesn't. Whoever gets the primary ball-handler reps with that unit will certainly get the assist numbers to show it. If Carter can win that spot, he'll put himself in position to win Most Improved Player.
2. Lu Dort
After taking a step back last season with OKC, Dort comes to Atlanta as a prime candidate for improvement. Dort is going to be one of the first two players off the bench for the Hawks, meaning he should see a similar or better minutes total than his 26.8 last season. For the Thunder, Dort wasn't needed as an offensive piece, but in Atlanta, he'll likely have a greater role on that side of the ball.
The Arizona State alum could see a similar rise to Dyson Daniels in the year he was traded to the Hawks. Both were known as key defenders before the trade, and when Dyson got a greater role on offense and more trust, he blossomed.
Dort could see a similar process happen to him. The bench unit doesn't have true scoring options, and should the 6'4'' wing step into that role, he'll certainly outperform the 9.8 points and 1.4 assists he's averaged across the last three seasons.
1. Jock Landale
When Atlanta acquired Landale at the trade deadline, it flew under the radar. The Australian had just been traded by Memphis to Utah days before, and Utah was just dumping his salary by sending him to the Hawks. He surprised many fans when he became a key bench player, filling in for Onyeka Okongwu off the bench nicely.
They were able to bring Landale back for the 26-27 season and will again be the primary backup for Okungwu, but could see an increase in minutes playing alongside Big O, too.
Landale played 19.4 minutes per game for the Hawks before getting injured, and for the entire season averaged 10.6 points and 5.7 rebounds. As the primary big man off the bench, he should see some more action that can boost his numbers, especially if the Hawks are looking for someone who is a better rebounder.
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