The former Oklahoma State Star has improved the most in the NBA.

A former cowboy had one of the biggest jumps in the NBA this season.

On Wednesday, the NBA announced the winner of the most improved Player Award 2024-25. After Cade Cunningham had been appointed a finalist at the beginning of the month, he could not get away with the honor, and the Atlanta Hawks, Dyson Daniels, accepted her.

This season, Cunningham scored an average of 26.1 points, 6.1 rebounds and 9.1 assists. As a finalist, Cunningham already knew that he was among the top three for the award and officially found his placement on Wednesday. He took third place behind Daniels and Ivica Zubac, while he received 15 of the 100 votes in first place.

In recent years, the most improved Player Award has been awarded almost exclusively to all-stars. Most winners have either made a jump from a good player to the all-star or all-star caliber to the player at a superstar level.

Cunningham absolutely matched one of these names and used his fourth season to establish himself as one of the best players in the entire league. Together with his individual improvement, his case was also helped significantly by the Detroit Piston's, which switched from a 14-win team to a playoff team.

While Cunningham would probably have won the award if it had been elected in recent years, Daniels was absolutely a deserved candidate. This season Daniels scored an average of 14.1 points, 5.9 rebounds and 4.4 assists and at the same time led the league with three per game in theft.

Daniel's raw numbers that go beyond his theft are not that wild, but his ability to become an important contribution, and one of the best defenders in the Liga in Atlanta, after being a subsequent thought in New Orleans, was impressive.

Cunningham's hopes of winning the most improved players have almost certainly disappeared after the season he had, but he still has a lot to achieve in his NBA career. He made his first all-star appearance this season and seems to make his first all-NBA team.

Cunningham would also like to keep his team's season alive on Thursday evening when the pistons organize the New York Knicks in game 6 of their first round.