Basketball player Deni Avdija finished third in the race for the NBA's Most Improved Player Award. First place went to Nikeil Alexander-Walker of Atlanta, and Jalen Duren of Detroit finished second. Avdija ranked third with 135 points in voting by 100 U.S. media members, receiving 7 first-place votes, 28 second-place votes and 22 third-place votes — a significant gap compared to Duren (254 points) and winner Alexander-Walker (396).

