The 2025 season is underway, and we have seen everything from big-time highlights to low blunders. This early in the season, many players are still finding their role on their team and potentially their future with their organization. Talent in the NBA is at an all-time high, and it has become difficult for players to find their footing and become long-term assets for their teams.
As the first two weeks of the season have come to a close, there are many players who have exceeded expectations and have taken leaps in 2025. Some are well known players who have taken a leap from seasons prior, and others are players taking advantage of potentially their only opportunity. Regardless, a variety of different players have taken leaps so far this season.
Since it is so early in the season, I will refrain from using the phrase “most improved”. However, we will be highlighting players who could potentially include themselves into the award race later in the season.
In this article, we will be diving into players who have shown signs of growth and improvement so far in the 2025 season. Let’s get started.
PG Ryan Rollins – Milwaukee Bucks
2024 NBA Stats –> 2025 NBA Stats
- 6.2 PPG –> 16.7 PPG
- 1.9 APG –> 5.4 APG
- 0.8 SPG –> 2.0 SPG
- 49% FG –> 52% FG
- 14.6 MPG –> 31 MPG
Heading into the 2025 season, Milwaukee has started becoming desperate to keep Giannis Antetokounmpo in town. After a brutal Achilles tear, point guard Damian Lillard was released in a surprising move, and that left a big hole at the point guard position. Initially, Kevin Porter Jr. earned the starting point guard role for the beginning of the 2025 season, but he has been sidelined since the first game due to injury. Ryan Rollins has stepped in and has made an immediate impact.
Rollins is shooting as efficiently as ever and has been more effective as a scorer. However, the comparisons to Jrue Holiday (2021 NBA Champion) are because of the on-ball defender he has transformed into. He has become the primary on-ball defender and is making an early case for Most Improved Player award.
It will be an interesting storyline whenever Kevin Porter Jr. comes back from injury. Both players were extended by Milwaukee this past off-season on very team friendly deals and seem to be a part of the team’s future plans. If Rollins continues this great play, he could earn the full-time starting point guard role in Milwaukee and could keep Giannis Antetokounmpo in Milwaukee.
SG Austin Reaves – Los Angeles Lakers
2024 NBA Stats –> 2025 NBA Stats
- 20.2 PPG –> 31.1 PPG
- 5.8 APG –> 9.3 APG
- 4.5 RPG –> 5.1 RPG
- 46% FG –> 49% FG
In July of 2023, Reaves signed an extension with the Los Angeles Lakers for 4 years/$54 million, and it has turned into one of the biggest bargain contracts in the NBA. After having a career season in 2024, he has increased his scoring volume and has blossomed into one of the best scorers in the 2025 season. With LeBron James sidelined and Luka Doncic playing out of his mind, Reaves has become a better NBA player than anyone expected, especially after going undrafted in 2021.
To me, the most impressive improvement has come as a playmaker, averaging a career-high 9.3 assists. The scoring output has been incredible as well. On October 26 and 27, Los Angeles played back-to-back games, and Reaves put on a show, scoring 51 points in the first game and 41 in the second game.
The most interesting part of Austin Reaves and the Los Angeles Lakers situation is Reaves’ player option for the 2026-2027 that he is expected to decline. With the improvement offensively this season, if he continues similar production, Reaves could be owed a max contract. The 27-year-old could be a franchise cornerstone in Los Angeles for years to come.
PF Jerami Grant – Portland Trailblazers
(Troy Wayrynen | Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images)
2024 NBA Stats –> 2025 NBA Stats
- 14.4 PPG –> 20.3 PPG
- 37 FG% –> 50 FG%
- 37% 3PT –> 42 3PT%
- 38% 2PT –> 57 2PT%
Jerami Grant signed a 5-year/$160 million contract in the summer of 2023, with a player option for the 2027-2028 season. Portland signed Grant back as an attempt to keep Damian Lillard happy, but eventually, Lillard was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks. Grant has struggled to keep his value high, having one of the worst seasons of his career just last year. However, this year has been a completely different story.
Grant has come off the bench in every game this season and is quietly an early candidate for 6th Man of the Year. He has become more efficient in fewer minutes; however, his points-per-game have improved by almost six points. He has continued to be a solid defender as well, averaging about two stocks (steals and blocks) a night. Grant is also shooting at a career-high rate at the free-throw line, shooting 86%.
Grant is very close to shooting 50/40/90, and this has been an incredible start to a bounce-back campaign. However, if this level of production continues, he will surely become a trade asset for Portland, depending on where they are in the standings. Regardless, Grant has raised his value and has become a crucial part of Portland’s early-season success.
PF Julius Randle – Minnesota Timberwolves
(David Gonzales/Imagn Images)
2024 NBA Stats –> 2025 NBA Stats
- 18.7 PPG –> 25.9 PPG
- 4.7 APG –> 6.3 APG
- 49% FG –> 55% FG
- 34% 3PT –> 43% 3PT
Julius Randle has been a great player since entering the league in 2014, but Randle broke onto the scene in 2020-2021 for the New York Knicks and continued to be the primary scorer until Jalen Brunson joined the team. Randle would then be traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves in a blockbuster deal for Karl-Anthony Towns.
It took Randle most of the season to finally find his role in the Minnesota offense, and he played terrifically during the 2024-2025 NBA Playoffs. While helping the Timberwolves make it to the Western Conference Finals, Randle averaged 21.7 PPG while shooting over 50% from the field and 38% from three-point range. He has carried his stellar playoff performance into the 2025-2026 season, averaging a career high in points, and is currently shooting as efficiently as he ever has
Randle was resigned with Minnesota on a 3-year/ $100 million and with how he has started the season, the contract is looking like a bargain. Minnesota is confident that Randle can be the No.2 guy next to Anthony Edwards, and Minnesota should continue to rely on Randle.
