NBA Fans had a field day after new odds for the Most Improved Player race came out. A post from @TheDunkCentral said Jalen Duren is the clear favorite with a 33% chance to win the award, based on numbers from @PlayProphetX. Right behind him is Josh Giddey at 17%, and that single number was enough to send NBA Fans into full roast mode.
Jalen Duren is a heavy favorite to win Most Improved Player of the Year, per @PlayProphetX
He has a 33% chance to win the award, with the next closest being Josh Giddey at 17%.
(Via https://t.co/F1e8y69T86) pic.twitter.com/JNSD2zBIcb
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) November 19, 2025

The replies wasted no time. @ethanraetzel threw the first stone with, “Heard giddey likes them being at 17.”
NBA Fans instantly knew what he was referring to, and the thread lit up like it was a rivalry night.
Another user, @Lebronin1, didn’t even try to hide the confusion, asking, “Why does Giddey have a 17% chance,” which echoed the general reaction across the replies.
The debate wasn’t really about basketball. NBA Fans weren’t arguing about Giddey’s shot creation or playmaking. They were reacting to the idea that he’s sitting second in the Most Improved odds despite a past controversy that many still talk about. The moment that 17% number dropped, the jokes practically wrote themselves.
But the odds are the odds. Duren being the heavy favorite makes sense since he took a big step last season and looked like a different player on both ends of the court. His presence alone has Detroit fans feeling good about at least one thing this year. Giddey landing in second place might surprise a lot of NBA Fans, but PlayProphetX’s model sees potential in his expanded role and more stable situation.
Still, none of that stopped the roasting. Whenever Giddey’s name shows up in these discussions, NBA Fans turn it into comedy hour, and this time the jokes were sharper than usual. The Most Improved race isn’t just a basketball conversation; it’s a magnet for reactions, punchlines, and reminders of storylines that haven’t completely faded.
Knicks’ Old Trades Come Back To Haunt Them as Fans Revisit the Jalen Duren Deal
NBA Fans dug up old frustrations again after a reminder from @CadesAttorney saying,
“Just remembered the Knicks are the reason we have Jalen Duren.”
Just remembered the Knicks are the reason we have Jalen Duren pic.twitter.com/2yAj2A1uNW
— Cades Attorney 💼👨🏾💼 (@CadesAttorney) November 20, 2025

It didn’t take long for the replies to spark another round of what-ifs, especially among New York supporters who still think the move was one of the team’s biggest missteps.
The response from @Pistons__Talk summed it up perfectly. Detroit took on aging players with tough contracts so the Knicks could make space to chase Jalen Brunson.
“They didn’t have the cap space at the time to go and get him,” the post said, pointing straight to the logic behind the deal. That part is true: the trade wasn’t random—New York needed room, and clearing salary was the only way.
The problem is what came with that decision. That same deal led to the pick that turned into Duren, a player who is now leading the Most Improved Player race and giving NBA Fans more reasons to revisit the move. Knicks fans haven’t forgotten. @italkball15 said, “Don’t remind me man [crying emoji description] stg I said it was stupid that we just gave that pick away for cap,” which matches the frustration that’s been hanging around for years.

NBA Fans pointed out that the Knicks did get Brunson, who became their best signing in a long time. But the trade still stings because Duren turned into more than just a solid piece for Detroit. He became central to their rebuild, and he’s the reason the original conversation started again in the first place.
NBA Fans love rewriting history, and this is one of those trades that always comes back whenever Duren does something impressive. It’s the kind of long-term regret that keeps threads alive and fans arguing about what could’ve been.
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Dan has been active in sports since 2016 and has worked behind the scenes as a scriptwriter for basketball, volleyball, and other sports. At a time, Dan has also been working as a sports commentator for CBA Pilipinas. During the pandemic, he has also been actively writing betting articles for CashBet and BetNow.
