First-time All-Stars are often the top contenders for the NBA’s Most Improved Player award. Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey became the fifth consecutive MIP (and seventh in the past eight years) to earn his first All-Star selection in the same season he won the award.

Improvement in the NBA is tricky to categorize — and even harder to compare when three players have improved in three different ways. Cade Cunningham, Norman Powell and Tyler Hero are currently the leaders for the NBA's Most Improved Player... and each has taken a drastically different path to get here.