NBA MVP Odds
The NBA season is slowly approaching with teams beginning training camp and their preseason this week. Now is the time to look at future props for the upcoming NBA season. The most prestigious individual award is the Most Valuable Player, which highlights who is the best player in a given season. Some of the greats have become cemented after winning this honor. Nikola Jokic has been the recipient of this award in 3 of the past 4 seasons, but I think some new blood will take the mantle. Here are three players I think are great bets to win the NBA MVP.
Luka Doncic (+360)
For the past few seasons, Luka Doncic has entered the season as one of the favorites to win the MVP but still has not been able to add it to his resume. However, I think this will be his best chance yet. Doncic has been one of the best scorers in all of basketball over the last two seasons specifically. Last season, Doncic led the league in scoring at 33.9 PPG, while finishing second the previous season at 32.4 PPG.
The issue for Doncic’s case to win MVP comes down to his team’s success compared to other players. Two years ago, Doncic and his Dallas Mavericks missed the postseason, while last season they finished as the 5th seed in the strong Western Conference. The MVP tends to lean toward the best player on a team that is a top 3 seed in their conference. Despite that 5th seed, however, the Mavs made it to the NBA Finals where they ultimately lost to the Boston Celtics.
Now the Mavs have real expectations to be true title contenders for the first time in Doncic’s young career. He is only 25 years old, but he is a proven winner in his time in Europe as a teenager. Doncic is not scared of the bright lights, so the newfound expectations put on the Mavs’ shoulders will not hinder his play. If the Mavs can pull off around 52-55 wins and a top 4 seed at the minimum, expect Doncic to firmly push himself into serious MVP consideration.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (+500)
The runner-up of the MVP last year, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, has an amazing opportunity to win it this season. His Oklahoma City Thunder are favorites to repeat as the one seed in the Western Conference. He is coming off back-to-back 30 PPG seasons. Everything is lining up for another MVP-caliber season for the young guard.
SGA was so close to winning it last season, but Nikola Jokic had another historic season that ultimately surpassed the season SGA had. Now that Jokic has his 3 MVPS in the last 4 years, I believe that voter fatigue will take place. Unless Jokic was to surpass his numbers from last season and the Nuggets get the one seed, I do not see a path for him to win MVP. SGA will be the number one guy on a team that has gotten immensely better on paper from last season.
The Thunder have a chance to eclipse the 60-win total, which puts a team in elite company. If SGA just replicates his play from the last two seasons on this upgraded version of the Thunder, there is no reason not to bet on SGA to win MVP.
Jayson Tatum (+2300)
I was looking at some of the longer shots to win MVP and there was one player that intrigued me the most. Some people might want to look at Anthony Edwards at +1200, but Jayson Tatum at +2300 is at such an astounding line that it becomes too good to pass up.
Tatum has his critics despite winning an NBA championship last season, but he did not capture the ECF MVP or Finals MVP in the Boston Celtics’ run to the title. That was then followed up by a few games during the Olympics that saw Tatum not get off the bench for Team USA. Despite all of the naysayers, Tatum is one of the best players in the NBA.
Tatum has finished as an All-NBA First Team player for three straight seasons now, while simultaneously finishing within the top 6 in MVP voting. Furthermore, the Celtics are the defending champs and still own the best roster from top to bottom in all of basketball.
The Celtics are chasing the back-to-back, but Tatum is also chasing greatness and his legacy. An MVP award can help put him in a category of players that does not have a lot of company. This could be a nice sprinkle that could lead to a huge payout.
Noel is from Philadelphia, PA. He went to West Chester University and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Communications in Media & Culture.
