Finals MVP

2025 NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Betting Odds

The 2025 NBA Finals Most Valuable Player betting odds have a pair of Boston Celtics from the reigning champions both near and at the top, but the race is extremely tight months before the regular season even gets underway.

Here's a look at where some of the more prominent candidates rank in the odds for the Bill Russell award.

2025 NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Odds

PlayerTeamOdds
Jayson TatumBoston Celtics+550
Shai Gilgeous-AlexanderOklahoma City Thunder+850
Nikola JokicDenver Nuggets+900
Joel EmbiidPhiladelphia 76ers+1000
Jalen BrunsonNew York Knicks+1100
Jaylen BrownBoston Celtics+1100
Luka DoncicDallas Mavericks+1100
Anthony EdwardsMinnesota Timberwolves+1300
Giannis AntetokounmpoMilwaukee Bucks+2000
Ja MorantMemphis Grizzlies+5000
Stephen CurryGolden State Warriors+5000
Paolo BancheroOrlando Magic+5000
Karl-Anthony TownsMinnesota Timberwolves+5000
LeBron JamesLos Angeles Lakers+5000
Jrue Holiday Boston Celtics+6000
Derrick WhiteBoston Celtics+6000
Kristaps PorzingisBoston Celtics+6000
Kevin DurantPhoenix Suns+6000
Jimmy ButlerMiami Heat+6000
Anthony DavisLos Angeles Lakers+6000

Odds as of September 26, 2024

2025 NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Betting Favorite: Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics

The Celtics are receiving some early love from oddsmakers and deservedly so after just hoisting the Larry O'Brien trophy for the first time since 2008. However, it's not the current Finals MVP holder Jaylen Brown with the strongest odds of all, as that distinction falls upon Jayson Tatum who received four of a possible 11 votes to lose out to Brown's seven. 

The league has had a unique champion each of the last six years, so a repeat title for Boston would mark the first time a franchise won back-to-back championships since the Golden State Warriors did so in 2017 and 2018. Recent history certainly isn't in the Celtics' favor, although they did only drop three total games in the playoffs en route to their Finals victory over the Dallas Mavericks, and this came after finishing the regular season with 64 wins to lead all teams. 

Tatum would undoubtedly be incentivized to gun for Finals Most Valuable Player should Boston return to the Finals, as losing once more to his All-Star teammate for a second-straight year wouldn't be great for the individual optics.  

Past 10 NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Winners

YearWinnerTeam
2024Jaylen BrownBoston Celtics
2023Nikola JokicDenver Nuggets
2022Stephen CurryGolden State Warriors
2021Giannis AntetokounmpoMilwaukee Bucks
2020LeBron JamesLos Angeles Lakers
2019Kawhi LeonardToronto Raptors
2018Kevin DurantGolden State Warriors
2017Kevin DurantGolden State Warriors
2016LeBron JamesCleveland Cavaliers
2015Andre Iguodala Golden State Warriors

Only former Warriors forward Kevin Durant has managed to repeat as Finals Most Valuable Player over the last decade. He joins LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, and Shaquille O'Neal as the only players since 2000 to do so.

Who Has Won The Most NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Awards?

NBA Finals MVP WinsPlayerTeamYears
6Michael JordanChicago Bulls1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998
4LeBron JamesMiami Heat (2), Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Lakers2012, 2013, 2016, 2020
3Tim DuncanSan Antonio Spurs1999, 2003, 2005
3Magic JohnsonLos Angeles Lakers1980, 1982, 1987
3Shaquille O'NealLos Angeles Lakers2000, 2001, 2002
2Kareem Abdul-JabbarMilwaukee Bucks, Los Angeles Lakers1971, 1985
2Larry BirdBoston Celtics1984, 1986
2Kobe BryantLos Angeles Lakers2009, 2010
2Kevin DurantGolden State Warriors2017, 2018
2Kawhi LeonardSan Antonio Spurs, Toronto Raptors2014, 2019
2Hakeem OlajuwonHouston Rockets1994, 1995
2Willis ReedNew York Knicks1970, 1973

The Finals Most Valuable Player award was first introduced in 1969 and won by Los Angeles Lakers legend Jerry West. Since its inception, only Michael Jordan and LeBron James have captured the award four or more times.

NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Winners By Position

PositionWinners
Small Forward15
Center14
Shooting Guard11
Point Guard9
Power Forward7

How To Read NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Odds

When you visit your NBA betting site of choice, you’ll notice 2025 NBA Finals Most Valuable Player odds laid out like this:

  • Jayson Tatum +750
  • Jaylen Brown +850
  • Shai Gilgeous-Alexander +850
  • Nikola Jokic +900

Unlike a moneyline bet where favorites are shown by the minus sign (-) and underdogs have a plus sign (+), the player with the lowest odds with the plus sign (+) is the favorite. In this scenario, Jayson Tatum is favored. If you were to bet $100 on Tatum in the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player betting odds and it hits, you would win $850 – your $100 is returned and you would get $750 in profit.

If you were to bet on which player will be named NBA Finals Most Valuable Player, you would make a futures bet.

What Is A Futures Bet?

This is a bet made on events that will happen in time. In this case, it’s NBA Finals Finals Most Valuable Player. To make a futures bet, you would first use the handicapping info on this page to make your decision. Our Odds Calculator can give you an idea of how much you’d win based on the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player odds and the amount of money you bet.

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