NBA Most Valuable Player Odds For 2023-24
Player | Team | Odds |
---|---|---|
Nikola Jokic | Denver Nuggets | -270 |
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | Oklahoma City Thunder | +370 |
Luka Doncic | Dallas Mavericks | +850 |
Giannis Antetokounpo | Milwaukee Bucks | +2000 |
Jayson Tatum | Boston Celtics | +5500 |
Anthony Edwards | Minnesota Timberwolves | +16000 |
Odds as of March 15, 2024
Favorite: Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets (-270)
LeBron James winning MVP on four occasions across five seasons (2008-13) is the last time we saw a player take home the hardware as frequently as Jokic is seemingly on the verge of doing.
The battle for the top seed in the Western Conference has been a tough one, but the reigning champion Denver Nuggets have been there every step of the way thanks in large part to Jokic's contributions.
He's the only player in basketball averaging at least 26 points, 12 rebounds, and nine assists per game.
Contender: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder (+330)
Voter fatigue may tilt some votes in favor of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who is the driving force behind arguably the best story in basketball this season with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
In fact, whichever team finishes higher than the other could ultimately dictate who takes home MVP honors.
Previous 10 NBA MVP Winners
Year | Player | Team | Opening Odds (Pre-Season) | Closing Ends (End of Regular Season) |
---|---|---|---|---|
2023 | Joel Embiid | Philadelphia 76ers | +600 | -201 |
2022 | Nikola Jokic | Denver Nuggets | +1600 | -285 |
2021 | Nikola Jokic | Denver Nuggets | +2500 | -8500 |
2020 | Giannis Antetokounmpo | Milwaukee Bucks | +210 | -950 |
2019 | Giannis Antetokounmpo | Milwaukee Bucks | +475 | -1100 |
2018 | James Harden | Houston Rockets | +1100 | +175 |
2017 | Russell Westbrook | Oklahoma City Thunder | +200 | -700 |
2016 | Stephen Curry | Golden State Warriors | +650 | -400 |
2015 | Stephen Curry | Golden State Warriors | +1600 | -300 |
2014 | Kevin Durant | Oklahoma City Thunder | +300 | -260 |
As we get further into the season, it’s natural for MVP odds to dip – over the past ten years, Nikola Jokic’s 2021 win represents the largest drop in odds, while Kevin Durant in 2014 represents the smallest. Sizable odds prior to the start of the season, even for the previous year’s winner, show us that wagering on the MVP early can have massive payoffs if you’re willing to take a risk.
Keep in mind that the NBA’s Most Valuable Player award is given to the player who is considered the best player in the league during the regular season – it does not take into account playoff performance or past season performances. The award is voted on by a panel of basketball writers after the season concludes.
Fun fact
James Harden is the only player on this list with odds higher than 2:1 by the end of the regular season.
Who has won the most NBA MVP awards?
Player | # MVP Awards Won | Winning Team of MVP |
---|---|---|
Kareem-Abdul-Jabbar | 6 | Milwaukee Bucks (3), Los Angeles Lakers (3) |
Bill Russell | 5 | Boston Celtics |
Michael Jordan | 5 | Chicago Bulls |
Wilt Chamberlain | 4 | Philadelphia 76ers |
LeBron James | 4 | Cleveland Cavaliers (2), Miami Heat (2) |
Moses Malone | 3 | Houston Rockets (2), Philadelphia 76ers (1) |
Larry Bird | 3 | Boston Celtics |
Magic Johnson | 3 | Los Angeles Lakers |
It’s no surprise seeing Abdul-Jabbar’s name at the top of this list –one of the best players of all time, he dominated the league six times between two different squads, earning his rightful place as the most decorated MVP winner in the NBA. Tailing him, Bill Russell and Michael Jordan contributed five MVP wins within ten years each.
NBA Teams with the Most MVP Winners
Team | # MVP Awards Won | Most Recent Winner |
---|---|---|
Boston Celtics | 10 | Larry Bird (1986) |
Los Angeles Lakers | 8 | Kobe Bryant (2008) |
Philadelphia 76ers | 7 | Joel Embiid (2023) |
Chicago Bulls | 6 | Derrick Rose (2011) |
Milwaukee Bucks | 5 | Giannis Antetokounmpo (2020) |
Houston Rockets | 4 | James Harden (2018) |
Although Boston tops our list with 10 MVP winners throughout their history, they haven’t had a player earn the honor in over 30 years – Bill Russel contributes half of these honors alone. The Lakers are just behind their rivals with a star-studded cast of MVPs including Kareem-Abdul-Jabbar, Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neill and Magic Johnson.
NBA MVP Winners by Position
Position | # MVP Awards Won |
---|---|
Center | 29 |
Point Guard | 11 |
Power Forward | 11 |
Small Forward | 9 |
Shooting Guard | 8 |
Centers are a favorite candidate for MVP, and it’s not hard to see why – inherent size and athleticism helps them create defensive shutdowns, secure rebounds and power through defenders on offense.
In a role that allows excellence at all levels of the game, a star center can both completely stump the opponent’s offense and rack up points for their side of the board; this gives them heightened attention in the NBA media and promotes their case for MVP candidacy throughout the season.
How To Read NBA Awards Odds
When you visit your NBA betting site of choice, you’ll notice 2023-24 NBA MVP odds laid out like this:
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 fave. In this scenario, Luka Doncic is favored. If you were to bet $100 on Doncic in the NBA MVP betting odds and it hits, you would win $550 – your $100 is returned and you would get $450 in profit.
If you were to bet on which player will be named MVP, 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 MVP. 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 MVP odds and the amount of money you bet.
For example, Embiid, last year’s MVP, is at +1200, giving him a 7.69 percent implied chance of winning the award. A $100 bet on Joker would pay out $1,300.