2023-24 NBA MVP odds: Kawhi Leonard, Jalen Brunson make leaps up oddsboard
With Joel Embiid‘s chances of repeating as NBA MVP all but gone due to his injuries, Jalen Brunson of the New York Knicks and Kawhi Leonard of the LA Clippers made a big move up the odds list.
Leonard, a two-time NBA Finals MVP (2014, ’19), moved from seventh in odds at +10000 to fifth at +2900.
Leonard had a streak of scoring 25 or more points end at six games on Wednesday.
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He averages 24.2 points, 6.2 rebounds and 3.8 assists for the Clippers, who recently won 10 out of 12 games.
Brunson has scored 27 or more points in six straight games heading into Saturday to move to +6000. Brunson’s odds were at +25000 on Jan. 25.
Denver‘s Nikola Jokić, a two-time MVP, remained steady atop the oddsboard at -150.
Oklahoma City guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander remains second but his odds dipped slightly to +290 from +230.
Let’s take a look at the latest MVP odds.
ODDS TO WIN 2023-24 NBA MVP:*
Nikola Jokić, Nuggets: -150 (bet $10 to win $16.67 total)
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Thunder: +290 (bet $10 to win $39 total)
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks: +650 (bet $10 to win $75 total)
Luka Dončić, Mavericks: +1000 (bet $10 to win $110 total)
Kawhi Leonard, Clippers: +2900 (bet $10 to win $300 total)
Jalen Brunson, Knicks: +6000 (bet $10 to win $610 total)
Jayson Tatum, Celtics: +7500 (bet $10 to win $760 total)
* odds as of 2/10/2024
FOX Sports NBA Analyst Ric Bucher has Brunson third on his NBA MVP ladder behind Jokić and Gilgeous-Alexander.
“While the acquisition of OG Anunoby certainly spurred the Knicks’ 14-2 record in January, so did Brunson’s plus-minus jumping to a stratospheric plus-25.8,” Bucher said.
Gilgeous-Alexander has scored 28 or more points in 10 of his past 12 games for the Thunder.
“While the elimination of Embiid and his chance at back-to-back MVP awards clears the path for Jokić to win his third in four years, the race is far from over,” Bucher said.
“If the Thunder should make the massive leap from lottery to best record in the Western Conference, point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is going to have a compelling case in light of the relative inexperience of the Oklahoma City roster.”
FOX Sports Betting Analyst Jason McIntyre weighed in on the MVP award before the season started (Editor’s Note: Expert’s MVP pick made in July):
Only three players stand out to me early as possibly actionable MVP bets to make for the upcoming season.
Jayson Tatum, Celtics
Having advanced to the conference finals in four of the last six years, the Celtics are one of my favorites to win the title, and Tatum is the primary reason. I’m buying the trade of Marcus Smart as a win for the Celtics and Tatum. It will enable the 25-year-old to be the true leader of this team, something Smart has been since entering the league.
Tatum’s points, rebounds and assists have all gone up each year he’s been in the league, and his 30-8-4 were all career highs last year. A first-team All-NBA player each of the last two seasons, I expect him to win the MVP — and an NBA title.
PICK: Jayson Tatum (+800 at time of pick) to win MVP
Nikola Jokić, Nuggets
The two-time MVP is coming off an NBA title, Finals MVP, and the unofficial title of best player in the NBA. He’s the favorite for a third MVP, largely on the heels of an insane playoff run where he averaged 30-12-9 over 20 games and also hit a staggering 46% of 3-pointers. So why not bet on him?
You can’t quantify his desire now that he already has a title and his trophy case has everything. Knowing he’s done it all, will we see him pull back in the regular season to save himself for the postseason? We saw that late last season, and it worked. Either way, he’s the best player in the game, so worth a sprinkle.
PICK: Nikola Jokić (+430 at time of pick) to win MVP
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Thunder
If I’m looking for a super sleeper to win the MVP next year, it has to be SGA. Having just turned 25, he is coming off an excellent season in which he averaged a career-high 31 points and was first-team All-NBA.
Before you scoff, remember the Sacramento Kings improved by 18 wins last year, and the Thunder might be a breakout candidate, as they look to build on the play-in appearance last year while adding Chet Holmgren to the starting lineup.
PICK: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (+1700 at time of pick) to win MVP
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