The NBA MVP race has been hotly contested over the past six years, and this season could once again go down to the wire. No American-born player has won it since James Harden in 2018, and three of the top four candidates heading into this NBA season are foreign-born players in Luka Doncic, Nikola Jokic, and Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Below, we’re taking a look at NBA MVP odds for the upcoming season, with a breakdown of the candidacy for each of the top favorites at NBA betting sites.
NBA MVP favorites
Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks
Coming off an incredible postseason run that brought the Dallas Mavericks to the NBA Finals, Doncic is favored to break through and win his first MVP. The prolific point guard played 70 games last year, averaging a league-high 33.9 points per game to go along with 9.8 assists and 9.2 rebounds. He finished third in MVP voting with four first-place votes, marking the first time any of the panel of 100 voters had given him a first-place nod.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder
Oklahoma City is the favorite to finish with the best record in the Western Conference after loading up on some key role players this offseason. Gilgeous-Alexander finished fifth in MVP voting two years ago and received 15 first-place votes while finishing just behind Jokic last year. His efficiency numbers were off the charts while averaging 30.1 points and 6.2 assists per game last season. A quad injury cost him six games in late March and April, which might have swung the vote for a few panelists.
Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
After winning the MVP in three of the past four seasons, Jokic might have a tough time overcoming the “voter fatigue” that has prevented dominant players from winning several MVP awards in one decade. While only LeBron James has won four MVPs in five seasons, Jokic is capable of putting up good enough numbers to repeat that feat. He averaged close to a triple-double once again with 26.4 points, 12.4 rebounds, and nine assists per game last season to earn 79 first-place votes. Jokic still received 15 first-place votes in the 2022-23 season when he lost out on the award to Joel Embiid.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
The Bucks had a rollercoaster season last year and faded away down the stretch under new coach Doc Rivers. With Damian Lillard healthy and Rivers benefitting from a full training camp, Milwaukee could once again compete for the top spot in the Eastern Conference and earn Giannis more MVP consideration. After winning the award in 2018 and 2019, Giannis has twice finished third and twice finished fourth in MVP voting with a total of 23 first-place votes over those four seasons. His impact on both ends of the floor is undeniable, and the Bucks could have a huge turnaround defensively with Antetokounmpo leading the way.
Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves
A rising star and the clear-cut first option on a team that needs more offense, Edwards has a chance to earn MVP consideration if he leads the Wolves to the top seed in the Western Conference. His defensive prowess was a huge part of Minnesota’s league-best defensive rating last season, and he also averaged 25.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 5.1 assists, finishing seventh in MVP voting.
Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics
Tatum has put up the best raw numbers on a loaded Celtics team that posted the best record (64-18) in the NBA by a wide margin last season. With averages of 26.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 4.9 assists on 47% field goal shooting, he posted his best season yet but finished sixth in MVP voting in part because of the amount of talent throughout the rest of Boston’s starting lineup.
Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks
Brunson was heroic for a shorthanded Knicks squad last season, averaging 28.7 points and 6.7 assists while shooting 48% from the field and 40% from 3-point range last season. The point guard should have more talent around him this year with Karl-Anthony Towns coming over via trade, which could bolster his assists but lower his usage rate. Brunson finished fifth in MVP voting without a first-place nod last year.
Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs
Could Wemby make the leap from Rookie of the Year to MVP in one season? The 7-foot-5 sensation is already the prohibitive favorite to win Defensive Player of the Year, and he could earn MVP consideration if his offensive numbers improve and he leads the Spurs to a playoff spot. Sportsbooks are offering specials on Wembanyama reaching all sorts of single-game achievements, including potentially posting the first quadruple-double since David Robinson did it for the Spurs in 1994.