Nikola Jokic closed as the consensus favorite by the NBA MVP odds before winning the award for a third time to cash his shortNBA odds.
Nikola Jokic was drafted in the second round with a Taco Bell commercial playing over the selection in 2014. A decade later, he's a three-time MVP winner.
The Denver Nuggets star closed as the runaway favorite by ourbest sports betting sitesto take home his third NBA MVP Award. Sure enough, voters rewarded another masterclass from the Serbian center with a record-setting third trophy. He's the ninth player to pull that off and the first since LeBron James in 2013.
Jokic opened the season as the MVP favorite before fending off challenges from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City Thunder) and Luka Doncic (Dallas Mavericks). He also bested reigning MVP winner Joel Embiid, who was briefly the favorite but didn't hit the required 65 games to qualify.
In the end, none of them were a true match for Jokic, who helped keep the defending champion Nuggets near the top of the NBA championship odds.
Here's a look at the closing 2024 NBA MVPodds from ourbestNBA betting sites.
NBA MVP odds2024
(Odds as of April 16)
| Player | DraftKings | FanDuel | bet365 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nikola Jokic | -4000 | -7000 | -6600 |
| Luka Doncic | +2000 | +3000 | +1600 |
| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | +3000 | +3700 | +3000 |
2024 NBA Most Valuable Player winner
Nikola Jokic (-4000 via DraftKings)
It's nearly impossible to continue to rack up MVP awards when compared to the ghosts of your own brilliance. Somehow, Jokic continues to rise to the occasion.
By season's end, the Nuggets star ranked in the top 10 in points (26.4), rebounds (12.4), and assists (9.0), which all matched or sat above his marks from those two previous MVP campaigns. He also finished with a career high in win shares (17.0), more than 2.5 better than anyone else in 2023-24.
Jokic opened as the MVP favorite across ourbest sports betting apps, and while he briefly fell behind Embiid in January, the veteran reclaimed the top spot come February and never reliquished it amid a dominant campaign. We're witnessing history right now, and it's anyone's guess how many trophies Jokic will claim before he calls it quits.
NBA MVP odds over time
After opening as the MVP favorite ahead of the 2023-24 season, Jokic's most significant competition throughout the campaign was Embiid. Jokic then became the clear favorite after the 76ers star went down with a knee injury.
With Embiid not being able to hit the games played requirement for the award,Gilgeous-Alexander took the second spot behind Jokic in the odds race for a few months, but Doncic assumed that role late in the year with a strong surge since the All-Star break.
Neither had the juice to catch Jokic, who wrapped up his third MVP campaign in dominant fashion to leave no doubt in voters' minds.
NBA MVP opening odds
Odds as of Oct. 24, 2023
| Player | Odds |
|---|---|
| Nikola Jokic | +450 |
| Giannis Antetokounmpo | +600 |
| Luka Doncic | +600 |
| Jayson Tatum | +700 |
| Joel Embiid | +800 |
| Stephen Curry | +1400 |
| Kevin Durant | +1800 |
| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | +1800 |
| Devin Booker | +2000 |
| Donovan Mitchell | +3000 |
| Anthony Edwards | +3300 |
| Damian Lillard | +3500 |
| Anthony Davis | +4000 |
| De'Aaron Fox | +5000 |
| LeBron James | +5000 |
| Trae Young | +5000 |
| Zion Williamson | +5000 |
| Jalen Brunson | +6600 |
| Domantas Sabonis | +8000 |
| Jimmy Butler | +8000 |
| Kawhi Leonard | +8000 |
| Victor Wembanyama | +8000 |
| Jamal Murray | +10000 |
How to read NBA MVP odds
Reading NBA MVP odds involves understanding the implied probability and potential payouts associated with each player's odds of winning the MVP award. NBA MVP odds are typically presented in American odds. These use plus and minus symbols to indicate underdogs and favorites, respectively. For instance, if a player's odds are +500, a $100 bet would result in a $500 profit if the player wins, while odds of -200 would mean that a $200 bet is required to win $100 in profit.
When reading NBA MVP odds, lower odds indicate that a player has a higher probability of winning the award, while higher odds suggest that a player is considered less likely to win. Bettors should consider factors such as a player's performance, team success, and narrative appeal when evaluating MVP odds.
It's also important to compare odds across different sportsbooks to identify the best value bets. Additionally, bettors should keep in mind that MVP odds can fluctuate throughout the season based on player performance, injuries, and other factors, so staying informed and monitoring odds changes can be crucial for making informed betting decisions.
Past NBA MVP winners
| Year | Name | Team | Preseason odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-24 | Nikola Jokic | Denver Nuggets | +450 |
| 2022-23 | Joel Embiid | Philadelphia 76ers | +600 |
| 2021-22 | Nikola Jokic | Denver Nuggets | +1600 |
| 2020-21 | Nikola Jokic | Denver Nuggets | +2500 |
| 2019-20 | Giannis Antetokounmpo | Milwaukee Bucks | +210 |
| 2018-19 | Giannis Antetokounmpo | Milwaukee Bucks | +475 |
| 2017-18 | James Harden | Houston Rockets | +1100 |
NBA MVP FAQs
Who was the NBA MVP favorite?
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic closed as the clear betting favorite (-4000) heading into the final stretch of the NBA season, with Luka Doncic (+3000) dealing as the second choice across ourbest sportsbooks. Jokic's odds implied a 97.56% probability that he would win his third NBA MVP award in four seasons, which he ultimately did.
Who won the NBA MVP this year?
Nikola Jokic secured his third NBA MVP trophy in four seasons in 2023-24, ranking in thetop 10 in points (26.4), rebounds (12.4), and assists (9.0) to run away with the award.
Who won the NBA MVP last year?
Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid won the 2022-23 NBA MVP award for the first time in his career, becoming the first Sixers player to win it since Allen Iverson in 2000-2001.
When will the NBA MVP be decided?
With the 2023-24 award announced on Wednesday, May 8, during the NBA playoffs, we can expect next year's award to be decided at a similar time.
What is the NBA MVP trophy called?
The NBA MVP trophy was renamed as the Michael Jordan Trophy. It will be awarded annually to the NBA's most valuable player.
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Written By:
C Jackson Cowart Twitter link
C Jackson Cowart is an award-winning sports writer, reporter, and editor with nearly a decade of experience in the industry, with previous stops at theScore, Action Network, Forbes, and ESPN before joining the Sportsbook Review team. He's written about sports betting for the last five years, with a specialty in NFL, NBA, MLB, and collegiate futures markets and a weakness for novelty props and betting on the eventual runner-up. He's also an avid fantasy sports manager and commissioner and runs a sports card business on the side. He's a fiercely proud Oregon native and UNC alumnus, and he can't seem to stop betting on Ben Simmons to win MVP.
