There’s a new big man favored to be named the 2023-24 NBA MVP.
Philadelphia‘s Joel Embiid is atop the odds list after his historic statistical run broke a franchise record held by Wilt Chamberlain and threatens another league mark held by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
Embiid’s odds shortened from +330 to +155 over the past week, as he passed Denver‘s Nikola Jokić on the board. Embiid, last season’s MVP, was at +650 the previous week.
Jokić is seeking his third MVP award, as he won following the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons.
Let’s look at the latest odds of winning the prestigious award.
ODDS TO WIN 2023-24 NBA MVP*
Joel Embiid, 76ers: +155 (bet $10 to win $25.50 total)
Nikola Jokić, Nuggets: +330 (bet $10 to win $43 total)
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Thunder: +650 (bet $10 to win $75 total)
Luka Dončić, Mavericks: +700 (bet $10 to win $80 total)
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks: +1000 (bet $10 to win $110 total)
Jayson Tatum, Celtics: +2800 (bet $10 to win $290 total)
De’Aaron Fox, Kings: +2800 (bet $10 to win $290 total)
Tyrese Haliburton, Pacers: +4500 (bet $10 to win $460 total)
Kevin Durant, Suns: +4500 (bet $10 to win $460 total)
Devin Booker, Suns: +4500 (bet $10 to win $460 total)
Anthony Edwards, Timberwolves: +5500 (bet $10 to win $560 total)
Steph Curry, Warriors: +5500 (bet $10 to win $560 total)
*odds as of 12/23/2023
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Embiid has 13 consecutive games with at least 30 points and 10 rebounds.
His ninth 30/10 game in a row broke Chamberlain’s 1965 franchise record.
His 30/10 streak is the longest in the NBA since Abdul-Jabbar (16 games in a row in 1971-72) and Elgin Baylor (15 straight in 1961-62).
Embiid has scored 30 points or more in 14 straight games, the most in the NBA since James Harden did it 32 games in a row in 2018-19.
Embiid will look to extend his streaks at the Miami Heat on Monday.
Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has surged to third on the odds list after scoring 25 or more points in seven straight games.
Dallas’ Luka Dončić fell from third (+360) to fourth (+700) after his streak of scoring 30 or more points ended Wednesday. The Mavericks have lost three of their past four games.
FOX Sports Betting Analyst Jason McIntyre weighed in on the award (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
