NBA MVP odds 2023: Nikola Jokic the favorite, Jayson Tatum among value bets
With NBA All-Star Weekend on the horizon, awards races for MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, Sixth Man of the Year, Returning Player of the Year and Rookie the year are beginning to take shape. The NBA MVP run has been the most interesting to watch, as two-time winner (and betting favorite) Nikola Jokic has been outstanding this season and could end up winning a third straight MVP.
However, the All-Star center has notable competition for MVP this season. Joel Embiid, Jayson Tatum, Luka Doncic and Giannis Antetokounmpo all had memorable performances and are the best players in their respective teams.
Below we have the latest odds from BetMGM on the current favorite to win the MVP and a few sleepers who also need to be on bettors’ radar to start the month.
2023 NBA MVP Odds
All odds courtesy of BetMGM
Player Odds Nikola Jokic, Nuggets -105 Joel Embiid, 76ers +260 Luka Doncic, Mavericks +550 Jayson Tatum, Celtics +1000 Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks +1300 Ja Morant, Grizzlies +3000 Kevin Durant, Nets +4000 Stephen Curry, Warriors + 5000 LeBron James, Lakers +5000 Donovan Mitchell, Cavaliers +10000 Zion Williamson, Pelicans +15000 Damian Lillard, Trail Blazers +15000 Devin Booker, Suns +50000 Trae Young, Hawks +50000 Kawhi Leonard, Clippers +50000 Jimmy Butler, Heat +50000 Anthony Edwards, Timberwolves +50,000 Paul George, Clippers +50,000 Kyrie Irving, Nets +50,000 Pascal Siakam, Raptors +50,000 Jaylen Brown, Celtics +50,000 De’Aaron Fox, Kings +50,000 James Harden, 76ers +50,000 Julius Randle, Knicks +50,000 Tyrese Haliburton, Pacers +50,000 NBA MVP 2023 odds: Favorites
Nikola Jokic, Nuggets (-105). Unsurprisingly, Jokic is the favorite to win his third straight MVP. The All-Star center has been phenomenal this season for the Nuggets, averaging a triple-double with 25.1 points, 11.1 rebounds and 10 assists per game. Jokic’s outstanding play is one of the main reasons Denver has the best record in the West (35-16) and the second-best record in the NBA behind the Celtics.
When Jokic won the NBA MVP title last season, he averaged a career-high 27.1 points, career-high 13.8 rebounds, and 7.9 assists per game. If the Nuggets can retain the No. 1 seed in the NBA Western Conference, it will be hard to deny Jokic his third straight league MVP, putting him in rare company with Larry Bird, Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell.
Joel Embiid, 76ers (+230). If there’s one player who could prevent Jokic from winning his third straight MVP, it’s Embiid. The multiple-time All-Star was snubbed as a starter in this year’s NBA All-Star Game despite leading the NBA in points (33.6 points per game) and with a average of 10 rebounds per game. Embiid has produced many incredible performances this season, including last weekend against the Nuggets when he registered 47 points (18/31 FG, 4/7 3pt), 18 rebounds and five assists, clearly ahead of Jokic (24 points, eight rebounds, nine assists).
Embiid finished second to Jokic in last year’s NBA voting after receiving 26 votes for first place. If punters want to take Embiid to win MVP at odds of +230, that’s not a bad idea, especially since he’s booming. If he continues to score more than 34 points per night, as he did in November, December and January, Embiid’s chances will become slimmer for league MVP.
2023 NBA MVP Odds: Values
Jayson Tatum, Celtics (+1000). We were thinking of putting Luke Doncic in the value category, but at +550 odds he’s on the outside looking at the two favourites. As for Tatum, he has a career year for the Celtics after leading them to an NBA Finals berth last season. This season, the 24-year-old Tatum is posting a career-high 31.1 points, 8.7 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game. He also shoots 46.5% from the field and 35% from three points.
Last month, Tatum averaged a double-double with 31.3 points and 10.1 rebounds per game. The 6-8 wing has the Celtics with the best record in the NBA (36-15). If he continues to average over 30 points per game, Tatum is worth sprinkling a few bucks at +1000 because that value won’t be there in a few weeks.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks (+1300). The former two-time MVP is getting lost in the MVP convo because of the quality of Jokic, Tatum, Embiid and Doncic this season. However, don’t sleep on the “Greek Freak,” which has the Bucks sitting in second place in the East with a 34-17 record.
Antetokounmpo leads Milwaukee in points (31.8), rebounds (12.2) and is second in assists (5.2) behind Jrue Holiday (7.2). It will be hard for Giannis to top those four in front of them, who are putting up ridiculous numbers every night. However, if Antetokounmpo can take the Bucks to first place in the East, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to invest a few dollars in his MVP ratings.