UPDATED NBA’S MOST VALUABLE PLAYER ODDS – DECEMBER 21, 2023
Greetings, basketball fans. Welcome back to our NBA coverage here at Latest Basketball News.
We are about a third of the way through the 2023-24 campaign, which means it is a suitable time to see which players are in the running for the annual season awards.
Last season, Joel Embiid was the league’s most valuable player. Is he the odds-on favorite to win it again? Let us take an early peak at which players have the best odds to win the MVP award. 
Fifth-Best NBA MVP Odds – Giannis Antetokounmpo (+1000)
Giannis Antetokounmpo comes in at the fifth spot in this category. Giannis is averaging over 30 points and 11 rebounds per game for the second straight season. Also, this is the sixth straight season in which he is averaging over five assists per contest. It is also worth mentioning that he is shooting a career-best 61.1 percent from the field, which proves not only is he a capable scorer, but he does so in a very efficient manner.
Over his last 10 outings, Antetokounmpo is averaging 31.8 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 6.6 assists. For December, he is averaging 32.4 points, 11.8 rebounds, and seven assists per outing. While there are several players ahead of him in this race, it will not be a surprise if he moves up the ladder as the season progresses.
Fourth-Best NBA MVP Odds – Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (+900)
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander comes in at the No. 4 spot on this list. On the season, SGA is averaging 30.7 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 5.7 assists on shooting splits of .538/.325/.914. This marks the second straight year in which he is averaging over 30 points, four rebounds and five assists.
Over his last 10 outings, Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 31.2 points, 6.5 assists, and 5.0 rebounds per contest on 53.9 percent shooting from the field. During December, he is averaging 30.9 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game.
While he does have a lot of ground to make up in the MVP conversation, his level of play is a contributing factor as to why the Oklahoma City Thunder are a top-five team in the always competitive Western Conference.
Third-Best NBA MVP Odds – Luka Doncic (+550)
Luka Doncic comes in at the No. 3 spot on this list. Doncic was the early frontrunner in the MVP race last season before fading down the stretch. On the season, Doncic is averaging 32.7 points, 9.1 assists, and 8.4 rebounds per contest on 48.5 percent shooting from the floor and 32.5 percent from beyond the arc. He has the second-highest scoring average in the association, and this is the second straight season in which he has averaged over 30 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists.
Over his last 10 outings in December, Doncic is averaging 35.7 points, 11.4 assists, and 9.2 rebounds. During his career, Doncic has proven to be a capable scorer and a willing facilitator. Barring an unforeseen drop-off, he should continue to be a fixture on this list going forward.
Second-Best NBA MVP Odds – Nikola Jokic (+275)
The player with the second-best odds to win the MVP is none other than Nikola Jokic of the defending champion Denver Nuggets. On the season, Jokic is averaging 26.5 points, 12.4 rebounds, and 9.1 assists per outing. This marks the fourth season in which he is averaging a double-double. It should also be worth mentioning that he averaged a triple-double during the 2021-22 season.
Over his last 10 outings, Jokic is averaging 22.0 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 9.5 assists. While his points-per-game average (26.2) puts him in the middle of the pack in terms of scoring, Jokic is a solid rebounder and the fact that a center averages over nine assists per outing in today’s game is unfathomable.
Jokic won the MVP award in 2020-21 and 2021-22. And if he continues to play at this level, he will always be in the most valuable player conversation.
Top NBA MVP Odds – Joel Embiid (+180)
The player with the best odds to win the league MVP award is Joel Embiid, who won the award last season. During his MVP campaign, he averaged 33.1 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game. As impressive as those stats are, Embiid has been even better this year.
On the season, the NBA’s top scorer is averaging 35.1 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 5.9 assists per contest on shooting splits of .541/.333/.893. Over his last 10 outings, Embiid’s averages include 39.6 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per contest.
In the eight games he has played in December, Embiid has scored 35 or more points seven times during that stretch. This includes a 51-point effort against the Minnesota Timberwolves – the team with the league’s best record.
This was the second time he has scored 50 points this season. Although we have not reached the halfway mark of the season, for the time being, betting on Embiid to win the award in back-to-back seasons looks like a viable choice.