2022 NBA Most Valuable Player Odds – NBA MVP
Denver Nuggets big man Nikola Jokic entered the 2021-2022 season as the reigning NBA MVP but he faces tough opposition to retain the title. The Serbian became the first NBA Draft 2nd Round pick to collect the award and pre-season odds had him at +1600 to repeat this year. He has had a strong start to the season though, particularly in late November/early December. He is currently averaging 26.5 PPG, 13.5 RPG and 7.5 APG.
Strong performances like his 39-point triple-double in the win over the New Orleans Pelicans in early December have kept him in the MVP conversation although most would regard him as fourth in the running at the time of writing. His current odds of +1300 with VIPCasino.ca reflect that.
Lets take a look at the current state of play in the NBA MVP race. (*All odds correct at the time of writing.)
Pre-season Favourites
Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic lead the pre-season betting with odds of +400 to lift the Maurice Podoloff Trophy this season. However, the Mavericks and Doncic have not yet lived up to the billing this season and currently sit with a below .500 record in the Western Conference. The Slovenian has averaged over 25 points-per-game this season but has admitted to his own fitness and conditioning struggles which has hampered him throughout the season. This has seen Doncic slip down the MVP betting and he now holds odds of +3500.
Likewise, Joel Embiid was considered a real favourite for the MVP award this season. Although not mentioned in our own season preview, Embiid was listed as second favourite behind Doncic before the first tip-off of the season. When fit and healthy, the Cameroonian star has put in some major performances for the Philadelphia 76ers. However, too many missed games due to COVID-19 and other injuries have all but ruled the 7-footer of the running this season. Still, his value to this 76ers roster is obvious. Embiid is their key man on both ends of the floor and they perform at a much higher level when he is on the court.
The MVP Contenders
As we approach the busy Christmas period of NBA action, there seems to be three main MVP contenders emerging. Former teammates Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant have lead their respective franchises to league best records with the Golden State Warriors and Brooklyn Nets. Giannis Antetokounmpo added a Finals MVP to his collection of regular season MVP awards and he has once again been one of the league’s leading lights.
Stephen Curry
Two-time NBA MVP Stephen Curry is listed as favourite to be named MVP for a third time in the 2021-2022 season. The Golden State Warriors have reclaimed their spot at the top of the Western Conference after two down seasons and are second favourites to lift the Larry O’Brien Trophy at the end of the season.
Curry has been instrumental to their success once again with some breathtaking displays of shooting and playmaking throughout the season. Curry is averaging 5.4 3-pointers made per game and made worldwide headlines recently after breaking Ray Allen’s record to become the NBA’s all-time leader in 3-pointers with 2974 career 3s and counting.
The three-time NBA champion has improved on the defensive end as well and he has stood out from a strong supporting cast of Draymond Green, Andrew Wiggins and more. With fellow Splash Brother Klay Thompson due back from injury in the new year, the Warriors will be there or thereabouts come the end of the season. Currently listed at +130 with VIPCasino.ca, Curry looks like the man to beat in this year’s MVP race.
Kevin Durant
Curry’s former Warriors’ teammate also has a strong claim on the MVP trophy this season. His Brooklyn Nets have really struggled to put a consistent starting five on the floor throughout the season but Durant has managed to put the team on his back and lead them to the top of the Eastern Conference. The 2014 MVP has scored 20+ points in all but one game this season and leads the league with 30+ point games with 13 at the time of writing.
Fellow former MVP James Harden has struggled at times during the season while Kyrie Irving has yet to play a game due to his COVID-19 vaccination status. Joe Harris has been sidelined with injury and the Brooklyn side have been down to the bare bones of a playing squad on multiple occasions throughout the year. Some of Durant’s best performances came during a period where the Nets squad struggled with COVID-19, at times only suiting up 8 active players for a game.
KD’s 51-point performance in the win against the Detroit Pistons saw him overtake Stephen Curry’s 50-point tally as this season’s top scorer in a single game. In the same week he led an undermanned Nets side to wins against the Toronto Raptors and Philadelphia 76ers.
At the moment, most bookmakers see this year’s MVP race coming down to a battle between Durant and Curry. Durant is currently listed at +240 with VIPCasino.ca.
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Seemingly one of the only real threats to the Curry/Durant duopoly at the top of the MVP race. The Greek Freak now has a NBA title and NBA Finals MVP to add to his collection of two MVPs (2019 & 2020), Defensive Player of the Year Award (2020) and countless other trophies. The Bucks star is still on a charge though and he has been just as impressive this season with 27 points-per-game.
Similar to Durant, Antetokounmpo has had to carry the Milwaukee Bucks for long period as his team were hit with multiple absentees due to health and safety protocols and other injuries. The Bucks slow start to the season could be attributed to a championship hangover and Giannis seemed to be well off the pace in the early part of the season. However, he has recovered his form of late and helped Milwaukee power up the standings to 4th in the Eastern Conference.
There’s still plenty more to come from Antetokounmpo and he remains our MVP pick as he was in our pre-season preview.
NBA MVP Betting
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