2023-24 NBA Top Five MVP Candidates, Odds and Picks
The NBA season is past the halfway point and teams have already started making moves. With the All-Star Break approaching, the top 5 MVP list is taking shape and the contenders are starting to overtake the pretenders.
Top-Five MVP Candidates:
Here are my Top Five MVP candidates in the NBA at this point along with their current odds to take the award.
#1. Joel Embiid Phi (+130) - A 70-point game will certainly wake up the MVP voters. Embiid let it be known on Monday night that he isn’t quite ready to relinquish the throne. Last Week’s Rank: 2nd
#2. Nikola Jokic (+230) - Jokic is right there with Embiid. In the end, it will be interesting to see if he overtakes Embiid if his team looks to be in a better position to win the title while having similar statistics to him. Last Week’s Rank: 1st
#3. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (+400) - Gilgeous-Alexander looked like an MVP this week in closeout fashion in OKC wins. He is certainly in line to earn his first-ever All-NBA first-team selection. Last Week’s Rank: 3rd
#4. Giannis Antetokounmpo (+1100) - Keep an eye on Giannis as the Bucks contemplate firing their head coach. All the pressure will shift to their star. He can either close out the season like an MVP or fall flat on his face as perhaps the lynchpin for his head coach’s firing. Last Week’s Rank: 4th
#5. Jayson Tatum (+2500) - Tatum overtakes Doncic this week as he continues to shine as the best player on the NBA’s top team. Tatum is scoring less this season but his defense is better, his assists are up and his efficiency is better than ever. Last Week’s Rank: Unranked
In parenthesis, conference odds and finals odds. Player MVP props are also in parenthesis. All odds Courtesy of Draftkings.com.
By Mark Ruelle