Joel Embiid denied Nikola Jokić a 3rd consecutive MVP final season, however the Denver Nuggets star is the odds-on favourite to win the award this 12 months, which might put him in an unique membership of gamers to win three MVPs.
Invoice Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Adbul-Jabbar, Moses Malone, Larry Fowl, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan and LeBron James are the one gamers in league historical past who’ve hoisted the newly named Michael Jordan Trophy three or extra instances. As a -150 favourite, Jokić is on his solution to changing into the ninth participant to win three.
The reigning Finals MVP does must take care of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (+250), Giannis Antetokounmpo (+650) and Luka Dončić (+750). Antetokounmpo might additionally be part of that aforementioned membership as he received back-to-back MVPs simply earlier than Jokić did. Gilgeous-Alexander and Dončić each have top-five MVP finishes on their resumes, although neither participant has come particularly near profitable the award. That would change this season with SGA’s Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder vying for the No. 1 seed within the West and Dončić closing in on his first scoring title.
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Jokić’s gaudy averages and spectacular superior stats do properly to assist his case as the most effective participant within the league. His scoring common is again as much as 26.1 factors per recreation after it dipped beneath 25 final season. Jokić’s rebound (12) and help (8.9) averages are additionally the second-highest of his embellished profession. He’s main the NBA in VORP and field plus/minus for the fourth 12 months in a row and has performed in all however two video games.
The Nuggets (36–19) are within the thick of a four-team race atop the Western Convention with the Minnesota Timberwolves (38–16), Thunder (37–17) and Los Angeles Clippers (36–17). When Denver completed first within the convention a season in the past, Jokić didn’t win MVP after profitable the award the earlier two years regardless of his staff’s sixth- and third-place finishes.
Oklahoma Metropolis is on tempo for its finest season in a decade because of the play of Gilgeous-Alexander, who might turn out to be the staff’s first MVP winner since Kevin Durant in 2014. Gilgeous-Alexander is third within the league in scoring (31.1 factors per recreation) and first in steals (2.2). He additionally leads all gamers in win shares and offensive win shares, two classes Jokić led for the final three years.
Gilgeous-Alexander is likely one of the most effective scorers within the NBA with 55/37/88 splits and he leads the league in complete free throws made. He’s missed only one recreation all season on his solution to his second straight All-Star nod and first time as a starter.
Antetokounmpo has put the Milwaukee Bucks on his again by means of two teaching adjustments and a serious offseason shakeup with the acquisition of Damian Lillard. His scoring (30.7) and rebounding (11.4) averages are down a tick from 2022-23, however his 6.3 assists per recreation and 61% field-goal proportion are each career-highs. Antetokounmpo additionally leads all gamers in quick break factors (5.5) and factors within the paint (20.4) per recreation.
As traditional, the Bucks (35–20) are among the many high three groups within the East, however the Boston Celtics (43–12) are working away with the most effective report within the NBA and the Cleveland Cavaliers (36–17) just lately pulled forward of Milwaukee for second place. Antetokounmpo, who has solely missed two video games, is quietly placing collectively probably the greatest years of his profession and his Bucks might very properly end with the second-best report within the East and probably the greatest within the league if they will regroup after the All-Star break with coach Doc Rivers on the helm.
Associated: 2023-24 NBA Most Improved Participant Midseason Odds
Associated: 2023-24 NBA Defensive Participant of the Yr Midseason Odds
Dončić, too, is placing up video-game numbers. He leads the league in scoring (34.2 factors per recreation) and he’s third in assists (9.5) — each averages are career-highs. Dončić’s three-point proportion is as much as 37.5, the most effective he’s ever shot from deep, and he used that improved outdoors capturing to propel him to a career-best 73 factors in late January, the fourth-highest single-game complete in NBA historical past. Nonetheless, his eight missed video games are additionally probably the most of any of the highest contenders.
The Dallas Mavericks (32–23) are properly behind Dončić’s contemporaries within the standings however this season has been significantly better than the final, when the Mavs missed the playoffs altogether for the primary time since Dončić was a rookie.
After Dončić, there’s a large drop-off to Clippers star Kawhi Leonard (+2500) after which one other hole earlier than New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (+6600) and Celtics ahead Jayson Tatum (+8000), who make up their very own tier. By the appears to be like of the race in mid-February, there’ll both be a first-time MVP in Gilgeous-Alexander or Dončić or one in all Jokić or Antetokounmpo will win the award for a 3rd time and additional cement their respective legacies.
2023-24 NBA MVP Odds
Nikola Jokić -150Shai Gilgeous-Alexander +250Giannis Antetokounmpo +650Luka Dončić +750Kawhi Leonard +2500Jalen Brunson +6600Jayson Tatum +8000
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