As summer creeps to an end, it is time to start looking forward to the 2023/24 NBA season. The year ahead looks likely to be exceptional, with the talent in the NBA at an all-time high. Many are questioning which of the league’s top players will secure the Most Valuable Player award.
Sportsbooks have already released gambling odds for the favorites for next season’s MVP. Using those odds from the best sports betting apps, let’s look at the five players projected by oddsmakers to win the MVP award next season.
Nikola Jokic (+475)
It is very difficult to argue with Nikola Jokic having the top spot. He is fresh off winning the NBA Championship through a dominant playoff performance, and he has won two of the past three MVP awards and arguably should have won last year. Jokic is a unique offensive superstar who is incredibly gifted as a passer and scorer, and there is no real way to defend or limit him. The Nuggets bring back many of the core pieces from their run last season and should be a highly competitive team. Jokic is the safest bet to be the best player on the best team.
Giannis Antetokounmpo (+550)
Giannis is another player who has dominated the MVP voting over the past half-decade, with two wins in the last five seasons. The Greek forward does everything for the Milwaukee Bucks, and he will play with a huge chip on his shoulder after an early-round playoff elimination. Giannis is an elite defender, crashes the glass, and scores at will. He is arguably the most well-rounded superstar in the game today. If he carries the Bucks to a huge season and puts up massive numbers in the process, he will likely secure his third MVP award.
Luka Doncic (+600)
Luka Doncic is due to get his first award, as MVPs seem inevitable for the Slovenian superstar. Doncic has done nothing but dominate since he got into the NBA. There is an easy argument for him as the best scorer in the league right now, and he also regularly produces triple-doubles. The thing that has held him back from the top of the voting is team success, especially last year when the Mavericks didn’t make the playoffs. But Doncic will have his first full season with Kyrie Irving next year, and the Mavericks could make a lot of noise.
Joel Embiid (+700)
Joel Embiid took home his first MVP award last season, although he ended up coming up short in the playoffs for the Philadelphia 76ers. But there is no questioning that Embiid is one of the true dominant forces in the league. He is a seven-footer who can shoot, handle, and outmuscle everyone in his way. He is a major rim protector with fluid athleticism and unparalleled strength. If he has another year like last season, and the 76ers manage to put together an even better record, voters will have trouble passing him up. However, the potential Harden trade could hold the team back.
Jayson Tatum (+850)
Jayson Tatum has had a magnificent NBA career so far, leading the Celtics deep into the postseason, seemingly every year he’s played. Last year was his best, and Tatum is still just entering his prime. He is a smooth wing who is a silky shooter, a high-end playmaker, can finish at the rim, and is solid defensively. It is hard to overlook a player like that, and an MVP would be a major feather in the cap for the forward. He does have to share the ball with another elite player in Jaylen Brown, and new addition Kristaps Porzingis will need his shots.
