2024-25 NBA MVP Odds and Predictions
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The upcoming basketball season is right around the corner, and for the first time in a long time, Nikola Jokic is not the favorite in the preseason NBA MVP odds. Jokic has won the MVP three out of the last four years. However, he is second in the betting odds behind the Maverick’s Luka Doncic.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Joel Embiid, and Giannis Antetokounmpo are also listed at the top of the NBA MVP betting odds boards. This free NBA betting guide will break down the preseason MVP odds for all of the top contenders this season.
The odds for this guide were provided by Bovada Sportsbook.
Top Contenders for the 2024-25 NBA MVP Award
| Player | 2025 NBA MVP Odds | Current Team |
| Luka Doncic | +350 | Dallas Mavericks |
| Nikola Jokic | +400 | Denver Nuggets |
| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | +450 | Oklahoma City Thunder |
| Joel Embiid | +700 | Philadelphia 76ers |
| Giannis Antetokounmpo | +750 | Milwaukee Bucks |
| Victor Wembanyama | +1000 | San Antonio Spurs |
| Anthony Edwards | +1200 | Minnesota Timberwolves |
| Jalen Brunson | +1500 | New York Knicks |
| Jayson Tatum | +2000 | Boston Celtics |
| Ja Morant | +2200 | Memphis Grizzlies |
| Stephen Curry | +4000 | Golden State Warriors |
| Kevin Durant | +7500 | Phoenix Suns |
| Jaylen Brown | +8000 | Boston Celtics |
These four players are all tied for the 14th-best odds at +10000: Anthony Davis (LAL), Donovan Mitchell (CLE), LeBron James (LAL), and Tyrese Haliburton (IND).
Luka Doncic (+350)
The Dallas Mavericks made a surprising run to the NBA Finals last season, in large part due to the play of Luka Doncic. If the Mavericks want to avenge their Finals loss, they will need another great season from Doncic. Doncic will also need to take a step forward to make good on his NBA MVP odds.
Bovada has Doncic listed as the +350 favorite to win MVP this season. Doncic finished third in MVP voting last season, behind only Nikola Jokic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
He led the league in scoring last year with 33.9 PPG, and Doncic’s hot shooting continued in the playoffs. Doncic averaged 28.9 PPG in the playoffs and was named Western Conference Finals MVP. If he leads the league in scoring and Dallas is a high seed, it will be challenging to deny Doncic the regular season MVP this season.
Nikola Jokic (+400)
Bovada has Nikola Jokic’s MVP odds list at +400, giving the three-time MVP the second-best odds of any player heading into the 2024-2025 season. Jokic won the MVP last season; another win this year would mark the second time he has won the award in back-to-back seasons.
The case for Jokic winning a fourth MVP is the same one he used to win the first three. Jokic is the most efficient player in the NBA, leading the league efficiency rating each of the last four seasons. He will have to do more than just play efficiently to win another MVP this year.
Denver also needs to win games for Jokic to have a chance at a fourth MVP award. The Nuggets’ roster around Jokic will make winning easier said than done. Jamal Murray did not look right last season, and the addition of Russell Westbrook could disrupt the team’s chemistry altogether.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (+450)
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is one of the NBA’s newest breakout stars. Last year, he finished second in MVP voting after leading the Thunder to the top seed in the Western Conference. SGA is listed at +450 to have another great season and win the MVP this year.
Gilgeous-Alexander started a career-high 75 games in the 2023-2024 regular season. It was the most games he appeared in during his rookie year when he played all 82 games but only started 73. He has also made the All-NBA 1st team and the All-Star team in back-to-back years.
If SGA can take another step forward, the Thunder will be genuine title contenders this year. On the other hand, it will be challenging for OKC to repeat as the top seed in the West. SGA is an ascending star, though, and should not be counted out of the MVP race.
Joel Embiid (+700)
There is a gap between the top three and the next group of 2024-2025 MVP contenders. After SGA (+450), the player with the next-best NBA MVP odds is Joel Embiid. Philadelphia’s big man was the MVP frontrunner last season before his meniscus injury.
Embiid is listed at +700 to win his second MVP award this season. He won the award in the 2022-2023 season, ending Jokic’s three-peat hopes. However, Embiid’s injury history makes him a risky bet to win the award again.
Starting last season, players must participate in 65 games to be eligible for NBA awards. Embiid has played in 65 or more games just twice in his 10-year career. Injuries in the 2024 Paris Olympics limited the big man, and it is challenging to imagine Embiid playing 65 or more games this year.
Giannis Antetokounmpo (+750)
A close second to Embiid is Milwaukee Bucks’ star Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Greek Freak has won two MVPs in his career and has finished in the top four in MVP voting in the four years since his last MVP.
Antetokounmpo will be an MVP contender every year of his prime that he plays at least 65 games. He has made the All-NBA 1st team six straight seasons and has been named to four All-Defensive 1st teams during that stretch.
Giannis and the Bucks have failed to recapture the magic from their 2021 championship season. Milwaukee will need to be a top-three seed in the East for Giannis to have a chance to win MVP. The Greek Freak will also need to play more efficiently to overcome the MVP candidates ahead of him.
Victor Wembanyama (+1000)
Rounding out the top six is San Antonio Spurs’ superstar Victor Wembanyama. The French big man won Rookie of the Year last season and is listed at +1000 to win MVP this year. Wembanyama’s star power is at an all-time high after leading France to a silver medal in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Wemby played 71 games as a rookie, averaging 21.4 PPG, 10.6 total RPG, and a league-high 3.6 blocks PG. He was also named to the All-Defensive 1st team and finished second in the Defensive Player of the Year voting.
San Antonio signed veteran PG Chirs Paul this offseason to help run the team’s offense. Even at 39 years old, Paul is one of the best point guards in the NBA, and his passing ability is legendary. Paul should be able to help Wembanyama take multiple steps forward and become an MVP contender this year.
NBA MVP Sleepers
The six NBA stars above all have high expectations this season, but they are not the only ones competing for the MVP this season. Betting on preseason NBA MVP betting sleepers is a great way to cash in on an unexpectedly great season. Here are three sleepers to consider betting on this year.
Stephen Curry (+4000)
Four-time NBA champion Steph Curry has won two MVP awards during his career. He won his first Olympic gold medal in his first appearance for Team USA this Summer. Curry was an MVP contender early last season before the Warriors’ season fell apart.
He is listed at +4000, but a hot shooting season will make Curry an instant MVP contender. However, Curry will have to overcome the loss of his Splash Brother, as Klay Thompson signed with the Mavericks this offseason.
Jaylen Brown (+8000)
Jaylen Brown was a vital member of a Celtics team that won the NBA championship last season. Brown beat out Jason Tatum for both the Eastern Conference Finals MVP and the NBA Finals MVP.
Playing better than Tatum for the entire 82-game season will be a much more formidable task. However, Brown has beaten Tatum in their last two MVP races and could do so again this year.
Anthony Davis (+10000)
Anthony Davis and LeBron James are both listed at +10000 odds to win the MVP this season. I think Davis is the more likely of the two to win the award.
It is unreasonable to expect LeBron to play at an MVP level for the regular season in his age 40 season. However, if Davis can step up this season, he could win the MVP, and the Lakers could be a real championship contender.
Who Will Win NBA MVP?
There are plenty of great MVP contenders this season, but only one star can take home the award. I think the best bet to win MVP is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
SGA finished second in MVP voting after his breakout year last season. Also, he will have more help this year and OKC should be better this season after adding Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein this offseason.
Whose NBA MVP Odds Will You Bet On?
Dallas came up short in the NBA Finals last season, but Luka Doncic is the favorite in the NBA MVP odds heading into this season. However, I think that OKC’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will be the one taking home the MVP this season.
You can find all of my MVP betting predictions in the guide above. After reading my picks, sign up at Bovada Sportsbook to wager on the latest NBA MVP betting odds. If you sign up today, you can use the code BV1000 to add up to $1,000 to your NBA bankroll.
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