Since 2000, 14 different players have won the NBA’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) award.
This openness makes the NBA MVP race a hugely exciting prospect for fans of America’s newly opened sports gambling market. However, the number of possibilities can make for difficult betting choices, particularly if you’re in search of a value bet.
Read on as we look at this year’s prospects, and whether there are any worthwhile gambles in the field.
Giannis Antetokounmpo
The man known as the Greek Freak is the frontrunner for 2020’s NBA MVP race.
The Milwaukee Bucks’ star man also won last year’s award. This season has seen him average even more points and rebounds than last. Coupled with the Bucks’ position, comfortably atop the Eastern Conference, these statistics have made him a hot favorite (-450).
While anything is possible, this year’s MVP award appears to be Giannis’ to lose.
Luka Doncic
Giannis’ closest competitor, at least in terms of betting odds, is Luka Doncic. At +650, however, the Dallas Mavericks man is a distant second.
The Mavericks sit in seventh place in the Western Conference, but Doncic’s personal contributions have been significant. He has missed some game time due to injury, however.
LeBron James
Never to be left out of the discussion, the man that many consider the greatest of all time is the third favorite.
LeBron James has had a quieter season than some that have gone before. Some commentators have put this down to the important role also played within the LA Lakers by Anthony Davis.
The Lakers top the Western Conference, making LeBron a prospect at +850.
James Harden
The player who won MVP in 2018 is in the discussion again this year.
James Harden has had another his season with the Houston Rockets, leading them to fourth place in the Western Conference.
Harden’s personal stats are impressive too, and the man and team look to have plenty left to show this season. Their “small ball” approach has made them difficult to face, and Harden is likely to have a huge contribution in the latter part of the season.
At odds of +900, James Harden might just be the value bet for the NBA MVP race this season.
The Rest
The prospects begin to look increasingly unlikely once you get past James Harden.
The LA Lakers’ Anthony Davis is the most likely fifth option, with Damien Lillard and Kawhi Leonard coming next.
A bet on any of the rest should be regarded as speculative at best.
The NBA MVP Race 2020: Who Have You Got?
In other seasons, the NBA MVP race has remained an exciting spectacle until the very last games of the regular season. This year, it seems likely that Giannis Antetokounmpo has it in the bag.
However, there are still value bets to be found in different markets on the MVP race. If you want to try your hand at making some money on the outcome, contact us today to get some help with your picks!
Oskeim Sports Consulting, LLC (OSC) is an internationally-recognized sports handicapping service that provides sports bettors with an unparalleled return on investment.
Its lead handicapper and the firm’s CEO, Jeffrey Keim, graduated magna cum laude from Elon College and earned his J.D. from the University of Connecticut School of Law.