With NBA All-Star weekend on the horizon, the award races for MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, Sixth Man of the Year, Comeback Player of the Year, and Rookie of the Year are starting to take shape. The NBA's MVP race has been the most interesting to watch, as two-time winner (and betting favorite) Nikola Jokic has been outstanding this season and could end up winning a third-straight MVP.
However, the All-Star center has some notable competition for MVP this season. Joel Embiid, Jayson Tatum, Luka Doncic, and Giannis Antetokounmpo have all had memorable performances and are the top players on their respective teams.
Below, we have the latest odds from BetMGM on the current favorite to win MVP and a few sleepers who also need to be on bettors' radar to start the month.
MORE NBA AWARD ODDS: ROY | MIP, DPOY, Sixth Man
NBA MVP Odds 2023
All odds courtesy of BetMGM
| Player | Odds |
| Nikola Jokic, Nuggets | -105 |
| Joel Embiid, 76ers | +260 |
| Luka Doncic, Mavericks | +550 |
| Jayson Tatum, Celtics | +1000 |
| Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks | +1300 |
| Ja Morant, Grizzlies | +3000 |
| Kevin Durant, Nets | +4000 |
| Stephen Curry, Warriors | +5000 |
| LeBron James, Lakers | +5000 |
| Donovan Mitchell, Cavaliers | +10000 |
| Zion Williamson, Pelicans | +15000 |
| Damian Lillard, Trail Blazers | +15000 |
| Devin Booker, Suns | +50000 |
| Trae Young, Hawks | +50000 |
| Kawhi Leonard, Clippers | +50000 |
| Jimmy Butler, Heat | +50000 |
| Anthony Edwards, Timberwolves | +50000 |
| Paul George, Clippers | +50000 |
| Kyrie Irving, Nets | +50000 |
| Pascal Siakam, Raptors | +50000 |
| Jaylen Brown, Celtics | +50000 |
| De'Aaron Fox, Kings | +50000 |
| James Harden, 76ers | +50000 |
| Julius Randle, Knicks | +50000 |
| Tyrese Haliburton, Pacers | +50000 |
NBA MVP 2023 odds: Favorites
Nikola Jokic, Nuggets (-105). To no one's surprise, Jokic is the favorite to win his third-straight MVP. The All-Star center has been phenomenal this season for the Nuggets, averaging a triple-double with 25.1 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 10 assists per game. Jokic's outstanding play is one of the main reasons why Denver has the best record in the West (35-16) and the second-best record in the NBA behind the Celtics.
When Jokic won the NBA MVP last season, he averaged 27.1 points (career-high), 13.8 rebounds (career-high), and 7.9 assists per game. If the Nuggets can hold onto the No. 1 seed in the NBA's Western Conference, it will be hard to deny Jokic his third consecutive league MVP, putting him ni rare company with Larry Bird, Wilt Chamberlain, and Bill Russell.
Joel Embiid, 76ers (+230). If there's one player who could stop Jokic from winning his third-straight MVP, it's Embiid. The multiple-time All-Star was snubbed as a starter in this year's NBA All-Star Game despite leading the NBA in scoring (33.6 points per game) and averaging 10 rebounds per game. Embiid has had numerous incredible performances this season, including last weekend against the Nuggets when he posted 47 points (18/31 FG, 4/7 3pt), 18 rebounds, and five assists, clearly outplaying Jokic (24 points, eight rebounds, nine assists).
Embiid finished second to Jokic in last year's vote for NBA after receiving 26 first-place votes. If bettors want to take Embiid to win MVP at +230 odds, it's not a bad idea, especially since he's on the upswing. If he continues to score 34-plus points a night, as he did in November, December, and January, Embiid's odds will get slimmer for league MVP.
NBA MVP 2023 odds: Values
Jayson Tatum, Celtics (+1000). We were thinking about putting Luke Doncic into the value category, but at +550 odds, he's on the outside looking in at the two favorites. As for Tatum, he's having a career year for the Celtics after leading them to an NBA Finals berth last season. This season, the 24-year-old Tatum is averaging a career-high 31.1 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game. He's also shooting 46.5 percent from the field and 35 percent from three-point range.
Last month, Tatum averaged a double-double with 31.3 points and 10.1 rebounds per game. The 6-8 wing has the Celtics with the best record in the NBA (36-15). If he continues to average 30-plus points a game, Tatum is worth sprinkling a few dollars on at +1000 because that value will not be there in a couple of weeks.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks (+1300). The former two-time MVP gets lost in the MVP convo because of how great Jokic, Tatum, Embiid, and Doncic have been this season. However, do not sleep on the "Greek Freak," who has the Bucks sitting in the second spot in the East with a record of 34-17.
Antetokounmpo is leading Milwaukee in scoring (31.8), rebounds (12.2), and is second in assists (5.2) behind Jrue Holiday (7.2). It will be tough for Giannis to surpass those four ahead of them, who are putting up ridiculous numbers on a nightly basis. However, if Antetokounmpo can get the Bucks to the top spot in the East, it wouldn't be a bad idea to invest a few dollars in his MVP odds.
