NBA MVP odds 2023: Nikola Jokic the favorite, Jayson Tatum among value bets

Jovan Alford

NBA MVP odds 2023: Nikola Jokic the favorite, Jayson Tatum among value bets image

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.

Jovan Alford

Jovan Alford Photo

Jovan Alford is a content producer for The Sporting News. He joined TSN in 2022 after working at DraftKings Nation as a staff writer. Jovan is an avid Philadelphia sports fan, which comes with its own set of joys but heartbreak at the same time. Jovan is also Philadelphia born and raised and went to school at La Salle University, where he graduated in 2014.