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  • Take a look back at the 2019 NBA MVP Award race
  • View the odds available for players individually and see league-wide trends from past years
  • Track how the odds fluctuated throughout the 2018-19 NBA season
  • Looking for current NBA MVP odds?

We’ve been tracking the odds to win the 2019 NBA MVP award from our most trusted sportsbooks all year long. Check out our regularly updated graphs and tables below to see how the odds of the league’s top players have changed throughout the 2018-19 season.

2019 NBA MVP Odds

NBA MVP Trends to Consider

  • Since 1985, only two MVPs have come from a team that finished worse than second in its conference during the regular season
  • The MVP award has been won by players who were 23 or younger on just four occasions
  • Wilt Chamberlain (1960) and Wes Unseld (1969) are the only players to earn MVP honors as rookies
  • The MVP award has been won by the NBA’s leading scorer four times in the past five years
  • Only three MVPs have ever averaged fewer than 17 points per game. They were Bill Russell (1961, 1963, 1965), Wes Unseld (1969), and Steve Nash (2005)

NBA MVP Top Contenders

Player 2019 NBA MVP Odds
Giannis Antetokounmpo (Bucks) -1100
James Harden (Rockets) +500
Paul George (Thunder) +5000

*Odds taken on 06/24/19

A new coach and a new offense has unlocked the potential of Giannis Antetokounmpo. The three-time All-Star posted career highs in scoring, rebounds, and assists during the 2018-19 regular season. It probably isn’t a coincidence that the Bucks also finished the year with more wins than any other NBA team.

NBA MVP Award Winners By Position

NBA MVP Trends Based On Position

  • Centers won a whopping 22 of the first 28 NBA MVP awards
  • Guards have won eight of the last 14 NBA MVP awards
  • Michael Jordan personally won five of the eight NBA MVP awards that have been given to shooting guards

 

Past 10 NBA MVP Winners

Year Player PPG RPG APG
2018 James Harden (Rockets) 30.4 5.4 8.8
2017 Russell Westbrook (Thunder) 31.6 10.7 10.4
2016 Steph Curry (Warriors) 30.1 5.4 6.7
2015 Steph Curry (Warriors) 23.8 4.3 7.7
2014 Kevin Durant (Thunder) 32.0 7.4 5.5
2013 LeBron James (Heat) 26.8 8.0 7.3
2012 LeBron James (Heat) 27.1 7.9 6.2
2011 Derrick Rose (Bulls) 25.0 4.1 7.7
2010 LeBron James (Cavs) 29.7 7.3 8.6
2009 LeBron James (Cavs) 28.4 7.6 7.2

Derrick Rose became the youngest player to win MVP honors in NBA history in 2011. He was just 22-years-old at the time and in his third year in the league.

NBA Teams with the Most MVP Winners

It should come as no surprise that the NBA franchise with the most championships also has the most league MVPs. Four different Celtics have been named the Association’s most valuable player including Bob Cousy (1957), Bill Russell (1958, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1965), Dave Cowens (1973), and Larry Bird (1984, 1985, 1986). Need another fun fact to share at the bar? Cowens is the only MVP who also worked as a cab driver. Beat that Michael Jordan!

Players with Multiple NBA MVP Awards

Player MVP Awards Years
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 6 1971, 1972, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1980
Bill Russell 5 1958, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1965
Michael Jordan 5 1988, 1991, 1992, 1996, 1998
Wilt Chamberlain 4 1960, 1966, 1967, 1968
LeBron James 4 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013
Larry Bird 3 1984, 1985, 1986
Magic Johnson 3 1987, 1989, 1990
Moses Malone 3 1979, 1982, 1983
Bob Pettit 2 1956, 1959
Karl Malone 2 1997, 1999
Tim Duncan 2 2002, 2003
Steve Nash 2 2005, 2006
Steph Curry 2 2015, 2016

NBA MVP Historical Trends

  • Celtics legend Bill Russell was the first player to win back-to-back MVP awards in 1961 and 1962
  • Russell was also the first player to win three consecutive MVP awards (1961-63). The only other players who accomplished the same feat are Wilt Chamberlain (1966-68) and Larry Bird (1984-86)
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Ryan worked as an Editor and resident Lead NBA and MLB Writer for SB from 2017-19. He has authored his own weekly columns for Fox Sports and AskMen, and has created successful campaigns for the WWE, the NHL, and the NFL. Ryan's critically acclaimed stories have been published in 20 books.