Upcoming Match-ups
  • Get the latest 2023 NBA MVP odds
  • As of early march, Nikola Jokic is the odds-on favorite with Joel Embiid and Giannis Antetokounmpo rounding out the top three in the 2023 NBA MVP odds 
  • Track the movement over the course of the 2022-23 season for all NBA MVP odds favorites

This page tracks the odds to win the 2023 NBA MVP award. The first graphs below shows how the odds have changed since they first opened. The table under the graph and tables below display the past and current odds .

2023 NBA MVP Odds

FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK
Get Up To $1,000 Back if You Don't Win Your First Bet!
Must be 21+. T&C Apply. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER
LOCK IN PROMO
NO SWEAT FIRST BET
GET UP TO
$1,000 BACK

BET NOW
  • February 21: Jokic’s odds have improved to a season-best -264. Second-favorite Embiid has faded to +470.
  • January 24: Two-time reigning MVP Nikola Jokic has become the odds-on favorite (-119) to win his third straight.
  • January 5: Doncic (+287) has a slim lead over Tatum (+345) and Jokic (+365). Giannis (+410) remains a viable contender.
  • December 5: Tatum (+264) is narrowly favored over Giannis (+282) with Doncic (+288) fading to a close-third as his Mavs fall off the pace in the West.
  • November 7: Giannis has taken over as the +235 favorite, narrowly ahead of Doncic (+335).
  • October 25: A hot start has consolidated Doncic’s status as favorite (+415). Leading Portland to a studding 4-0 start, Damian Lillard has improved from +5200 to +1950.
  • August 25: Luka Doncic has opened as the +450 favorite, on average. Giannis Antetokounmpo and Joel Embiid are tied for second at +663.

2022-23 NBA MVP Odds

Player Odds
Nikola Jokic -360
Giannis Antetokounmpo +700
Joel Embiid +700
Jayson Tatum +3000
Luka Doncic +4100
Ja Morant +24000
Damian Lillard +24000
Devin Booker +49000
Kevin Durant +49000
Donovan Mitchell +49000
Stephen Curry +50000
LeBron James +50000

Odds as of Mar. 5, 2023, at FanDuel Sportsbook. Claim the FanDuel Sportsbook bonus code

NBA MVP Trends to Consider

  • Since 1985, only three 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 Award Winners By Position

NBA MVP Trends Based On Position

  • Centers won a whopping 22 of the first 28 NBA MVP awards
  • The last 14 MVPs are split evenly between guard and front-court players
  • Michael Jordan personally won five of the eight NBA MVP awards that have been given to shooting guards

Looking for the latest NBA odds? – Get current spreads, totals, and moneyline odds for tonight’s games here.

Past 10 NBA MVP Winners

Year Player PPG RPG APG
2021 Nikola Jokic (Nuggets) 27.1 13.8 7.9
2021 Nikola Jokic (Nuggets) 26.4 10.8 8.3
2020 Giannis Antetokounmpo (Bucks) 29.5 13.6 5.6
2019 Giannis Antetokounmpo (Bucks) 27.7 12.5 5.9
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

Nikola Jokic’s MVP win in 2021 was historic for many reasons, becoming both the first Serbian winner of the award, and the lowest-drafted player ever selected for the honors.

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
Giannis Antetokounmpo 2 2019, 2020
Nikola Jokic 2 2021, 2022

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)

Archived NBA MVP Award Odds: 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019

Author Image

Sascha was a hockey player in his youth, a lawyer in his capricious mid-20s, and has been with SBD since 2014. He covers everything you can bet on, but specializes in football, basketball, politics, baseball, and hockey.