Giannis Antetokounmpo Now Odds-On -125 Favorite to Win MVP
- Oddsmakers list Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo as the -125 favorite to repeat as MVP of the NBA
- Steph Curry (2014-15, 2015-16) was the last player to be a repeat winner of the NBA MVP award
- Houston Rockets guard James Harden, the 2017-18 winner, is listed as the third betting choice at +550
Is Giannis Antetokounmpo on course to repeat as MVP of the NBA? Oddsmakers are laying odds that this will indeed be the case.
They have established Giannis as the -125 odds-on favorite in its latest betting market on the winner of the award. Dallas Mavericks forward Luka Doncic is the second betting choice at +375.
2019-20 NBA MVP Odds
| Player (Team) | Odds |
|---|---|
| Giannis Antetokounmpo (Bucks) | -125 |
| Luka Doncic (Mavericks) | +375 |
| James Harden (Rockets) | +550 |
| LeBron James (Lakers) | +800 |
| Anthony Davis (Lakers) | +1000 |
| Kawhi Leonard (Clippers) | +2500 |
| Joel Embiid (76ers) | +3500 |
| Nikola Jokic (Nuggets) | +5000 |
| Pascal Siakam (Raptors) | +3500 |
| Paul George (Clippers) | +3500 |
| Russell Westbrook (Rockets) | +7000 |
| Karl-Anthony Towns (Timberwolves) | +7000 |
| Damian Lillard (Trail Blazers) | +7000 |
| Kyrie Irving (Nets) | +8000 |
Odds taken Jan. 2nd.
Houston Rockets guard James Harden, the 2017-18 MVP is next in the odds at +550.
Repeating the Feat
Back-to-back wins of the NBA MVP Award are not all that uncommon. It’s happened 13 times previously. Two players – Bill Russell (1960-61 to 1962-63) and Wilt Chamberlain (1965-66 to 1967-68) – actually threepeated as NBA MVP.
Since the 2000-01 season, there’s been five repeat winners. The most recent time a player won consecutive NBA MVP Awards was Steph Curry of the Golden State Warriors. He did it in 2014-15 and 2015-16.
LeBron James won back-to-back MVPs with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat. The Bucks even have a previous winner of consecutive MVP awards. Lew Alcindor was named MVP with Milwaukee in 1970-71. After embracing the Muslim faith and changing his name to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, he won again in 1971-72.
Abdul-Jabbar would later win back-to-back MVPs with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Giannis Making His Case Stronger
As of Jan. 2nd, Antetokounmpo’s average odds across the leading sportsbooks of being named the NBA’s most vauable player are at -130. His odds have steadily improved over the past month.
On Dec. 11th, the Greek Freak was +250 to win the MVP. By Dec. 18, that line had plummeted to +115.
It’s hard to make a case against those odds. No player in the NBA currently impacts a game in as many ways as Giannis. His player efficiency rating of 33.6 is the best in the league.
It’s difficult to find a flaw in his overall game. Antetokounmpo’s per-game averages are 30.4 points, 13.0 rebounds, and 5.6 assists.
Giannis hit 52 threes in his MVP season.
This season, he's passed that in 32 games.
Hasn't stopped improving since he's been in the league ? (h/t @statmuse) pic.twitter.com/Est1vjXQyK
— Bleacher Report NBA (@BR_NBA) December 31, 2019
His field-goal percentage is 55.6, and he’s hitting 33.1 percent from beyond the arc.
On top of that, Milawukee owns the NBA’s best record, and that’s a vital component of the equation. Since 1985, only two MVPs have come from a team that finished worse than second in its conference during the regular season.
Doncic Getting It Done
Sophomore jinx? What sophomore jinx?
Nobody told reigning NBA Rookie of the Year Doncic that he was supposed to regress in his second campaign. Instead, he’s getting better.
Luka Doncic is the 1st player to have multiple 30-point, 15-assist, 10-rebound games this season. pic.twitter.com/rBSVkNDvjC
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) December 29, 2019
He’s third in the NBA is assists (8.9 per game) and also third overall in player efficiency (31.3). Doncic leads the league with nine triple doubles.
At 21-12, Dallas has clearly overachieved as a team this season. The Mavericks are second in the Southwest Division and fifth overall in the Western Conference.
Keeping Score With Harden
To no one’s surprise, Harden is leading the NBA in scoring with 38.2 points per game. A shooting machine, he also tops the league in field goals attempted (803), field goals made (317) and 3-point field goals attempted (346) and made (171).
He’s gone to the line (407) and made more free throws (350) than any other player. Harden is second in the NBA in player efficiency (32.2).
.@JHarden13 finishes 2019 as the highest scoring player of the decade! pic.twitter.com/o7aZrc3wee
— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) January 1, 2020
At the same time, he’s also committed more turnovers (154) and missed more shots (433) than any NBA player.
Although he plays a different position, Harden is a modern-day Chamberlain – the game’s greatest scorer but not the game’s best all-around player.
LeBron a Value Bet for MVP?
The Lakers top the Western Conference at 27-7. LeBron James leads the league in assists per game (10.9) and assist percentage (51.3). He’s also second in triple doubles with eight.
.@KingJames ringing in the New Year with a triple-double and W ? pic.twitter.com/pgNvqYyDde
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 2, 2020
Could the four-time winner get some MVP love?
Nope. Unless he falters, Giannis is winning this award again.
Pick: Giannis Antetokounmpo (-125).
An industry veteran, Bob literally taught the course on the history of sports at Elder College. He has worked as a Sports Columnist for Postmedia, appeared as a guest on several radio stations, was the Vice President of the Society For International Hockey Research in Ontario, and written 25 books.
