Giannis Still Odds-On Favorite to Win NBA MVP Award Despite Injury
- The odds on Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo winning the NBA MVP Award have shortened
- The odds on reigning MVP James Harden of Houston repeating have lengthened
- This despite a lingering ankle injury that has put Giannis temporarily on the shelf
Giannis Antetokounmpo appears poised to win the NBA’s MVP Award and neither rain, nor sleet, nor snow, nor a lingering ankle injury are going to keep him from his anointed status.
Giannis limped to the Bucks bench with an apparent lower leg injury after stepping on Garrett Temple's foot in the 4th quarter. He remained on the bench, but did not return to the game. pic.twitter.com/2XV7zfeVVw
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) March 29, 2019
At least that’s the way the sportsbook see the whole thing playing out. The average NBA MVP odds for Antetokounmpo are getting even shorter, going from -190 on March 7th to -210 on April 1st despite his recent injury.
2019 NBA MVP Odds
| Player | 2019 NBA MVP Odds |
|---|---|
| Giannis Antetokounmpo | -200 |
| James Harden | +150 |
*Odds taken 04/01/19
Meanwhile, the odds on his closest competitor, Houston Rockets guard James Harden, who was the 2018 NBA MVP, grew longer, going from +140 to +170 over that same span despite Harden recording another 50-point triple double.
The Case for Giannis
Antetokounmpo originally sprained his ankle March 17th while scoring a career-high 52 points against the Philadelphia 76ers.
He missed two games before returning. In a March 28th win over the Los Angeles Clippers, he re-injured the ankle.
The Bucks hold a three-game edge on the Toronto Raptors atop the NBA’s Eastern Conference, so they are playing it cautious with Antetokounmpo.
Giannis is your clear cut MVP pic.twitter.com/LmJyvFHUEe
— First Things First (@FTFonFS1) April 1, 2019
On the hardwood, the Greek Freak is doing it at both ends of the floor, averaging the best plus-minus in the league. He also leads the NBA in uncontested dunks.
From last night: Warriors TV play-by-play said Giannis should be MVP. On the MVP race: "I think it's always defense is half the game. So Antetokounmpo is a 10 on the defensive end. And Harden, he has a 0 in there but it's not a 1 in front of it.” #Rockets pic.twitter.com/NrtvYgCuVI
— Alykhan Bijani (@Rockets_Insider) March 25, 2019
On the season, Antetokounmpo is averaging career-highs in points (27.4), rebounds (12.5), and assists (6.0). He would become the Bucks’ first MVP Award-winner since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 1974. He’s on pace to be the first NBA player to hit averages of at least 27 points, 12 rebounds, and six assists since Oscar Robertson during the 1961-62 season.
The Case for Harden
If you view the MVP award from the classic definition, the player who’s meant the most to his team, it’s hard not to make an argument for Harden.
"There shouldn't even be a discussion here."@Espngreeny says "it would be a joke" if James Harden doesn't win MVP. pic.twitter.com/kF7qWNOzU0
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) March 26, 2019
He’s carried a troubled Rockets team on his back and kept them afloat. The Rockets needed him to play as the best player in the league and Harden has done exactly that.
The Rockets are just 6-3 when Harden scores 50 or more points.
Individually, he’s done some astonishing things. Harden joined Wilt Chamberlain as the only players in NBA history to post consecutive 55+ point games. He scored 30 points or more in 32 straight games. He leads the league in points per game and free throws per game. But the Rockets are just 6-3 when he scores 50 or more points.
Harden is averaging a 36.4 points per game, along with 6.5 rebounds, 7.5 assists, and 2.1 steals. In Michael Jordan’s 1996 MVP campaign, he was 30.4, 6.6, 4.3 with 2.2 steals per game.
Both Are Compelling Arguments
We like Giannis, and here’s why – he does it all over the floor. He’s the best offensive and defensive player on the best team in the East.
This was the moment that I knew the MVP race between Giannis and Harden was gonna go crazy. ? pic.twitter.com/vRH3m0yMVz
— SLAM (@SLAMonline) March 26, 2019
He could join Jordan (1987-88) and Hakeem Olaujuwon (1993-94) as the only players to win MVP and defensive player of the year in the same season.
Pick: Giannis Antetokounmpo (-200)
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.
