MVP Odds for Anthony Davis Shorten to +700; Is Now the Time to Back Lakers Big Man?
- The NBA MVP odds of Los Angeles Lakers F/C Anthony Davis are as short as +700
- His average odds have improved from +870 to +730 over the past month
- The last player to win NBA MVP in his first season with a new team was Charles Barkley with the 1992-93 Phoenix Suns
Is Anthony Davis of the Los Angeles Lakers sitting in the NBA MVP catbird seat? Evidently, there are a lot of bettors out there who are thinking along those lines.
This theory is being reflected in the odds across the major sportsbooks. The average 2019-20 NBA MVP odds for Davis have gone down to +730 from +870 over the past month. Multiple sites have him at +700.
2019-20 NBA MVP Odds
| Player (Team) | Odds |
|---|---|
| Giannis Antetokounmpo (Bucks) | +300 |
| Steph Curry (Warriors) | +550 |
| Lebron James (Lakers) | +600 |
| Anthony Davis (Lakers) | +700 |
| James Harden (Rockets) | +800 |
| Kawhi Leonard (Clippers) | +850 |
Odds taken on 08/22/19.
Davis Should Shine For Lakers
There’s very little that Davis doesn’t do well on the hardwood. He can post up. Davis can block shots and rebound. He’ll put the ball on the floor and beat you off the dribble. Davis will find the open man with a pass. He’ll shoot the three.
Who’s going to stop Anthony Davis? pic.twitter.com/BKqhPlw4mx
— Lakers Empire (@LakersEmpire) August 20, 2019
On top of that, he’s never teamed with a player the caliber of LeBron James.
For a guy who’s put up MVP-like averages 23.7 points, 10.5 rebounds, 2.4 blocks and 2.1 assists during his NBA career, this might be the season he finally gets the hardware to go along with it.
A concern could be that if James also goes off for a big campaign, who will get the MVP love from the voters? What if they were to split the vote, enabling another player to nip them at the balloting wire?
Lakers Won’t Make Davis Center Of Attention
The loss of center DeMarcus Cousins for the season with a torn ACL put a crimp in the Lakers’ plans, but they don’t intend to solve it with Davis.
Even though he’s booked significant playing time at the 5 over recent seasons, Davis made it loudly known he prefers the 4.
Asked Anthony Davis about how the game has evolved w/teams going small, and he was very clear that he prefers to play the 4, but he then qualified to Vogel that he’d certainly play some 5: “The game has become so positionless … it really doesn’t matter."
— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) July 13, 2019
He’s a free agent at season’s end, so you know the Lakers aren’t about to do anything that might lead to a quick divorce.
Davis will probably see some time at center but he won’t be LA’s first, or even second option at the position.
Memories Of Sir Charles
A superstar player traded to a Pacific Division team and winning the NBA MVP in his first season there. Charles Barkley has been there and done that.
The last time a player won the MVP in his first campaign with a new club, it was Sir Charles with the 1992-93 Phoenix Suns.
Barkley led the Suns to first place in the division for the first time since 1980-81 and to the NBA Finals for the first season since 1975-76. He averaged 25.6 points, shot .520 from the field, pulled down 12.2 rebounds and a dished out a career high 5.1 assists
If Davis does, that, he’ll be MVP.
The Greek Freak Out
Giannis Antetokounmpo won last season’s MVP, posting incredible numbers in virtually all categories while leading the Milwaukee Bucks to the NBA’s best record.
He was the first MVP from the East since James won it with the Miami Heat in 2012-13.
Western Conference players have won 14 of the past 21 MVP Awards. James, who nows plays in the West, was responsible for four of the seven Eastern Conference MVP wins.
Take note that five of the six betting favorites to win the MVP this season reside in the Western Conference.
Steph’s The Play
Someone in the Pacific Division is positioned to post a stunning MVP campaign but it isn’t Davis.
It’s Steph Curry.
The Golden State Warriors point guard and two-time MVP must carry the team this season. Kevin Durant is gone. Klay Thompson is out for much of the regular season.
Suddenly, Curry is their only sure-fire scoring option. In 2015-16, the second of Curry’s back-to-back MVP wins, he posted an NBA-best 30.1 points per game. Last season was his best year since, posting 27.3 PPG.
Curry will need to ramp it up even more. Otherwise, Golden State might miss the playoffs.
Pick: Steph Curry, Golden State Warriors (+550)
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.
