Steph Curry Now Odds-On Favorite to Win 2019 NBA Finals MVP, Kawhi’s Odds Shorten to 3-1
- Oddsmakers have established Steph Curry as the odds-on -125 favorite to be named NBA Finals MVP
- Curry has never won the award
- Kevin Durant was named NBA Finals MVP in 2017 and 2018
The Golden State Warriors may be on the verge of a threepeat but books believe that on a personal level, Steph Curry is about to break new ground.
The sportsbook has established the Golden State guard as the -125 odds-on chalk to be named MVP of the 2019 NBA Finals.
2019 NBA Finals MVP Odds
| Player (Team) | Odds |
|---|---|
| Steph Curry (Warriors) | -125 |
| Kawhi Leonard (Raptors) | +300 |
| Draymond Green (Warriors) | +800 |
| Kevin Durant (Warriors) | +1200 |
| Klay Thompson (Warriors) | +1400 |
| Kyle Lowry (Raptors) | +1400 |
| Pascal Siakam (Raptors) | +1400 |
| Andre Iguodala (Warriors) | +2500 |
| DeMarcus Cousins (Warriors) | +2500 |
| Fred VanVleet (Raptors) | +3300 |
| Serge Ibaka (Raptors) | +3300 |
| Kevon Looney (Warriors) | +5000 |
| Marc Gasol (Raptors) | +5000 |
| Norman Powell (Raptors) | +5000 |
*Odds taken May 27, 2019.
Curry has never won this award. Forward Kevin Durant won the NBA Finals MVP honors in both 2017 and 2018. When the Warriors won the title in 2015 forward/guard Andre Iguodala was presented with the NBA Finals MVP.
? 27.3 points per game
? 5.3 rebounds per game
? 5.2 assists per gameThe best plays from @StephenCurry30's regular season ? pic.twitter.com/PRyBD19ygy
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) May 23, 2019
Is It Curry’s Time To Shine?
The availability of both Iguodala (calf) and Durant (calf) is uncertain for Game 1. Durant is not expected to play, while Iguodala is listed as probable.
That means Curry will be required to step up but that wasn’t a problem at all during the Western Conference final against the Portland Trail Blazers.
Ahead of 2019 #NBAFinals presented by @YouTubeTV on Thursday (5/30), relive @StephenCurry30's TOP PLAYS from the previous four NBA Finals! #StrengthInNumbers
?: GSW / TOR, Game 1
⏰: 9pm/et ?: ABChttps://t.co/uoZ5aaJhiv— NBA (@NBA) May 26, 2019
Minus Durant for the entire series, Curry went off. He never scored fewer than 36 points per game in the sweep of Portland, averaging 36.5 points per game. Curry also buried 33 points in the second-round clincher against the Houston Rockets, including 23 fourth-quarter points.
The 2018-19 All-NBA First Team! @Giannis_An34 @StephenCurry30 @Yg_Trece @JHarden13
Nikola Jokic pic.twitter.com/Lib2RfRPuN— NBA (@NBA) May 23, 2019
Curry is the only member of the 2018-19 NBA All First-Team still active in the postseason. He has fans all over the basketball stratosphere.
Never forget that Drake, Raptors fan, has Steph Curry and Kevin Durant tattoos pic.twitter.com/6HbrlrsaNZ
— SB Nation (@SBNation) May 26, 2019
Even Raptors fanboy Drake has tattoos of Curry and Durant on his arm.
Is Kawhi About to Kill Again?
Though they’ve never been to the big dance before, the Raptors can call upon someone whose previously danced better than everyone on this stage.
When the San Antonio Spurs won their most recent NBA Championship in 2013-14, Kawhi Leonard was named NBA Finals MVP. He outshone LeBron James and Dwyane Wade as the Spurs dropped the two-time defending champion Miami Heat, ending the Heat’s dream of a three-peat.
Leonard went over 20 points in each of the last three games and grabbed 24 rebounds over the final two games as the Spurs won in five games.
This spring, it’s Golden State seeking the three-peat and Leonard who’s been lights-out all playoffs. He’s second in playoff scoring, averaging 31.2 points per game, and has exceeded 30 points in 11 of 18 games.
As Easy as 1-2
The equation here is a simple formula. If you believe the Warriors will be champions, you put your money on Curry. If you lean toward the Raptors, then Leonard gets your action. He’s dropped from +500 to +300 since Toronto won the East.
One of these two will be NBA Finals MVP. We think the Warriors win, so you should go with Curry.
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.
