Updated NBA Finals MVP Odds After Game 3 – Jimmy Butler Now +1000 Following Triple Double; LeBron Still Heavy Favorite
- Jimmy Butler’s odds to earn the NBA Finals MVP shortened to +1000 following the Miami Heat’s Game 3 victory
- LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers remains the -225 chalk to win the award
- See the odds for all players available within the story below
There’s no mystery as to why the Miami Heat won Game 3 of the NBA Finals, pulling back into the series against the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Butler did it.
Jimmy Butler exploded for 40 points, 13 assists and 11 rebounds. He posted his first NBA playoff triple-double as the Heat whipped the Lakers 115-104.
Butler also put a charge into his chances of being named NBA Finals MVP.
The Heat forward was the third choice at +800 when this betting market opened just prior to Game 1 of the best-of-seven series. But after Los Angeles handily captured the first two games, James and teammate Anthony Davis looked to be moving further ahead of the pack.
Butler’s dominant performance in Game 3 offers the potential to change that narrative.
James remains the odds-on chalk to capture the NBA Finals MVP at -225.
Odds to Win 2020 NBA Finals MVP
| Player (Team) | Odds |
|---|---|
| LeBron James (Lakers) | -225 |
| Anthony Davis (Lakers) | +190 |
| Jimmy Butler (Heat) | +1000 |
| Bam Adebayo (Heat) | +10000 |
| Kyle Kuzma (Lakers) | +25000 |
| Tyler Herro (Heat) | +25000 |
| Danny Green (Lakers) | +25000 |
| Rajon Rondo (Lakers) | +25000 |
| Dwight Howard (Lakers) | +25000 |
| Markieff Morris (Lakers) | +25000 |
| Duncan Robinson (Heat) | +50000 |
| Jae Crowder (Heat) | +50000 |
| Andre Iguodala (Heat) | +50000 |
| JaVale McGee (Lakers) | +50000 |
| Kendrick Nunn (Heat) | +50000 |
| Kelly Olynyk (Heat) | +50000 |
| Solomon Hill (Heat) | +50000 |
Odds as of Oct. 5th, 2020 at DraftKings
Davis at +190 is also right there in contention, followed by Butler.
NBA Finals MVP Trends
For starters, let’s be realistic. Beyond James, Davis and Butler, the rest of the names on this list are like the people they hire to sit in the empty seats at the Oscars. They’re nothing more than place fillers.
When the Heat’s Andre Iguodala was named NBA Finals MVP with the 2015 Golden State Warriors, he became the first and only player to win who didn’t start every game of the final series.
3x NBA champion, 2015 NBA Finals MVP, SIX STRAIGHT trips to the Finals!
Look back at Andre Iguodala's top highlights from his previous Finals appearances! #NBAVault pic.twitter.com/MqGk76i8Hp
— NBA History (@NBAHistory) September 29, 2020
Make no mistake, this is an award designed for and dominated by superstars. Michael Jordan won it a record six-times. Magic Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal, Tim Duncan and James won three apiece.
It’s also about winners. Jerry West is the only recipient of the NBA Finals MVP award who played for the losing team. He won it in 1969, the first season the award was presented.
The Case for LeBron
James (Heat, Cleveland Cavaliers) is seeking to become the first player to be named NBA Finals MVP with three different teams. Kawhi Leonard (San Antonio Spurs, Toronto Raptors) and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (Milwaukee Bucks, Lakers) also won it with two different clubs.
Just LeBron. pic.twitter.com/JyhEcLTkTA
— TAKEOVER (@321Takeover) October 5, 2020
The numbers display that James is stepping up his game in the Finals. He’s averaging more points (27.6-26.9) and rebounds per game (10.6-10.4) and is just off his assists per game pace (8.6-8.8) for these playoffs. He’s also shooting better from the field (.551-.548) and from 3-point range (.353-.350).
The Case for AD
If this were a best-of-three series, Davis would be holding the NBA Finals MVP award today. He scored 34 points in Game 1 and 32 more in Game 2 as LA raced to a 2-0 series lead.
Anthony Davis did not score in the fourth, and only took 1 shot. Can't happen.
— Raj C. (@RajChipalu) October 5, 2020
Then came Game 3 and AD went MIA. He finished the night with 15 points and almost as many fouls (four) as rebounds (five).
The Case for Butler
With Miami missing Bam Adebayo and Goran Dragic through injury, Butler carried the Heat on his back. He’s just the third player in NBA Finals history to record a 40-point triple-double, joining West and LeBron, and the only one to do so in a victory.
Jimmy Butler becomes the first player in NBA history with a 40-point triple-double in a Finals WIN. pic.twitter.com/4AdfK4JA30
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) October 5, 2020
Butler was kicking it old school. He shot 14-of-20 from the floor, and 12-for-14 from the free-throw line. Butler didn’t attempt a single 3-pointer.
He was clearly MVP of the game but he’ll need a few more of those to win Miami this series and himself the NBA Finals MVP.
It’s LeBron’s Award to Lose
The truth is LeBron is like Tiger Woods. Just as Tiger is given the benefit of the doubt at every golf tournament, this award is LeBron’s to lose.
The fact that no one has done it before says a lot about Lebron https://t.co/tNreL16NtX
— Renee Montgomery (@ReneeMontgomery) October 5, 2020
Unless Butler manages to keep dominating, or Davis develops consistency, LeBron isn’t going to lose it.
Pick: LeBron James (-225).
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.
