NBA MVP Odds for the 2024-25 Season: Will Anyone Catch SGA?

A lot of sports investors shy away from betting on futures because of the opportunity cost. That's somewhat understandable because you never want to tie up too much of your betting bankroll for several months. However, we all have to remember that all investments have an opportunity cost.

For example, you probably invest in your company's 401K or a personal IRA. There are tons of opportunity costs involved in that because you're tying the money up for several decades. The same can also be said of long-term real estate investments.

All of that said, don't let that deter you from making some sound bets on futures like season win totals or even award bets like the NBA MVP. After all, positive EV is positive EV, whether you have to wait a day or a few months to capitalize on it.

Let’s look into some future bets starting with 2024-25 MVP. While Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has the best shot at winning the award, watch out for our dark horse, Jayson Tatum, to make a surge late in the season.

Best Bet to Win MVP: Nikola Jokic +430

After Nikola Jokic won two straight MVPs in 2021 & 2022, Joel Embiid stole one from the best player in the world in 2023. However, the Joker got some sweet revenge last season by nabbing his 3rd MVP award.

Because of Denver's subpar defense, Jokic should have the ball in his hands even more as the Nuggets will need to outscore teams to make a run down the stretch of the NBA season. As of February 12th, Denver is 9 games behind Oklahoma City for the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference.

Nikola’s career high in TS% and AST% should be a sign that he’s getting even more efficient as his career moves along and with the Nuggets due to finish as the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd seed out West, the Joker’s 4th MVP may not be out of reach. At these plus money odds, I'll gladly throw a half-unit on the Joker to come back and upset Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

Best Longshot Bet to Win MVP: Jayson Tatum +30000

Marcus Smart’s departure from the Celtics was the best thing to happen to this organization last season. Because of that, Tatum is the new official leader of the Boston Celtics. Let's be real: He was already the straw that stirred the drink in Bean Town.

Even though the Cavs currently have a 5.5-game lead in the Eastern Conference, I still think the Celtics are the best overall team. Getting the best player on the best team is never a bad thing when betting on longshot futures. I'll gladly put a Tatum MVP ticket in my portfolio at 300 to 1 odds.

The former Duke superstar currently leads Boston in points (26.9), rebounds (8.6), and assists (5.5). You can see why I don't mind sprinkling Tatum with a 0.1-unit wager to win the MVP. This might be the best value we ever get out of Tatum.

Best Mid-Range MVP Bet: Giannis Antetokounmpo +7500

Currently in third place is Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo, who is 2nd in scoring with an average of 31.8 points per game. The Greek Freak is also 5th in rebounding with an 12.2 per game average. Antetokounmpo won the MVP back in 2019 and 2020, so he's always a threat to take down SGA.

The Bucks need to find their footing again before Giannis wins this award again. After being the most dominant team in the East for several years, Milwaukee is now fighting just to keep the No. 5 seed.

One thing that's hurting Antetokounmpo's chances at bringing home the hardware is that he's currently nursing a sore calf. He's missed 4 straight games and won't play until after the All Star Break. Because of that, we'll play in conservative and only recommend a 0.2-unit wager on Giannis.

A Look at Past Winners of the NBA MVP Award

Since this article is all about the NBA MVP Award, let's take a walk down memory lane.

Check out the following list of players that have won the award over the last 2 decades. As you can see, several players have won the award 2 years in a row.

FAQ About the NBA MVP Award

The National Basketball Association has been handing out the Most Valuable Player award for several decades. The NBA MVP is a very prestigious award because of the long history of fine athletes who have won it.

In this section, we'll dive into the history of the NBA MVP award. This brief Q&A section may help you win a few bar bets or take home the top prize at sports trivia night! Speaking of sports bars, we've compiled a list of the top places in the USA to eat, watch, and bet on sports!

When was the first NBA MVP awarded?

The first NBA MVP award was awarded for the 1955-56 season, and it was won by Bob Pettit of the St. Louis Hawks.

Who has won the most NBA MVP awards?

The player with the most NBA MVP awards is Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who won the award a record six times during his career.

What team has had the most NBA MVP winners in history?

The team with the most NBA MVP winners in history is the Boston Celtics, with 11 different players winning a total of 17 MVP awards while playing for the franchise.

Which NBA position has won the most MVP awards?

In terms of positions, centers have won the most NBA MVP awards in history. Centers have won the award a total of 49 times, with players like Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Bill Russell being among the players who have won the award multiple times while playing the center position. Power forwards and small forwards have each won the award 21 times, while point guards have won the award 15 times, and shooting guards have won the award 7 times.

What players have won the NBA MVP award with multiple teams?

There have been several players in NBA history who have won the MVP award while playing for multiple teams. Here are a few examples:

• Wilt Chamberlain won the MVP award in the 1959-60 season while playing for the Philadelphia Warriors and again in the 1966-67 season while playing for the Philadelphia 76ers.
• Kareem Abdul-Jabbar won the MVP award in the 1971-72 season while playing for the Milwaukee Bucks and later in the 1975-76, 1976-77, and 1979-80 seasons while playing for the Los Angeles Lakers.
• Moses Malone won the MVP award in the 1981-82 season while playing for the Houston Rockets and again in the 1982-83 season while playing for the Philadelphia 76ers.
• LeBron James won the MVP award in the 2009-10 season while playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers, and later in the 2011-12 and 2012-13 seasons while playing for the Miami Heat.