With lower than three weeks left within the common season, Philadelphia 76ers heart Joel Embiid has emerged as the brand new betting favourite to win the NBA MVP at odds of -240, forward of two-time defending MVP Nicola within the DraftKings. I jumped in entrance of Jokic.
An NBA All-Star heart for the Denver Nuggets, Jokic has been a betting favourite since early January. In accordance with his NBA awards board in DraftKings, on the time Jokic had +170 odds of successful MVP for his third straight season. Jokic is Dallas he surpassed Luka Doncic of the Mavericks. Luka Doncic was the preseason consensus MVP favourite with odds of +250 placing him in second place.
| NBA MVP candidate | present odds | 1/13/23 odds |
| Joel Embiid | -250 | +1400 |
| Nikola Jokic | +250 | +170 |
| Giannis Antetokounmpo | +450 | +500 |
In early January, Milwaukee Bucks heart Giannis Antetokounmpo and Boston Celtics ahead Jayson Tatum had been each tied for third within the MVP race with odds of +500. Embiid had odds of +1400 the place he was fifth general, however has made a giant leap to -240 within the final three months.
Tatum is now an MVP longshot at odds of +1000 and Doncic is a moonshot at odds of +50000.
Joel Embiid (-250) Goes for First MVP
Embiid is averaging 33.6 factors per sport this season, taking the lead in scoring. He has continued to carry out properly in his March, averaging 36.2 factors, 9.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists and a pair of.4 blocks per sport. His PER is his second highest within the NBA at 31.60.
Embiid set the tone for the 76ers by dropping 42 factors towards the New Orleans Pelicans of their first sport of 2023. together with loss.
The 76ers beat the Nuggets in late January, however Embiid was a blast with 47 factors, 18 rebounds, three steals and two blocks. It was no coincidence that his greatest efficiency of the season got here towards reigning MVP Jokic.
Embiid made a powerful argument, feeling cheated out of final season’s MVP, however voters rewarded Jokic because the Nuggets had been devastated by accidents. After a speculator run in March, Embiid has climbed to the highest of the prize board. That is why he’s a main contender to win his first MVP at odds of -240.
A uncommon three-peat skating away from Nikola Jokic (+250)
Jokic is averaging 24.7 factors, 11.9 rebounds and 9.9 assists per sport this season. He ranks second within the league in rebounds and fourth in assists. He leads the NBA together with his PER ranking of 31.71 and is on tempo to steer the league in that superior metric for 3 consecutive seasons.
Jokic’s scoring and rebounding are down this season from his career-high 27.1 factors and 13.8 rebounds per sport final season. His assists this 12 months are a profession excessive, his 9.9 dishes per sport. He additionally shoots higher than final season in all three classes, with a career-best 63.4% ground taking pictures, 39.4% taking pictures from his vary from 3-point vary, and 81.8% taking pictures from his line free throws.
Jokic is a triple-double machine, main the NBA with 28 triple-doubles this season. He has recorded extra triple-doubles than his subsequent three gamers mixed (27).
If Jokic wins MVP, he’ll turn out to be simply the tenth participant in NBA historical past to win the distinguished honor a minimum of 3 times. Solely three gamers have gained MVP in three consecutive seasons. If Jokic can pull off that uncommon feat of his, he’ll be a part of an unique membership that features Invoice Russell, Wilt Chamberlain and Larry Fowl.
Jokic’s MVP odds dropped to +250, coinciding with a horrible droop by the 1-5 Nuggets in early March.
The Nuggets had been far forward of everybody else within the Western Convention and had been on the verge of securing the No. 1 seed, however have pulled away from Gus in current weeks. They nonetheless maintain him a 3.5 sport lead towards the Memphis Grizzlies, however they’re enjoying the worst ball they’ve had this season.
Greek Freak (+450) nonetheless in vary
Antetokounmpo is averaging 31.3 factors, 11.9 rebounds and 5.6 assists per sport this season. He presently ranks third general in rebounding and fifth general in scoring. He ranks his fourth within the NBA together with his 28.74 PER ranking.
Antetokounmpo will get some MVP votes as a result of some voters attempt to reward the perfect gamers on the perfect groups. The Bucks have his NBA-best document of 51-20, turning into the primary group to succeed in 50 wins. When Antetokounmpo gained back-to-back MVPs, the Bucks had the perfect data within the NBA in each the 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons.
Antetokounmpo is presently in third place on the MVP betting board with +450 odds. If he expects to cross each Embiid and Jokic, he’ll must pack a stat sheet within the final 11 video games.
However head coach Mike Budenholzer will probably relaxation Antetokounmpo and the opposite starters within the closing week of the season to remain match for the playoffs. ) and a 3-game benefit over the 76ers (48-23).
