Odds To Win The 2023 NBA MVP

Don't look now, but Nikola Jokic is back in the picture.

An afterthought in January when he missed 16 games with a left ankle sprain, the Serbian big man has risen to second on the NBA MVP Odds board thanks to an impressive 10-game stretch in which he has averaged 26.0 points, 13.7 rebounds, and 9.1 assists per game. His strong play has Denver back in the thick of the playoff hunt and has Jokic within striking distance of his fourth most valuable player trophy.

Jokic's reemergence has coincided with an injury to reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who has seen his odds move from -380 to -140 while he deals with an abdominal strain that has sidelined him far longer than expected.

Our friends at bet365 have boosted Nikola Jokic's NBA MVP odds from +275 to +300. Act now while the value lasts.

Let's take a look at the latest NBA MVP odds below.

🏀2026 NBA MVP odds

Team		Movement
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander	-140	▼
Nikola Jokic	+275	▲
Cade Cunningham	+500	▲
Victor Wembanyama	+1800	▼
Jaylen Brown	+2500	▲
Luka Doncic	+3000	▼
Donovan Mitchell	+10000	▲
Anthony Edwards	+25000	▼
Jalen Brunson	+50000	▼
Tyrese Maxey	+50000	▼

Odds from bet365, one of our best betting sites. Sign up with our bet365 promo code, or get one of our other sportsbook promos.

The last week has seen plenty of upheaval as Cade Cunningham has moved from +1400 to +500 and Victor Wembanyama has moved from +3000 to +1800. Conversely, Luka Doncic has dropped from +2000 to +3000 as late game execution issues and a pair of Laker defeats have taken the luster off his MVP campaign.

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NBA MVP prediction

Bet	Odds	Bet Date	Units
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander	+175	Oct. 28	1.0
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander	+150	Dec. 1	1.0
Nikola Jokic	+300	Feb. 25	0.5

With voters increasingly sensitive to both team success and two-way impact, SGA has the cleanest path to an MVP narrative this season. He's the best player on a top-two team in the West, elite efficiency from all three levels, and offers real defensive bite at the point of attack. His game scales without drama as he can dominate in isolation or flow within movement-heavy actions, and he gets to the line a ton without forcing bad shots. If Oklahoma City’s depth keeps their net ratings gaudy when he sits, while his on/off still pops, he’ll own the “drives winning” storyline that tends to decide close MVP races.

Doncic has put up video-game numbers again, yet the bar for heliocentric guards keeps rising, and defensive skepticism plus any midseason usage management could ding his case.

By contrast, SGA’s steadiness, durability, and two-way credibility give him multiple avenues to “win” the discourse even if raw counting stats are a tick lower, especially if the Thunder post the league’s best record.

My late February wager on Nikola Jokic is a value play as he's simply too good to ignore at plus odds. The issue with Joker is that he must play at least 65 games to qualify for the award, so any additional missed time could kill his candidacy.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander vs Nikola Jokic head-to-head

Player	PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK
SGA	31.8	4.4	6.4	1.3	0.8
Jokic	28.8	12.5	10.5	1.4	0.8

It seems only fitting we have a two-horse race given Jokic's love for all things equine. Voters will have to ask themselves whether they prefer SGA's scoring and the Thunder's superior record or Jokic's overall brilliance and ability to stuff a box score.

📈 NBA odds over time

This year's MVP chase has been a heavyweight melee. Follow along all season as we update this graphic with contenders rising and falling.

💰2026 NBA MVP opening odds

• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander +150
• Nikola Jokic +350
• Luka Doncic +380
• Giannis Antetokounmpo +1200
• Victor Wembanyama +1200
• Anthony Edwards +2500
• Kevin Durant +5000
• Cade Cunningham +6000
• Jalen Brunson +8000
• Donovan Mitchell +10000
• Paolo Banchero +10000
• Trae Young +15000

NBA MVP betting data

The following data is courtesy of BetMGM.

• Highest ticket percentage: Cade Cunningham 20.8%
• Highest handle percentage: Nikola Jokic 19.6%
• Biggest liability: Cade Cunningham
• Odds leader: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander -140

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How is the NBA MVP decided?

The MVP award is one of the most prestigious honors in professional basketball—and one of the most debated. But how is the MVP actually chosen?

🗳️ MVP Voting Process

The MVP is determined by a panel of 100 sportswriters and broadcasters from the U.S. and Canada, as well as a fan vote that counts as one ballot. Each voter selects five players, ranked from first to fifth place. The point system is as follows:

• 1st place vote: 10 points
• 2nd place: 7 points
• 3rd place: 5 points
• 4th place: 3 points
• 5th place: 1 point

The player with the highest total point tally at the end of voting is crowned NBA MVP.

📊 What Do Voters Consider?

While there's no official checklist, MVP voters typically weigh several key factors:

• Individual statistics: Points, assists, rebounds, efficiency, advanced metrics like PER or Win Shares
• Team success: MVPs are rarely chosen from losing teams and Top 3 seeds are the norm
• Narrative and storyline: Voters often reward players overcoming adversity or carrying a franchise
• Consistency and availability: Games played, durability, and clutch performance matter

👀 Voter Biases and Trends

Some unofficial trends also influence MVP outcomes:

• “Voter fatigue”: Players who've already won may need to outperform their own past seasons to win again
• New blood bias: Voters sometimes prefer rising stars over repeat winners
• Position favoritism: Guards and forwards tend to dominate MVP voting, although that trend has been changing in recent years

📜NBA MVP betting history

A quick look at recent NBA MVPs and their opening odds.

Season	Player	Opening Odds	Team
2024-25	Shai Gilgeous-Alexander	+400	Oklahoma City Thunder
2023-24	Nikola Jokic	+450	Denver Nuggets
2022-23	Joel Embiid	+600	Philadelphia 76ers
2021-22	Nikola Jokic	+1600	Denver Nuggets
2020-21	Nikola Jokic	+2500	Denver Nuggets
2019-20	Giannis Antetokounmpo	+210	Milwaukee Bucks
2018-19	Giannis Antetokounmpo	+475	Milwaukee Bucks
2017-18	James Harden	+1100	Houston Rockets
2016-17	Russell Westbrook	+200	Oklahoma City Thunder
2015-16	Stephen Curry	+650	Golden State Warriors
2014-15	Stephen Curry	+1600	Golden State Warriors

NBA MVP odds FAQ

How does the NBA define "valuable"?

The NBA intentionally leaves "valuable" open to the interpretation of voters, who typically look for a dominant player on an elite team.

When is the NBA MVP announced?

NBA voters submit MVP ballots shortly after the regular season concludes, and playoff games are not considered.

Who is the reigning NBA MVP?

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder won the 2025 NBA MVP.

Who has the most all-time NBA MVP awards?

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar holds the all-time record with six NBA MVPs.

What are last year's winner's current MVP odds?

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has the shortest MVP odds at -210.

Who votes for NBA MVP?

The NBA MVP award is voted on by a panel of sportswriters and broadcasters from the United States and Canada. This panel consists of approximately 100 members who cover the NBA regularly throughout the season. They vote for the player they believe has been the most valuable to their team based on their performance throughout the regular season.

Who has the most MVP awards in NBA history?

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar holds the record for winning the most NBA MVP awards in league history. He won the MVP award six times during his legendary career with the Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers.

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