The 2017-18 season is officially two months away and that means it is time for them to release their initial MVP odds.
There are not a lot of sportsbooks with odds open on the NBA MVP market for the 2017/18 NBA season. After all, it was only within the last ten days that the market settled for the 2016/17 season, one that saw Russell Westbrook win the coveted individual award. 2017-18 NBA Awards Voting Summary. Every Sports Reference Social Media Account. Site Last Updated: Sunday, March 7, 4:16AM Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? Are you a Stathead, too?
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With all of the high-profile player movement (with still more to come potentially) this summer, who is your favorite to win the MVP this season?
Odds Frank Ntilikina will be the Knicks’ starting point guard on Opening Night of the 2017-18 season: 9/2. Orlando Magic: Can anyone shoot from deep? Orlando was the NBA’s second-worst three-point shooting team last year and did little to address the issue in the offseason. Houston Rockets superstar James Harden won the 2017-18 Most Valuable Player award Monday. Raptors host DeRozan, Spurs as favourites on Friday NBA odds 3 hours ago. Free NBA picks and tips against the spread in 2021. Don't miss tonight's game score predictions and basketball picks analysis from SBR betting experts.
Will Russell Westbrook dominate again and follow up his historic season with another MVP campaign? Will James Harden get the boost he needs from Chris Paul to win his first MVP award? Will Paul win his first playing next to Harden? Will Durant ride his wave of momentum as defending champion and NBA Finals MVP to his second regular season MVP award? Does LeBron have a 5th MVP in him?
Here are the initial odds courtesy of online betting website Bovada:
Russell Westbrook (OKC) 7/2
Kevin Durant (GS) 9/2
Kawhi Leonard (SAN) 13/2
LeBron James (CLE) 15/2
James Harden (HOU) 8/1
Giannis Antetokounmpo (MIL) 17/2
Steph Curry (GS) 11/1
Anthony Davis (NOP) 16/1
Paul George (OKC) 25/1
Chris Paul (HOU) 25/1
Isaiah Thomas (BOS) 25/1
DeMarcus Cousins (NOP) 33/1
Karl-Anthony Towns (MIN) 33/1
John Wall (WAS) 33/1
Blake Griffin (LAC) 40/1
Nikola Jokic (DEN) 40/1
DeMar DeRozan (TOR) 50/1
Joel Embiid (PHI) 50/1
Kyrie Irving (CLE) 50/1
Damian Lillard (POR) 50/1
Draymond Green (GS) 60/1
Ben Simmons (PHI) 66/1
Gordon Hayward (BOS) 70/1
Carmelo Anthony (NYK) 75/1
Jimmy Butler (MIN) 75/1
Andrew Wiggins (MIN) 75/1
Kevin Love (CLE) 100/1
Kyle Lowry (TOR) 100/1
Kristaps Porzingis (NYK) 100/1
Westbrook deserves to be the favorite, but as you can see it is a wide open field with no real huge favorites outside of Westbrook.
While injuries and a number of unforeseen circumstances will ultimately shape this race throughout the season, it is fun to project at this point to see who will win what seems to be the most prestigious individual award in sports.
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In my opinion, Durant seems to be the safest bet, with Leonard as a close second. If I were a betting man (which full disclosure I am), there are three people I would throw a few shekels on: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Chris Paul and John Wall.
The Greek Freak put up MVP caliber stats last season for an eastern conference playoff team and if he takes another leap this season, say 26-8-8 and the Bucks can win 50 games it would be easy to make a compelling case for him.
John Wall quietly puts up MVP caliber stats as well, he averaged 23.1 points and 10.7 assists last season, and if no one has a ridiculous season like Westbrook or Harden did last year and he replicates that or improves upon it with a team that gets the No. 1 seed in the east let’s say, that could be enough for an MVP.
Chris Paul is such a domineering force and leader. If Harden learns to play around Paul and make life even easier for himself and if Paul has a highly efficient 20 and 11 season for a 55 to 60 win team in Houston, voters could absolutely think he deserves to be rewarded for his season and his hall of fame caliber career.
Here’s to another great season and another awesome MVP race.
Russell Westbrook had a season for the ages in 2016-17. In his first year without Kevin Durant by his side, Westbrook (31.6 points, 10.7 rebounds, 10.4 assists per game) became the first NBA player to average a triple-double since Oscar Robertson in 1961-62. He ended up winning the league MVP award handily over James Harden and Kawhi Leonard.
The script has been flipped for 2017-18. Now that Westbrook and Harden have both been joined by superstar talent this offseason, Leonard has vaulted into top spot on the MVP futures market at +350. LeBron James (fourth place last year) is next at +450, followed by Durant at +550 and Westbrook at +600. Harden is tied for fifth at +1000 with rising star Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Least Voluble Player
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Leonard is one of the most respected two-way players in the NBA. He’s a two-time Defensive Player of the Year, and the NBA Finals MVP from 2014, when he led the San Antonio Spurs to victory over James and the Miami Heat. However, Leonard is one of the quieter players in the league, playing for a small-market team. His chances of winning league MVP honors have been greatly enhanced by the rush to form superstar teams around Westbrook and Harden.
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In Westbrook’s case, he’ll be part of a Big Three on the Oklahoma City Thunder. Paul George came over from the Indiana Pacers in July, and Carmelo Anthony waived his no-trade clause with the New York Knicks to secure a deal on Saturday. Harden, meanwhile, will be joined with the Houston Rockets by Chris Paul, who was acquired from the Los Angeles Clippers in a multi-player deal. This will improve the chances for Westbrook and Harden to win the championship, but they might have to sacrifice MVP consideration in the process.
James, on the other hand, could be in line for his fifth MVP award. He’s still one of the very best players in the league, and James will stand out more now that Kyrie Irving has gotten his wish and been traded to the Boston Celtics. Point guard Isaiah Thomas arrives in Cleveland with a pre-existing hip condition that could force James to carry even more of the burden than usual. He’s done it before; if James succeeds in keeping Cleveland near the top of the Eastern Conference, he’ll have the MVP edge with the sportswriters and broadcasters who vote for the winner.
*Odds as of September 25, 2017