We’re gearing up for a star-studded NBA Finals between the Dallas Mavericks and Boston Celtics. Some of the game’s most prominent faces and dominant players will be on display over the next few weeks, including Luka Dončić, Jayson Tatum, Kyrie Irving, and more.
You likely have a lean for how the series will go, but one of the more interesting betting markets is NBA Finals MVP. There’s plenty of value to be had if you can peg the right name ahead of the action, and that’s exactly what we’ve set out to do.
Here are the latest odds and some best bets for 2024 NBA Finals MVP.
DraftKings Sportsbook provides NBA lines, which are current as of Monday, June 3, at 3 p.m. ET.
2024 NBA Finals MVP Odds
- Jayson Tatum (-115)
- Luka Dončić (+205)
- Jaylen Brown (+650)
- Kyrie Irving (+2200)
- Kristaps Porziņģis (+3500)
- Derrick White (+3500)
- Jrue Holiday (+5000)
2024 NBA Finals MVP Best Bet
Luka Dončić, Dallas Mavericks (+205)
DraftKings Sportsbook • WAGER: 1 Unit
If you’re of the opinion that the Mavericks have a fighting chance of winning this series — as I am — your money is bet spent on Dončić. The 25-year-old superstar has the second-shortest odds to win Finals MVP at (+205), and that seems pretty reasonable given the circumstances.
Dallas is the underdog, but Dončić is undoubtedly the best player in this series. He’s having a terrific postseason, too, averaging 28.8 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 8.8 assists while shooting just under 44% from the field. He’s also posted six triple-doubles in 17 games.
Few teams, if any, have an answer for Dončić, and that includes Boston. He averaged 35/15/12 in two regular-season matchups with the Celtics this year, notching triple-doubles in each.
Dallas will need to win the series for Dončić to earn Finals MVP honors, but I like his odds at (+205). Make this your NBA bet of the day.
2024 NBA Finals MVP Favorites
Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics (-115)
DraftKings Sportsbook
Tatum finished alongside Dončić on the All-NBA First Team, and given Boston’s incredible performance throughout the regular season and playoffs, there’s no question that he deserves to be the odds-on favorite for Finals MVP. That doesn’t mean I’ll make this bet, though.
The 26-year-old has had an impressive postseason from a numbers standpoint, but the efficiency hasn’t always been there. Tatum has shot just 29% from three-point range over the last 14 games, and he was bested by his teammate, Jaylen Brown, for Eastern Conference Finals MVP.
The main reason I’m avoiding this bet, though, is that I’m not sold on the Celtics winning the NBA Finals. The Mavericks have made a habit of playing above expectations on the road, and Boston has looked vulnerable enough at times to make me wary.
Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics (+650)
DraftKings Sportsbook
Brown is a solid bet at (+650). As mentioned above, he was just awarded Eastern Conference Finals MVP, and he’s more than capable of putting up 40-bombs at a moment’s notice.
With that said, if the Celtics win, I don’t see a scenario in which Brown outplays Tatum over the course of the series. The limited sample size of Boston’s sweep of the Pacers helped Brown’s case, but this should be a relatively drawn-out series, giving Tatum — or others — more opportunities to shine.
2024 NBA Finals MVP Sleepers
Kyrie Irving, Dallas Mavericks (+2200)
DraftKings Sportsbook • WAGER: 0.25 Units
This is a massive series for Irving. The 32-year-old is back in the NBA Finals for the first time since the 2016-17 season, and his opponent just happens to be one of his former teams.
Irving has also played exceptionally well throughout the playoffs, averaging 22.8 points and 5.2 assists while shooting over 48% from the field and 42% from beyond the arc. He’s also stepped up his defense, which has helped Dallas make a pretty dramatic transformation on that end of the floor.
It’s unlikely that Irving will be the best player in the series if the Mavericks win the title, but I wouldn’t rule it out completely. The Celtics’ backcourt is strong defensively, and Dončić has struggled with various injuries throughout the postseason.
At (+2200), I’m not opposed to a smaller wager.
Jrue Holiday, Boston Celtics (+5000)
DraftKings Sportsbook • WAGER: 0.1 Units
Speaking of that vaunted Boston defense, you can’t go without mentioning Jrue Holiday, who was named to the All-Defensive Second Team in his first year with the Celtics. The veteran guard has long been known for his stellar perimeter defense, and he has a chance to make a real impact in this series.
Dončić and Irving are two of the most gifted offensive players in the NBA, and Boston won’t be able to win this series unless it finds a way to make life difficult for one or both of them. Much of that burden will fall on Holiday’s shoulders, and if he finds a way to manage it, he could force his way into the MVP conversation.
Holiday will need to be at his best on both ends of the floor to have a real argument, though, so unless he stuffs the stat sheet and makes a few series-defining plays, he won’t have much of a chance. I’m satisfied with a sprinkle here at (+5000).
