The NBA All-Star break is now behind us, and the end of the regular season is coming into view. With that in mind, the time is now for the league’s MVP candidates to make their final push.
Below, I’ll look at the updated odds for the award and provide my best picks and predictions.
NBA 2022-23 MVP Award Betting Odds
Caesars Sportsbook provides NBA lines for the 2023 NBA MVP, which are current as of Wednesday, Feb. 22, at 9 a.m. ET.
- Nikola Jokić (-300)
- Joel Embiid (+425)
- Giannis Antetokounmpo (+700)
- Jayson Tatum (+1000)
- Luka Dončić (+1500)
- LeBron James (+4500)
- Ja Morant (+6000)
- Damian Lillard (+12500)
- Kevin Durant (+12500)
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (+15000)
- Stephen Curry (+15000)
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NBA 2022-23 MVP Award Best Bet
Nikola Jokić, Denver Nuggets (-300)
Jokić is now the overwhelming favorite to win his third consecutive MVP, putting him on track to join Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, and Larry Bird as the only players in league history to accomplish the feat. His play this season has been phenomenal.
What makes his claim for a third-straight MVP legitimate is his passing, combined with the fact that his Nuggets have the best record in the Western Conference. Jokić is averaging a triple-double this season thanks to his career-high 10.1 assists per game.
So long as he stays healthy for the rest of the year, this award will be his to lose, making this my NBA bet of the day.
NBA 2022-23 MVP Award Favorites
Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers (+425)
After leading the NBA in scoring in 2021-22, Embiid is now averaging a career-high 33.1 points per game to go along with 10.2 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 1.5 blocks. If it weren’t for Jokić’s dominance out West, Embiid would be the unquestioned MVP.
The 28-year-old is also in the midst of his most efficient season to date, converting at an effective field goal percentage of 56.4% — a three-point jump over the mark he posted this past year.
There is a future in which Embiid wins this award this year, but it’s going to take something pretty drastic for that to happen.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks (+700)
Antetokounmpo remains incapable of shooting the three-ball, but that’s about the only identifiable flaw in his game. The Greek Freak does virtually everything else on the court, and he does it exceptionally well.
The 28-year-old is also enjoying a career year in Milwaukee, averaging 31.8 points, 12.2 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game.
It wouldn’t surprise me if he ends up finishing as the runner-up to Jokić given his defensive versatility, but I just don’t see how it’s possible for Antetokounmpo to win MVP this year.
NBA 2022-23 MVP Award Contenders
Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics (+1000)
Tatum is another player who’s having his best year to date in the NBA this season, averaging career-high marks in points (30.6), rebounds (8.6), and assists (4.5) per game. His Celtics also have the league’s best record through this point in the season at 42-18.
His leap has been quite impressive, especially when it comes to scoring. Tatum has more games with 30-plus points (32) than he does with 10-29 (23), and the Celtics are 14-2 in games where he scores at least 35.
Luka Dončić, Dallas Mavericks (+1500)
Dončić came into the season as the odds-on favorite to win his first MVP, but despite the fact that he leads the league in scoring at 33.3 points per game, he’s fallen quite a bit down the ladder. The recent addition of Kyrie Irving doesn’t help his case, either.
The problem is with Dončić’s Mavericks, who are 31-29 coming out of the All-Star break. After reaching the Western Conference Finals in 2021-22, Dallas has been one of the more underwhelming teams in the league in 2022-23.
Dončić will almost certainly win a few MVP trophies during his career, but he won’t be getting his first this year.
NBA 2022-23 MVP Award Sleepers
LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers (+4500)
What James is accomplishing in his 20th season is absurd. The 38-year-old is averaging 30.0 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 7.0 assists in roughly 36 minutes per game, and he’s already had five performances with 40 points or more.
Unfortunately, for James, his Lakers currently occupy the No. 13 seed in the Western Conference, and an MVP award has only been won by a player whose team did not make the playoffs one time. However, even if he leads his team to the postseason, it likely won’t be enough.
