Before you bet on what should be an exciting series between the Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Lakers, consider wagering on a relatively new market: Western Conference Finals MVP.
Stephen Curry won the inaugural Magic Johnson Trophy for his performance in this series in 2021-22, and with some of the game’s brightest stars on display in Nikola Jokić, LeBron James, and Anthony Davis, this year’s honor should be tightly contested.
Let’s take a look at the latest Western Conference Finals MVP odds.
NBA Western Conference Finals MVP Betting Odds
DraftKings Sportsbook provides NBA lines for the 2023 NBA Western Conference Finals MVP, which are current as of Tuesday, May 16, at 10 a.m. ET.
- Nikola Jokić (-140)
- LeBron James (+285)
- Anthony Davis (+390)
- Jamal Murray (+1600)
- Michael Porter Jr. (+10000)
- D’Angelo Russell (+13000)
- Austin Reaves (+13000)
- Aaron Gordon (+15000)
- Dennis Schröder (+25000)
- Rui Hachimura (+25000)
- Lonnie Walker IV (+25000)
- Bruce Brown (+40000)
- Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (+40000)
NBA Western Conference Finals MVP Best Bet
Nikola Jokić, Denver Nuggets (-140)
Jokić is the heavy betting favorite to win this award, and rightfully so. He’s the best player on his team and the best player in the series, and his Nuggets are also expected to defeat the Lakers — perhaps the most important edge of all.
The two-time league MVP has also been on a tear throughout the playoffs, averaging 30.7 points, 12.8 rebounds, and 9.7 assists per game while shooting 54.9% from the field and an absurd 47.5% from three-point range. He’s scored as many as 53 points in a single game this postseason.
Jokić will have his work cut out for him against a Lakers team that ranks No. 1 in defensive rating in the playoffs, but he’s about as unstoppable as they come these days.
Look for Jokić to bring home the hardware and make this your NBA bet of the day.
NBA Western Conference Finals MVP Favorites
LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers (+285)
It’s never easy to bet against James. The 38-year-old continues to redefine what it means to be a superstar, and he’s still getting the job done in his 20th NBA season.
With that said, there’s reason to suggest that he shouldn’t be second in the running to win this award.
By his standards, James has had a somewhat lackluster postseason thus far. His assist totals are way down, he isn’t scoring with his usual efficiency — particularly from three-point range — and he’s had just one 30-point game.
At this stage of the series, I’d rather bet on a different Lakers player to earn the honor.
NBA Western Conference Finals MVP Contenders
Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers (+390)
If the Lakers win this series, they’ll have Davis to thank. His defense and rebounding will be absolutely essential against Jokić, and he’s been playing like a superstar on the other end of the floor, as well.
Through 12 games, Davis is averaging 21.2 points, 14.1 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and a staggering 3.3 blocks in roughly 37 minutes of action. His performances have been a bit inconsistent — he tends to follow up a 30-point showing with something in the teens — but he was more steady in the second round.
Los Angeles can’t win this series without Davis, and that in itself speaks volumes about the value he brings to this team. At (+390), I love the value here.
NBA Western Conference Finals MVP Sleepers
Jamal Murray, Denver Nuggets (+1600)
Murray is fourth on this list, and he also happens to be the last player I’d consider to even be in the running to win the award. That doesn’t mean I don’t think he’s worth a bet, though.
Murray could potentially be the most important player in this series. Jokić won’t be prevented from getting to work around the rim, but life could be made more difficult for him by the Lakers’ impressive interior defense.
Should that happen, the Nuggets will need Murray to take advantage of Los Angeles’ relatively weak backcourt and provide the scoring necessary to eliminate the Lakers. That may also mean he’ll need to average more than the 25.9 points per game he’s scored thus far.
