NBA MVP Odds Update: Is the Race Officially Joel Embiid's to Lose?

NBA MVP Odds Update: Is the Race Officially Joel Embiid's to Lose?

As Luka Doncic finds his way off this list – for more reasons than just his recent injury – Joel Embiid completes his uphill climb of catching Nikola Jokic as the odds leader to win the NBA Most Valuable Player award. Let’s take an updated look at the NBA MVP Odds Power Rankings. 

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NBA MVP Odds

1. Joel Embiid (-190) Bet $100 to collect $152. FanDuel has the best odds, click here

On top of slowly climbing Jokic for some time now, Embiid has made a statement in the month of March. He’s averaging 36.6 points per game on the month as well, and he finally pulled down a double-double with 18 rebounds in his recent performance. He’s got a 6-1 record when he plays in March, too. He’s winning while putting up absolutely elite numbers, and it’s helped him take the best odds to bring home hardware when the season concludes, and honestly, I’m not surprised. He’s easily having a top-three statistical season while leading his squad to a top-three seed in the Eastern Conference. He’s also the only player in the top-three odds who doesn't have two MVP trophies – let alone one. 

2. Nikola Jokic (+300) Bet $100 to collect $400. FanDuel has the best odds, click here

Jokic, statistically, has been very good in the past week. However, you’ve got to ignore the fact that his team lost four straight games. He had built a very, very comfortable lead in odds to bring home the hardware, which would’ve been his third straight time. Winning and losing weighed a ton when talking about these awards, and Jokic was doing too much losing right when Embiid caught fire with the oddsmakers. It’s gotten him in trouble this time, as he now is a very close second in odds to win the MVP award. It’s going to be an interesting final set of games to see where these odds end up.

3. Giannis Antetokounmpo (+475) Bet $100 to collect $575. Caesars has the best odds, click here

In third, but not too far back, is Giannis Antetokounmpo. He’s crept his way back up strongly into this race. There’s virtually no way he falls below Tatum’s odds, so he’s likely a top-three candidate in odds when the regular season comes to a close. Like Embiid, he’s had an incredible March. Following his team's incredible winning streak, he’s won four of his last six games, and he’s averaging 34 points per game on the month. He’s 2-1 in his last week of play and put together a 36 and 46-point game. He’s building his resume but, as of right now, is slightly too far out to be seriously considered over the candidates ahead of him. 

4. Jayson Tatum (+15000) Bet $100 to collect $15,100 FanDuel has the best odds; click here to bet

Jayson Tatum has scored 30+ points per game across the season and averages nine rebounds per game. He’s got a top-two seed in the Eastern Conference, yet, based on his odds, he’s virtually out of this race. Embiid having superhuman stats while winning and Giannis going on such a long win streak basically takes the top two MVP cases in the Eastern Conference. He’s played his way into the top odds at one point, yet everyone above him is doing even more to buff their cases to take home the hardware and has surpassed Tatum on their own.

5. Damian Lillard (+50000) Bet $100 to collect $50,100 FanDuel has the best odds; click here to bet

There goes Luka Doncic, and here comes Damian Lillard! Now, this is a bunch of nothing. For the sake of having a fifth guy, Lillard is on the list. It may even be someone else next week. His team hasn’t won nearly enough, though he is putting together a career year this far into his career, so that’s impressive. Being a 13th seed nearly automatically disqualifies you from winning the MVP, and that’s why Lillard’s odds are so far off. So, again, for the sake of adding a fifth guy, Lillard has made his way onto this list.