NBA MVP Betting Odds 2026
Of all the yearly awards given in the NBA, the NBA MVP Award is the most prestigious honor a player can receive in the…
Some of the greatest players in NBA history have won this award, and among those greats, some have won it multiple times.
However, the NBA MVP race is no longer something that only matters to players, agents, and coaches.
Now, regular, old-fashioned sports bettors have the opportunity to put down some cash and follow along throughout an 82-game regular season to see if they correctly predicted the outcome and secured a nice profit.
Here, we will cover everything you need to know about the race to become the 2025 NBA MVP and how you can get involved with just a few clicks of a button.
Note: Odds were correct at the time of writing.
Best Sportsbooks for NBA MVP Betting
DraftKings Sportsbook
DraftKings offers NBA MVP betting throughout the season, allowing bettors to wager on which player will capture the league’s most prestigious individual award. Futures markets are available before the season begins and remain active through the regular season.
The sportsbook regularly updates MVP odds as player performances, injuries, and team success shape the award race. Bettors can back established superstars or identify rising candidates before their odds shorten.
Highlights:
- Extensive NBA MVP futures market
- Frequent odds updates throughout the season
- Additional NBA awards and player futures
FanDuel Sportsbook
FanDuel features NBA MVP betting on the league’s top stars and emerging contenders. The market evolves throughout the season as players build their cases for the award.
Bettors can monitor odds movement while evaluating scoring production, advanced metrics, and team success. FanDuel also provides a user-friendly platform for tracking futures throughout the season.
Highlights:
- Competitive NBA MVP odds
- Easy-to-use futures betting interface
- Broad selection of NBA award markets
BetMGM Sportsbook
BetMGM offers NBA MVP betting with futures odds available year-round. Bettors can place wagers before the season, during the regular season, and as the award race narrows.
The sportsbook updates odds based on statistical performance, team standings, and player availability. This creates opportunities to find value on both favorites and longshot candidates.
Highlights:
- Comprehensive NBA futures coverage
- Regular MVP odds adjustments
- Additional player awards and team futures
Caesars Sportsbook
Caesars Sportsbook provides NBA MVP betting markets that allow bettors to back their preferred candidates throughout the season. Odds are updated as players strengthen or weaken their positions in the race.
The market is influenced by scoring, efficiency, team success, and overall impact. Caesars offers futures options on many of the NBA’s biggest names.
Highlights:
- Year-round NBA MVP betting
- Strong selection of futures markets
- Expanded NBA awards coverage
bet365 Sportsbook
Bet365 features NBA MVP betting as part of its extensive basketball futures menu. Bettors can wager on award candidates while following the league’s evolving storylines.
The sportsbook updates MVP odds throughout the season as players produce standout performances and teams compete for playoff positioning. Markets are available on both star players and emerging contenders.
Highlights:
- Deep NBA futures offerings
- Consistent MVP odds updates
- Multiple NBA awards markets
BetRivers Sportsbook
BetRivers offers NBA MVP betting on many of the league’s leading players. Futures markets remain available throughout the season, allowing bettors to track changing award odds.
Player performance, team record, and media attention can all influence MVP prices. BetRivers provides a straightforward platform for following the award race.
Highlights:
- NBA MVP betting throughout the season
- User-friendly futures markets
- Additional NBA player award options
Hard Rock Bet
Hard Rock Bet features NBA MVP betting as part of its growing basketball futures lineup. Bettors can wager on established stars and breakout candidates competing for the league’s top individual honor.
Odds are adjusted throughout the year as the MVP race develops. Strong statistical production and team success often drive movement in the market.
Highlights:
- NBA MVP futures available season-long
- Competitive odds on top candidates
- Additional NBA awards and championship betting
How Is The NBA MVP Decided?
The NBA Most Valuable Player award is decided through a voting process conducted by a panel of 100 sportswriters and broadcasters from the United States and Canada.
Votes for MVP are weighted, with first-place votes earning 10 points, second-place votes earning 7 points, third-place votes earning 5 points, fourth-place votes earning 3 points, and fifth-place votes receiving 1 point.
The player with the most total points wins the MVP award, meaning a player could receive more first-place votes but still fall short if they do not accumulate the highest point total.
There have been minor tweaks to the voting process in recent years, the most recent coming in the 2023-24 NBA season, when a player became required to play in at least 65 games to be eligible for major individual awards, including MVP.
Additionally, a player must average 20 minutes per game in those 65 games, with the lone exception being a player who appears in 62 to 64 games but was injured in at least three games where they played 20 or more minutes before getting hurt.
In other words, Joel Embiid will probably never win NBA MVP ever again.
NBA MVP Betting Odds
Now that you have a better understanding of how the voting process works for the NBA MVP award, you’re probably eager to learn about the top candidates for the 2025 NBA MVP.
Here’s a look at the latest odds fresh off the midseason All-Star break.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (-220) at FanDuel – The Favorite
SGA has been the focal point for a Thunder team that boasted one of the best records in basketball at the midseason All-Star break.
SGA has been sensational this seaso, averaging more than 33 points per game. The 27-year-old should be a dominating player for years to come.
Barring an injury that puts him under the 65-game minimum required for MVP eligibility, there is only one man who could potentially spoil his MVP coronation.
Nikola Jokić (+300) at DraftKings – The Contender
The one man who could spoil the fun? Three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic, who in any other season would likely be the overwhelming favorite to take home yet another MVP win.
Jokic is averaging just a but more than Gilgeous-Alexander, with 33.5 points per game this season.
Like Gilgeous-Alexander, Jokic is the key piece for a Nuggets team that is very much a title contender.
If the Thunder stumble in the second half while the Nuggets surge up the Western Conference standings, this race could get very interesting down the stretch.
For now, Gilgeous-Alexander is the clear favorite to win the award, but if you’re looking to jump into the MVP betting market in mid-February, Jokic is by far your best bet.
The Longshots
In the world of sports, you never want to say something is a guarantee unless you’re talking about the Dallas Cowboys face-planting in the playoffs.
But it is all but certain that none of the longshots in this group have a realistic chance of gaining enough ground to give SGA and ‘The Joker’ a serious challenge in the NBA MVP race.
Of this list of five players, Giannis would appear to have the best chance to give MVP voters some pause before casting their final ballot, and that will require a historically good run by a Bucks team that has been mediocre at best for much of the season.
Crazy things happen, and with the added requirement that a player must appear in 65 games to be eligible for the award, you can never rule out an unfortunate injury derailing a favorite’s chances.
It just doesn’t seem very likely to be the case this season.
| Player | Team | Betting Odds |
| Anthony Edwards | Minnesota Timberwolves | +15000 |
| Jaylen Brown | Boston Celtics | +4000 |
| Luka Doncic | Los Angeles Lakers | +2000 |
| Cade Cunningham | Detroit Pistons | +2000 |
Recent NBA MVP Winners
| Year | Player | Team |
| 2024-25 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | Oklahoma City Thunder |
| 2023-24 | Nikola Jokić | Denver Nuggets |
| 2022-23 | Joel Embiid | Philadelphia 76ers |
| 2021-22 | Nikola Jokić | Denver Nuggets |
| 2020-21 | Nikola Jokić | Denver Nuggets |
| 2019-20 | Giannis Antetokounmpo | Milwaukee Bucks |
| 2018-19 | Giannis Antetokounmpo | Milwaukee Bucks |
| 2017-18 | James Harden | Houston Rockets |
| 2016-17 | Russell Westbrook | Oklahoma City Thunder |
| 2015-16 | Stephen Curry | Golden State Warriors |
| 2014-15 | Stephen Curry | Golden State Warriors |
How to Bet on the NBA MVP Award
To bet on who will win the NBA MVP Award just follow this easy step-by-step guide:
- Go to your preferred sportsbook and log into your account.
- Select the ‘NBA Odds’ tab option in the betting menu.
- Go to the ‘Player Futures’ drop-down menu.
- Click on ‘NBA MVP’.
- Submit your bet in the bet-slip window.
