NBA MVP Odds: Embiid & Jokic In Tight Race After 76ers Defeat Nuggets

Michael Crosson Sports Betting Expert

3 minute read

The last three NBA MVP awards have been won by either Nikola Jokic or Joel Embiid, and this year’s race is shaping up to have a similar look to it after Embiid and the 76ers posted a statement win over the Nuggets on Tuesday night.

Prior to Tuesday’s matchup, Jokic was the clear cut favorite at +170 – with the closest name on the odds board sitting beyond +280 at most shops, while Embiid sat at +800. 

However, in the aftermath of Embiid’s stellar 41-point performance in a 126-121 win over Denver this week, Embiid has quickly climbed the MVP odds board as the Sixers’ big man now sits at +260 – while Jokic has slid back to +240 (Bet $100 to win $240), although the Joker still remains the favorite.

Updated NBA MVP Odds

• Nikola Jokic +240
• Joel Embiid +260
• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander +300
• Luka Doncic +700
• Giannis Antetokounmpo +800
• Jayson Tatum +2900
• Anthony Edwards +5000
• Kevin Durant +7500
• De'Aaron Fox+7500
• Tyrese Haliburton +10000
• Devin Booker +10000
• Anthony Davis +15000
• Steph Curry +15000

Odds provided by FanDuel

The real dilemma is though, will Embiid even be allowed to contend for the award?

Starting this season, players must play a minimum of 65 games in order to be considered for NBA awards voting as a part of the league’s new anti-load management protocols – which means that players who miss more than 17 games will be automatically excluded from the voting pool. 

Embiid has already missed 10 of Philly’s 39 games. So with over half of the season left to play, Embiid can only miss seven more games in order to contend for the MVP award – and if you are familiar with the big man’s medical history, you already know that he is destined to fall well short of that minimum game requirement.

That leaves us with only one other MVP candidate listed inside +700 – Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander at +300. 

SGA is followed by Mavericks guard Luka Doncic at +700, Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo at +800 and then we hit a steep drop off to Celtics forward Jayson Tatum at +2900 and Anthony Edwards of the T-Wolves at +5000.

Fingers crossed. Jokic should be able to contend for the award, having missed just one of the Nugget’s 42 games thus far. However, it will be interesting to see which of the secondary candidates emerges to make a case against Jokic as the season progresses – because I don’t see Embiid playing enough games to qualify for awards consideration.

Also Keep an Eye On

Updated Rookie of the Year Odds

• Chet Holmgren -180
• Victor Wembanyama +115
• Jaime Jaquez Jr. +2800
• Derek Lively II +4200
• Brandon Miller +5000
• Scoot Henderson +5000

Odds provided by FanDuel

It's a two-horse race for this year's Rookie of the Year Award. Thunder big man Chet Holmgren is the odds on favorite to receive the honors at -180, followed closely by Spurs phenom Victor Wembanyama at +115.

After those two guys, no other players are listed inside +2500 -- with the next two names on the board being Heat forward Jaime Jaquez Jr. at +2800 and Mavericks center Derek Lively II at +4200.

Updated Defensive Player of the Year Odds

• Rudy Gobert -230
• Chet Holmgren +800
• Anthony Davis +1500
• OG Anunoby +2000
• Bam Adebayo +2500
• Derrick White +3000
• Joel Embiid +3500
• Herbert Jones +3500
• Jaren Jackson Jr. +5000

Odds provided by FanDuel

Unlike the current MVP race, the recipient of last year's Defensive Player of the Year Award is nowhere near the top of the odds list -- as reigning DPOY Jaren Jackson Jr. is listed as a +5000 longshot to defend his title.

Three-time DPOY Rudy Gobert is the clear cut favorite to reclaim his throne at -230. However, this would be his first time receiving the award as a member of the Timberwolves.

Only two players in NBA history have ever won DPOY four times -- Dikembe Mutombo and Ben Wallace. Another win for Gobert would elevate him to very rare territory, despite already being one of four players to ever win the award three times.

Michael Crosson

Michael Crosson began his time at VegasInsider as a freelance NBA writer back in 2019 while he continued to study Psychology and Biology at James Madison University. Following his graduation in 2021, Michael joined the team full-time, and he's been with VI ever since. Michael still writes NBA, NFL, and MLB for VI, as well as gambling industry news. He's also become a crucial part of our editorial production team. More from Michael Crosson