The NBA Finals Most Valuable Player (which is now named after former Celtics' great Bill Russell) is given to the top player for his performance in this final round.
Chris Paul, point guard of the Phoenix Suns was the top betting choice prior to the series and after the Suns owned a 1-0, 2-0 and 2-1 lead.
However, we've seen the oddsmakers make more adjustments after the Bucks took a 3-2 series lead over the Suns with three straight victories.
The new front-runner is Milwaukee superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo at -350 odds (Bet $350 to win $100) -- per BetMGM.
Devin Booker of the Suns was at +190 after the Game 4 loss but his number has jumped back up to 5/1 odds (Bet $100 to win $500).
Paul was as high as +260 on Thursday but his odds are at +900 as of Sunday morning.
The only other player in the vicinity to the top three betting choices is Khris Middleton of Milwaukee at 20/1 odds.
Giannis Antetokounmpo is averaging 32.2 PPG, 13.0 RPG and 5.6 APG through the first five games of the NBA Finals. (AP)
2021 NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Odds (After Game 5)
Giannis Antetokounmpo (MIL) -350
Devin Booker (PHX) +500
Chris Paul (PHX) +900
Khris Middleton (MIL) +2000
Jrue Holiday (MIL) +6600
Deandre Ayton (PHX) +25000
Brook Lopez (MIL) +100000
Mikal Bridges (PHX) +100000
Jae Crowder (PHX) +100000
Cameron Payne (PHX) +100000
Pat Connaughton (MIL) +100000
Bobby Portis (MIL) +100000
2021 NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Odds (After Game 4)
Giannis Antetokounmpo (MIL) +130
Chris Paul (PHX) +190
Devin Booker (PHX) +250
Khris Middleton (MIL) +2200
Deandre Ayton (PHX) +10000
Jrue Holiday (MIL) +20000
Jae Crowder (PHX) +25000
Brook Lopez (MIL) +50000
Mikal Bridges (PHX) +50000
Cameron Payne (PHX) +50000
P.J. Tucker (MIL) +100000
Pat Connaughton (MIL) +100000
Bobby Portis (MIL) +100000
Cameron Johnson (PHX) +100000
2021 NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Odds (After Game 3)
Chris Paul (PHX) -165
Giannis Antetokounmpo (MIL) +240
Devin Booker (PHX) +600
Deandre Ayton (PHX) +2500
Khris Middleton (MIL) +4000
Jrue Holiday (MIL) +12500
Mikal Bridges (PHX) +12500
Jae Crowder (PHX) +12500
Cameron Payne (PHX) +25000
Brook Lopez (MIL) +30000
Cameron Johnson (PHX) +50000
P.J. Tucker (MIL) +100000
Jeff Teague (MIL) +100000
Bryn Forbes (MIL) +100000
Pat Connaughton (MIL) +100000
Bobby Portis (MIL) +100000
Torrey Craig (PHX) +100000
2021 NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Odds (After Game 2)
Chris Paul (PHX) -135
Devin Booker (PHX) +200
Giannis Antetokounmpo (MIL) +500
Deandre Ayton (PHX) +2000
Khris Middleton (MIL) +2200
Mikal Bridges (PHX) +4000
Jrue Holiday (MIL) +8000
Brook Lopez (MIL) +25000
Jae Crowder (PHX) +25000
Cameron Johnson (PHX) +25000
Cameron Payne (PHX) +25000
P.J. Tucker (MIL) +50000
Bobby Portis (MIL) +50000
Torrey Craig (PHX) +50000
2021 NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Odds (After Game 1)
Chris Paul (PHX) -145
Giannis Antetokounmpo (MIL) +350
Devin Booker (PHX) +350
Khris Middleton (MIL) +1000
Deandre Ayton (PHX) +1800
Jrue Holiday (MIL) +10000
Mikal Bridges (PHX) +10000
Cameron Payne (PHX) +10000
P.J. Tucker (MIL) +12500
Jae Crowder (PHX) +15000
Cameron Johnson (PHX) +15000
Bobby Portis (MIL) +20000
Brook Lopez (MIL) +25000
Dario Saric (PHX) +25000
Torrey Craig (PHX) +15000
2021 NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Odds (Prior to Series)
There isn't one player taking the court in this series that has won an NBA title in their career. Obviously that means whoever captures the Most Valuable Player award, it will be the first of their career.
Favorites to Watch
Chris Paul, Phoenix (-165)
Paul finally reached the pinnacle of the NBA playoffs in his 16th season by leading the Suns to the NBA Finals. The future Hall-of-Fame point guard is averaging 24.7 points per game in the last eight postseason contests, including dropping 41 points on the Clippers in the Western Conference Finals clincher.
Suns' guard Chris Paul is listed as the favorite to win the NBA Finals MVP at 7/5 odds (+140) vs. the Bucks. (AP)
Devin Booker, Phoenix (+600)
Booker made plenty of headlines last season by leading the Suns to a perfect 8-0 record in the NBA Bubble, but Phoenix fell short of the playoffs. The Suns finally got over the hump this season and then some, led by Booker's 27.0 points per game in the playoffs.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee (+240)
The two-time regular season MVP has finally made the Finals, although he is nursing a hyperextended knee that kept him sidelined for the last two games of the Eastern Conference Finals. The "Greek Freak" is putting up 28.2 points per game and 12.7 rebounds per contest in the playoffs, while scoring at least 30 points in seven of the last nine games.
Worth a Shot?
Deandre Ayton, Phoenix (+2500)
Ayton put together his third straight season averaging double-figures in both points and rebounds, while posting 16.2 points per game during Phoenix's run to the Finals. The former top pick of the 2018 draft put up 11 double-doubles in the playoffs, as he is looking to become the first true center to win the Finals MVP since Shaquille O'Neal grabbed the honor for the Lakers in 2002.
2021 NBA Finals MVP Odds Comparison
The NBA Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP) award is given to the top basketball player in the NBA Playoffs.
Previous NBA Finals MVP Award Winners
2020 - LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers
2019 - Kawhi Leonard, Toronto Raptors
2018 - Kevin Durant, Golden State Warriors
2017 - Kevin Durant, Golden State Warriors
2016 - LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers
2015 - Andre Iguodala, Golden State Warriors
2014 - Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio Spurs
2013 - LeBron James, Miami Heat
2012 - LeBron James, Miami Heat
2011 - Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks
For the most part, there aren't a lot of dark horse winners of the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award.
Over the last 10 years, three players have won the honor multiple times LeBron James, Kawhi Leonard, and Kevin Durant.
The only player that was not among the favorites was Golden State's Andre Iguodala, who averaged 16.3 points per game during its 2015 NBA Finals triumph over Cleveland. Iguodala was as high as 100/1 odds when the series started to claim the MVP honor, which is more of the exception than the rule.
