LeBron James and Kobe Bryant are considered the two best players in the NBA but oddsmakers list Oklahoma City’s Kevin Durant as the top choice to win the
NBA’s Most Valuable Player this season.
Pinnaclesports.com has the Thunder’s small forward
listed as a +241 favorite to win the award after he finished second in voting in last
year.
Durant led the Thunder to a 50-32 record
and the No. 8 seed last season, where the team took eventual-champion Los
Angeles to six games before ultimately falling short. The 21-year-old averaged
30.1 points, 7.6 rebounds and 2.8 assists and became the youngest player to
lead the NBA in scoring.
If Durant manages to win the award, he
will become the youngest player in league history to accomplish the feat. A
23-year-old Wes Unseld claimed the trophy with the Baltimore Bullets for his play
during the 1968-69 season.
James, the two-time and reigning
MVP, is listed at +497 after opting to join Dwyane Wade (+969) and Chris Bosh
(+4484) in Miami. NBA champ and Finals MVP Bryant is listed at +351.
Other posted odds include Dwight Howard
(+803), Carmelo Anthony (+1224), Dirk Nowitzki (+1682), Chris Paul (+1732),
Derrick Rose (+1987), Amar’e Stoudemire (+3568), Steve Nash (+4076), Deron
Williams (+4230), Pau Gasol (+7641) and the field (+1326).
