Luka Doncic has overtaken Victor Wembanyama following the Los Angeles’ Lakers win over the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday night.
Key Takeaways
- Wembanyama had been the favorite to win MVP, MIP, and DPOY at prediction platforms just a couple of days ago.
- Gilgeous-Alexander won last year’s MVP trophy, and his team has the best record.
- Maxey leads the chasing pack despite opening the year at +25,000.
| Player | FanDuel odds | BetMGM odds | DraftKings odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | +160 | +200 | +180 |
| Luka Doncic | +350 | +350 | +400 |
| Nikola Jokic | +450 | +500 | +350 |
| Victor Wembanyama | +600 | +350 | +400 |
| Giannis Antetokounmpo | +700 | +600 | +700 |
| Tyrese Maxey | +6,000 | +5,000 | +4,000 |
Doncic stole the show in the MVP matchup with Wembanyama by dropping 35 points, 13 assists, nine rebounds, five steals, and two blocks.
He’d already become the first player in NBA history to average 40 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists through the first four games of a season, and he’s now up to 40 points, 11 rebounds, and 9.2 assists per night on 50% shooting.
The Lakers are riding a five-game winning streak up to 7-2, putting them one game behind the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder for the NBA's best record.
While Doncic has been incandescent to open the year, he has only played in five of his team’s nine games. That’s one reason Gilgeous-Alexander, the best player on the Thunder, still leads NBA MVP odds.
Gilgeous-Alexander is second in the NBA in scoring at 33.3 points per night and is also averaging 6.3 assists and 5.4 rebounds for his 8-1 squad.
Not to be forgotten, Jokic had a triple-double in six of seven games for the Denver Nuggets. He's averaging 24.1 points, 13.4 rebounds, and 12 assists and just had his best game of the year, racking up 33 points, 16 rebounds, and 15 assists in a win over the Miami Heat on Wednesday.
Wembanyama is anywhere between +350 and +600. He’d been extraordinary to begin the season but has started off November by averaging 14 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 2.5 blocks in two games. His season averages are 25.6 points, 12 rebounds, 4.7 blocks, and 3.1 assists.
Who’s being overlooked?
The one heavy hitter who’s fallen under the radar is Antetokounmpo.
The Greek Freak is averaging 32.3 points, 12.6 rebounds, and 6.3 assists per game on 67.7% shooting and already knocked down a game-winning shot against the Indiana Pacers. He's on pace for a career year and has already won two MVP trophies.
It is a strange MVP race so far, as there are five players at +700 or shorter, and the next-closest player, Tyrese Maxey, is back around +5,000. Despite how it might appear, the 25-year-old guard has already made up substantial ground on the market leaders.
Maxey, who opened at +25,000, leads all qualified players in scoring at 33.5 points per night. He has also averaged 8.5 assists and 5.1 rebounds on 48/48/86 shooting splits for the sixth-place Philadelphia 76ers.
Kevin Durant, Cade Cunningham, Jalen Brunson, and Anthony Edwards are all between +5,000 and +10,000 at most top online sportsbooks.
Comparing MVP candidates
Although the NBA season only recently began, the top MVP odds leaders are all off to an incredible start, setting the stage for what could be one of the closest races of all time.
Here’s a look at how the candidates stack up.
- Gilgeous-Alexander: 33.3 PPG, 6.3 APG, 5.4 RPG, 53.5 FG%
- Doncic: 40 PPG, 11 RPG, 9.2 APG, 2.0 SPG, 50 FG%
- Jokic: 24.1 PPG, 13.4 RPG, 12.0 APG, 2.3 SPG, 61.3 FG%
- Wembanyama: 25.6 PPG, 12.9 RPG, 4.7 BPG, 3.1 APG, 52.7 FG%
- Antetokounmpo: 32.3 PPG, 12.6 RPG, 6.3 APG, 67.7 FG%
- Maxey: 33.5 PPG, 8.5 APG, 5.1 RPG, 47.9 3PT%
