NBA Finals MVP Odds 2026: Wembanyama Dominates Wolves in Game 5

Jason Wilson - Betting Analyst at Covers.com
Jason Wilson • Betting Analyst 19+ years betting experience
Updated: May 13, 2026 , 08:13 AM ET • 3 min read

After avoiding suspension for his rogue elbow antics, Victor Wembanyama had perhaps his signature playoff performance in Game 5 vs. the Timberwolves, bolstering his chances to win NBA Finals MVP.

NBA Finals MVP odds Victor Wembanyama
Photo By - Reuters Connect. San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama and guard Devin Vassell (24) react during the first half of Game 5 of the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs.

Victor Wembanyama's NBA Finals MVP odds have strengthened after a signature performance in a dominant Game 5 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is still the betting favorite at -160, but Wemby is the clear second choice.

The NBA Championship odds will ultimately dictate which star player enters the NBA Finals as the overall favorite, and it appears as though he will be coming out of the West.

Here's a look at the latest odds to win the 2026 Finals MVP.

🏆 NBA Finals MVP odds 2026

These are the latest NBA odds for the NBA Finals MVP race, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leading the pack to go for it once again.

Player bet365
Thunder Shai Gilgeous-Alexander -160
Spurs Victor Wembanyama +350
Knicks Jalen Brunson +800
Pistons Cade Cunningham +3000
Thunder Chet Holmgren +4000
Knicks Karl-Anthony Towns  +4000
Cavaliers Donovan Mitchell +5000

Odds updated as of 5-13. Odds from bet365, one of our best betting sites. Sign up with our bet365 promo code, or get one of our other sportsbook promos.

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⭐ NBA Finals MVP favorites

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (-165)

It would have been easy if the league's reigning MVP and Finals MVP had taken his foot off the gas during the 2025-26 season. Shai-Gilgeous-Alexander, however, has done anything but: He unlocked a new gear this year, averaging 31.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, and a career-high 6.6 assists while guiding the Thunder to the best record in the league.

After capping off a Round-1 sweep with a 31-point performance, SGA opened the second-round series against the Lakers with an 18-point, six-assist showing that he himself characterized as subpar. The Thunder still won, and one dip in production/efficiency (he coughed up seven turnovers) isn't hurting his chances here.

Victor Wembanyama (+400)

Victor Wembanyama avoided suspension for taking Naz Reid's head off with his elbow, and followed it up with a 27-point, 17-rebound throttling of the Minnesota Timberwolves in a dominant Game 5 victory.

Wemby became the first player since Anthony Davis to have 25 points, 15 boards, five assists, and three blocks in a playoff game.

He's making his case, and it's highly unlikely that any teammate takes the mantle if the Spurs go all the way.

Jalen Brunson (+800)

Jalen Brunson's odds continue to improve after the Knicks made short work of the 76ers in their four-game sweep.

👑 NBA Finals MVP prediction

Bet Odds Bet Date Units
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander +130 April 10 1.0

Gilgeous-Alexander is poised to repeat as Finals MVP because he is the definitive engine of an Oklahoma City dynasty in the making. Fresh off a dominant 2025 title run where he averaged over 30 points per game, SGA has elevated his game to an even more efficient level in 2026.

As the league's leading MVP candidate, he boasts the highest usage rate on the NBA’s winningest team. His unmatched ability to manipulate defenses and deliver in clutch moments makes him the clear favorite to secure back-to-back Bill Russell trophies this June. 

📈 NBA Finals MVP opening odds

Here are what the NBA Finals MVP opening odds looked like, just before the postseason.

  • Shai Gilgeous-Alexander +130
  • Victor Wembanyama +550
  • Nikola Jokic +1000
  • Jaylen Brown +1200
  • Jayson Tatum +1200
  • Donovan Mitchell +1600
  • Cade Cunningham +2200
  • Jalen Williams +5000
  • James Harden +6000
  • Anthony Edwards +7000
  • Kevin Durant +8000
  • Chet Holmgren +10000
  • Karl-Anthony Towns +10000
  • Derrick White +12500
  • Evan Mobley +12500
  • Joel Embiid +12500
  • Jamal Murray +15000

⚙️ Covers NBA betting tools


🏀 Previous NBA Finals MVP award winners

Year Player Team
2025 Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Thunder Oklahoma City Thunder
2024  Jaylen Brown Celtics Boston Celtics
2023 Nikola Jokic Browns Denver Nuggets
2022 Stephen Curry Browns Golden State Warriors
2021 Giannis Antetokounmpo Browns Milwaukee Bucks
2020 LeBron James Browns Los Angeles Lakers
2019 Kawhi Leonard Browns Toronto Raptors
2018 Kevin Durant Browns Golden State Warriors
2017 Kevin Durant Browns Golden State Warriors
2016 LeBron James Browns Cleveland Cavaliers
2015 Andre Iguodala Browns Golden State Warriors

Here are some trends you'll want to keep in mind when placing a bet on NBA Finals MVP:

  • Only one player (Jerry West, 1969) has ever won Finals MVP on the losing team.
  • Nikola Jokic's 2023 Finals MVP win was the first by a center since Shaquille O'Neal in 2002.
  • Forwards have won 10 of the past 12 NBA Finals MVPs.
  • LeBron James is the only player in NBA history to win the Finals MVP with three different franchises (Heat, Cavaliers, Lakers).
  • Magic Johnson remains the only rookie to ever win the Finals MVP. He is also the youngest winner in history at 20 years and 276 days old.
  • Three of the last five winners have been international players: Giannis Antetokounmpo (Greece), Nikola Jokic (Serbia), and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Canada).
  • Over the last decade, nine of the 10 Finals MVPs were also the leaders on their team in usage rate during the playoffs.

✅ Best NBA Finals MVP betting sites

Scouting basketball betting websites should be a breeze, but new bettors often feel overwhelmed by the sheer number of options available. Here are the must-have basketball betting site features you should target before placing your wagers.

Best odds: Not all sportsbooks are created equally, especially when it comes to odds. Finding the best price for your basketball bets is key to a successful betting strategy. 

Live betting: Watching betting lines move in real-time and comparing statistics allows you to jump into the action at just the right moment.

Fast payouts: Accessing your hard-earned funds shouldn't feel like breaking a full-court press. It's important to choose a sportsbook that offers fast and reliable money withdrawals post-game.

Safe money transactions: The days of placing bets with bookies in shadowy back rooms are long over. Major online sportsbooks boast state-of-the-art security measures like SSL data encryption, and each holds a legal operating license from registered authorities.

NBA Finals MVP Odds FAQs

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Jason Wilson Covers.com
Betting Analyst

Jason Wilson is an experienced journalist who has worked in a variety of roles within the industry for the past 18 years. Working at community newspapers in New Brunswick, Jason wore many hats as a reporter, editor, and photographer, covering everything from sports to courts to municipal politics. After shifting gears and working as an educator for a few years in the 2010s, Jason returned to full-time work in media as an MLB news editor for six years at theScore in Toronto before joining Covers in late 2021.

He has honed his editorial acumen over his years in the industry, showcasing flexibility, patience, and a strong work ethic. While he was relatively new to sports betting upon joining Covers, Jason has taken the plunge with gusto to learn the ins and outs of the industry, both as a method to improve professionally and to add an extra angle to his sports fandom.

In addition to sports, Jason is an avid film nut and former movie critic who monitors the Academy Awards betting odds for Covers. Jason holds a Bachelor of Arts in journalism degree and a Bachelor of Education degree from St. Thomas University.

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