Full NBA Awards Breakdown (click to jump to):
- MVP Odds and Predictions
- Rookie of the Year Odds and Predictions
- Odds and predictions of the most improved players
- Defensive Player of the Year Odds and Predictions
- Coach of the Year Odds and Predictions
- Sixth Man of the Year Odds and Predictions
- Clutch Player of the Year Odds and Predictions
We have officially reached the final stretch of the 2023-24 NBA regular season, with a dead sprint towards the final games of the campaign on the afternoon of Sunday, April 14. Naturally, this time of year sparks greater collective interest in the major awards races and their respective futures markets. We’ll focus on all of those races below, as we reveal the Updated NBA Betting Oddsevaluate the value of the bets and reveal our best bets heading into the end of the season.
We get it: you have questions! Do Luka Doncic or Shai Gilgeous-Alexander have a chance to catch two-time MVP and reigning Finals MVP Nikola Jokic? Is there any value in betting that Victor Wembanyama will win Rookie of the Year? How does Malik Monk’s injury affect his status as a favorite to win the Sixth Man of the Year award? Where do Chris Finch and Mark Daigneault rank in the Coach of the Year odds?
MORE NBA: Today’s Betting Odds | Cooper Flagg: future superstar?
You can’t place end-of-season futures bets until you have an idea of how to answer those questions, and you shouldn’t invest your hard-earned money until you have an idea of which prize market generates value.
Let’s dive into the BetMGM Odds for MVP, Rookie of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year and all the other major awards, and will guide you to the best bets, the best players and the biggest fades for each.
NBA MVP Odds: Nikola Jokic Is the Big Favorite
| Player | Odd | Opening fees |
| Nikola Jokic | -900 | +500 |
| Luka Doncic | +550 | +500 |
| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | +2000 | +2000 |
| Jayson Tatum | +10000 | +900 |
| Giannis Antetokounmpo | +10000 | +550 |
Barring a massive turn of events between now and April 14, it looks like Nikola Jokic (-900) will join the other eight. Three-time MVP in NBA history. The reigning Finals MVP, whose consecutive MVP streak was stopped at two when 76ers superstar Joel Embiid won last year, has hit odds that imply a 90 percent chance of winning.
It’s hard to argue against Joker winning another one, which explains why he’s generated MVP’s biggest money bet at 46.5 percent of bets. BetMGM drive. He recently led Denver back to first place in a Western Conference that is as stacked as ever, his scoring is up from last year and he continues to do it all at seven feet tall. His averages (26.4 points, 12.3 rebounds and 9.0 assists) and his ridiculous efficiency (58/34/82) continue to baffle all basketball fans.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (+2000) was neck and neck with Jokic for the vast majority of the season, and rightly so. However, between SGA’s stats declining a bit over the last month, a sudden lingering injury, and Denver passing OKC in the standings, it appears oddsmakers have eliminated the Canadian superstar from legitimate competition.
Luka Doncic (+550), who has been at the top of the rankings all season, has deservedly become the projected runner-up. The Mavericks’ sixth-year stud leads the NBA with 33.9 points per game, the most since James Harden in 2020 and among the 20th most points per game in a season in NBA history. He also averages 9.8 assists and 9.2 rebounds and shoots very well from the field and from distance. Oh, and Dallas is on fire.
That being said, no one will catch the Joker. He could have won his third MVP last season, so he would benefit from some market correction even if the race was closer. But between the Nuggets’ record and Jokic leading the Association in a multitude of advanced metrics (player efficiency rating, offensive winning percentage, winning percentage, offense/defense/total box plus/minus, value above replacement), this It seems like a done deal. .
ODDS OF ‘MAKE PLAYOFF’, BEST BETS: Lakers | Warriors
Rookie of the Year quotas: Closed due to Wemby breakout
| Player | Odd | Odds last week | Open. odd |
| Victor Wembanyama | OTB | -10000 | -225 |
| Chet Holmgren | OTB | +2500 | +500 |
| Brandon Miller | OTB | +50000 | +950 |
Every time you see a completely “OTB” or “off the board” Rookie of the Year futures race on BetMGMyou know it:
- the leader has enjoyed a historic season
- there is not much competition behind the favorite
Victor Wembanyama fits both requirements, as he has been the most phenomenal rookie since LeBron James. He dazzled us from the first moment of his debut and seems to get better, more focused and more impressive as the season progresses.
Chet Holmgren probably would have won this award most years, regardless of how many commentators refute his redshirt “rookie” status (he was injured last season, his true rookie year).
However, Wemby are too good at every level to allow others to compete here. He has a better chance of making an All-NBA team than Holmgren does of winning Rookie of the Year.
MORE WEMBY: Case for All-NBA | Wemby-Joker: the next great rivalry
Most Improved Player Odds: Maxey Stays Strong
| Player | Odd | Last week | Open |
| Maxey Tyrese | -210 | -300 | +1200 |
| white coby | +170 | +220 | OTB |
| Jalen Williams | +2500 | +10000 | +2000 |
| Jonathan Kuminga | +20000 | +10000 | +5000 |
This seems to have turned into something of a run, with the complete breakout of Coby White (+170) playing a big role in keeping the injury-ravaged Bulls’ playoff hopes alive. However, we see this as a more valuable opportunity to bet on Tyrese Maxey (-210), as we don’t see the 76ers All-Star losing this race unless he misses a handful of games due to injury (he lost two in late March/early April due to hip pain).
When James Harden was forced out of Philadelphia, Maxey seamlessly stepped into the future Hall of Famer’s shoes and put together an All-Star campaign. When reigning MVP Joel Embiid suffered a serious knee injury in early February, Maxey kept the Sixers in the top eight in the East.
Many will argue that Philadelphia’s 11-18 record during that two-month span suggests Maxey shouldn’t win the MIP. But why would White, who has enjoyed playing alongside leading scorer DeMar DeRozan in all but two of the Bulls’ games this season, have any advantage over Maxey? Maxey has needed to be Philadelphia’s scorer and clutch player for the equivalent of almost half the season. White, even with DeRozan, has the Bulls four games under .500 on the season.
And while White has enjoyed a bigger scoring jump from 2023 to 2024, that’s all his supporters can claim as argumentative support. Look at the differences between last season and this one for each player:
Victor Wembanyama (+1300) should be the DPOY. And while we can’t argue with the fact that Wemby has been an incredibly impressive defender and the best shot blocker in the Association when he was 19 years old, we simply can’t see him winning.
The big reason: The Spurs are the worst team in the West and rank just 22nd in defensive rating. Only one player in the last two decades has won the DPOY despite his team being below the top five in defensive rating (Marcus Camby won despite Denver ranking 11th in 2006-07, a year bad for defense).
Regardless of how you feel about the award, history teaches us that Wemby won’t win it, at least not this year (he could win seven DPOYs by the end of his career).
