A fourth NBA Most Valuable Player win could be in the cards for Nikola Jokic, with oddsmakers at BetMGM slotting the Denver Nuggets superstar at minus money with -115 odds.
Here's a look at where Jokic and all other contenders currently sit on the odds leaderboard for the Michael Jordan trophy.
2025 NBA Most Valuable Player Odds
| Player | Team | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Nikola Jokic | Denver Nuggets | -115 |
| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | Oklahoma City Thunder | +260 |
| Luka Doncic | Dallas Mavericks | +650 |
| Giannis Antetokounmpo | Milwaukee Bucks | +700 |
| Jayson Tatum | Boston Celtics | +1800 |
| Anthony Edwards | Minnesota Timberwolves | +8000 |
| Karl-Anthony Towns | New York Knicks | +10000 |
| Jalen Brunson | New York Knicks | +12500 |
| Anthony Davis | Los Angeles Lakers | +12500 |
| Victor Wembanyama | San Antonio Spurs | +15000 |
| Stephen Curry | Golden State Warriors | +15000 |
| Ja Morant | Memphis Grizzlies | +15000 |
| Donovan Mitchell | Cleveland Cavaliers | +15000 |
Odds as of December 17, 2024 at BetMGM
NBA Most Valuable Player Betting Favorite: Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets (-115)
A lot can change in a matter of time, but it's feeling inevitable that Jokic will soon join a elite group alongside Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the only four-time MVP winners.
Even with a loss to the league-worst Washington Wizards sprinkled in, Jokic finds himself averaging a ridiculous 33.3 points on 54.1 percent shooting, 13.6 rebounds, 8.4 assists, and 2.4 steals across seven games in December. This includes a career-best 56 points in the unfortunate loss to Washington.
The Nuggets will need to stay afloat in the Western Conference for Jokic to maintain possessing the shortest odds, but even at 14-10 SU with the inconsistencies surrounding the rest of the roster, Jokic alone may be able to put the team on his back and make it happen.
NBA Most Valuable Player Sleeper: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder (+260)
It's unfair to even use the word "sleeper" for the best player and heartbeat of the top squad in the loaded West, but Jokic's play has placed him in a league of his own, although Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is undoubtedly his biggest challenger to the crown.
Gilgeous-Alexander currently ranks third in scoring (30.3 points) and sixth in steals (1.9) for a Thunder team that's weathered the storm of losing Chet Holmgren by going 12-3 SU in his absence.
His player efficiency rating of 28.87 is also third overall behind Jokic and Giannis Antetokounmpo. If Oklahoma City can secure the No. 1 seed, and voter fatigue sets in for Jokic, Gilgeous-Alexander would be the logical choice.
Past 10 NBA Most Valuable Player Winners
| Year | Player | Team | Opening Odds (Pre-Season) | Closing Ends (End of Regular Season) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Nikola Jokic | Denver Nuggets | +300 | -4000 |
| 2023 | Joel Embiid | Philadelphia 76ers | +600 | -201 |
| 2022 | Nikola Jokic | Denver Nuggets | +1600 | -285 |
| 2021 | Nikola Jokic | Denver Nuggets | +2500 | -8500 |
| 2020 | Giannis Antetokounmpo | Milwaukee Bucks | +210 | -950 |
| 2019 | Giannis Antetokounmpo | Milwaukee Bucks | +475 | -1100 |
| 2018 | James Harden | Houston Rockets | +1100 | +175 |
| 2017 | Russell Westbrook | Oklahoma City Thunder | +200 | -700 |
| 2016 | Stephen Curry | Golden State Warriors | +650 | -400 |
| 2015 | Stephen Curry | Golden State Warriors | +1600 | -300 |
As we get further into the season, it’s natural for MVP odds to dip. Over the past ten years, Jokic’s 2021 win represents the largest drop in odds, while Kevin Durant in 2014 represents the smallest -- James Harden is the only player on this list with odds higher than 2:1 by the end of the regular season. MVP odds remain an attractive payoff if you're willing to take a chance and bet early into the NBA season.
Keep in mind that the NBA’s Most Valuable Player award is given to the player who is considered the best player in the league during the regular season – it does not take into account playoff performance or past season performances. The award is voted on by a panel of basketball writers after the season concludes.
Who has won the most NBA Most Valuable Player Awards?
| Player | # MVP Awards Won | Winning Team of MVP |
|---|---|---|
| Kareem-Abdul-Jabbar | 6 | Milwaukee Bucks (3), Los Angeles Lakers (3) |
| Bill Russell | 5 | Boston Celtics |
| Michael Jordan | 5 | Chicago Bulls |
| Wilt Chamberlain | 4 | Philadelphia 76ers |
| LeBron James | 4 | Cleveland Cavaliers (2), Miami Heat (2) |
| Moses Malone | 3 | Houston Rockets (2), Philadelphia 76ers (1) |
| Larry Bird | 3 | Boston Celtics |
| Magic Johnson | 3 | Los Angeles Lakers |
| Nikola Jokic | 3 | Denver Nuggets |
It’s no surprise seeing Abdul-Jabbar’s name at the top of this list –one of the best players of all time, he dominated the league six times between two different squads, earning his rightful place as the most decorated MVP winner in the NBA. Tailing him, Jordan and Bill Russell contributed five MVP wins within ten years each.
NBA Teams with the Most Most Valuable Player Winners
| Team | # MVP Awards Won | Most Recent Winner |
|---|---|---|
| Boston Celtics | 10 | Larry Bird (1986) |
| Los Angeles Lakers | 8 | Kobe Bryant (2008) |
| Philadelphia 76ers | 7 | Joel Embiid (2023) |
| Chicago Bulls | 6 | Derrick Rose (2011) |
| Milwaukee Bucks | 5 | Giannis Antetokounmpo (2020) |
| Houston Rockets | 4 | James Harden (2018) |
Although Boston tops our list with 10 MVP winners throughout their history, they haven’t had a player earn the honor in over 30 years – Russell contributes half of these honors alone. The Lakers are just behind their rivals with a star-studded cast of MVPs including Abdul-Jabbar, Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal, and Magic Johnson.
NBA Most Valuable Player Winners by Position
| Position | # MVP Awards Won |
|---|---|
| Center | 30 |
| Point Guard | 11 |
| Power Forward | 11 |
| Small Forward | 9 |
| Shooting Guard | 8 |
Centers are a favorite candidate for MVP, and it’s not hard to see why – inherent size and athleticism help them create defensive shutdowns, secure rebounds, and power through defenders on offense.
In a role that allows excellence at all levels of the game, a star center can stump the opponent’s offense and rack up points for their side of the board; this gives them heightened attention in the NBA media and promotes their case for MVP candidacy throughout the season.
NBA Teams With Zero Most Valuable Player Winners
The following eight teams have never had a player be named MVP throughout their history: Indiana Pacers, Charlotte Hornets, New Orleans Pelicans, Memphis Grizzlies, Toronto Raptors, Detroit Pistons, Orlando Magic, and the Brooklyn Nets.
How To Read NBA MVP Odds
When you visit your NBA betting site of choice, you’ll notice 2024-25 NBA MVP odds laid out like this:
- Nikola Jokic +350
- Luka Doncic +380
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander +550
- Giannis Antetokounmpo +550
Unlike a moneyline bet where favorites are shown by the minus sign (-) and underdogs have a plus sign (+), the player with the lowest odds with the plus sign (+) is the fave. In this scenario, Nikola Jokic is favored. If you were to bet $100 on Jokic in the NBA MVP betting odds and it hits, you would win $350 – your $100 is returned and you would get $350 in profit.
If you were to bet on which player will be named MVP, you would make a futures bet.
What Is A Futures Bet?
This is a bet made on events that will happen in time. In this case, it’s MVP. To make a futures bet, you would first use the handicapping info on this page to make your decision. Our Odds Calculator can give you an idea of how much you’d win based on the MVP odds and the amount of money you bet.
