Westbrook, Durant, Kawhi Given Best Odds To Win 2018 MVP

[RealGM Wiretap]

Bovada has released their odds to win the 2017-18 NBA Most Valuable Player award with Russell Westbrook, Kevin Durant and Kawhi Leonard ranking first, second and third. Westbrook won the award last season while Durant won in 2014.

LeBron James and James Harden round out the top-5.

Odds
1. Russell Westbrook: 7/2
2. Kevin Durant: 9/2
3. Kawhi Leonard: 13/2
4. LeBron James: 15/2
5. James Harden: 8/1
6. Giannis Antetokounmpo: 17/2
7. Stephen Curry: 11/1
8. Anthony Davis: 16/1
9. Paul George: 25/1
10. Chris Paul: 25/1
11. Isaiah Thomas: 25/1
12. DeMarcus Cousins: 33/1
13. Karl-Anthony Towns: 33/1
14. John Wall: 33/1
15. John Wall: 33/1
16. Blake Griffin: 40/1
17. Nikola Jokic: 40/1
18. DeMar DeRozan: 50/1
19. Joel Embiid: 50/1
20. Kyrie Irving: 50/1
21. Damian Lillard: 50/1
22. Draymond Green: 60/1
23. Ben Simmons: 66/1
24. Gordon Hayward: 70/1
25. Carmelo Anthony: 75/1

[dice]

is there a way to bet AGAINST giannis winning? I'd certainly bet on curry before I bet on giannis

wonder who "john wall" is supposed to be. jimmy butler?

love the sucker bets at the bottom. melo, ben simmons...risk-free money for the casino

[ChokeFasncists]

^

~lol~ It would really be something if Melo wins the MVP.

Don't think KD should be ranked ahead of Curry......

[MaxRider]

14. John Wall: 33/1
15. John Wall: 33/1

John Wall name show up twice. Does that make his odd 33/2?

[truwizfan4evr]

john wall should be top 5 in MVP prediction. He's now a bonafide superstar.

[deeps6x]

This seems like a joke to me. If the Cavs suddenly have to rely more on their best player, their best player will be happy to shoot more and rack up the points. After all, he is still the most unstoppable player in the league. He will do what Westbrook did last year, only better. You know the rest of the Cav players only get shots because the King doesn't want to be 'that guy'. Well next season, he just might have to be 'that guy', just like Westbrook had to be this past season. That might not make the team better, but it sure as heck pads the point and assist totals. It doesn't matter who they trade Kyrie for, if he is gone, might as well hand the MVP trophy to the King the next day. And BTW, I don't even like the guy. I'd rather see Kawhi, Steph, KD or Russ win it.

[inquisitive]

Can't see KD ever winning it again.

[Pickled Prunes]

is there a way to bet AGAINST giannis winning? I'd certainly bet on curry before I bet on giannis

wonder who "john wall" is supposed to be. jimmy butler?

love the sucker bets at the bottom. melo, ben simmons...risk-free money for the casino

I could actually see Melo winning it over Giannis because of situation change. The Bucks would have to take a major leap to get Giannis into contention. But if Melo goes to the Rockets and they somehow get the 1-seed in the West he will receive a lot of credit. Particularly if he leads the team in points and rebounds. And if he goes to Portland and they finished with the best record in the West you can just give him the trophy. But if the Bucks win the East, it's still the East and I don't think Giannis wins it still. Gradual and expected improvement doesn't win MVP's. Sudden and inexplicable improvements do.

Don't get me wrong... none of that will happen but it's fun to think about.

[dice]

is there a way to bet AGAINST giannis winning? I'd certainly bet on curry before I bet on giannis

wonder who "john wall" is supposed to be. jimmy butler?

love the sucker bets at the bottom. melo, ben simmons...risk-free money for the casino

I could actually see Melo winning it over Giannis because of situation change. The Bucks would have to take a major leap to get Giannis into contention. But if Melo goes to the Rockets and they somehow get the 1-seed in the West he will receive a lot of credit. Particularly if he leads the team in points and rebounds. And if he goes to Portland and they finished with the best record in the West you can just give him the trophy. But if the Bucks win the East, it's still the East and I don't think Giannis wins it still. Gradual and expected improvement doesn't win MVP's. Sudden and inexplicable improvements do.

Don't get me wrong... none of that will happen but it's fun to think about.

almost every MVP is somewhat predictable. everyone knew westbrook was gonna put up huge numbers and be an MVP candidate. some even suggested he would flirt with a triple double average, which would have been a virtual lock for MVP. and then it happened

the only completely unpredictable MVP in recent years that I can think of off the top of my head was derrick rose

[dice]

This seems like a joke to me. If the Cavs suddenly have to rely more on their best player, their best player will be happy to shoot more and rack up the points. After all, he is still the most unstoppable player in the league. He will do what Westbrook did last year, only better.

triple double? no chance. he wasn't putting up those kind of numbers in his prime with little around him. and he's not selfish enough to chase the numbers

I do think that if kyrie is traded for no big name in return, LeBron's chances for MVP increase. 'cause kyrie's overrated. LeBron's numbers would probably go up a little. and there would be a good chance the team would have a better record than last year, which LeBron would get all the credit for

john wall should be top 5 in MVP prediction. He's now a bonafide superstar.

his team would have to make the jump

[ardee]

is there a way to bet AGAINST giannis winning? I'd certainly bet on curry before I bet on giannis

wonder who "john wall" is supposed to be. jimmy butler?

love the sucker bets at the bottom. melo, ben simmons...risk-free money for the casino

Everyone beyond the first 8 is completely risk free money for the casino.

But yeah, you'd have to know basically nothing about the NBA to make those bets.... Like betting on Denver to win the title.

[Adam Stern]

This is entertaining and all but it is impossible for any true basketball fan to respect this award anymore.
Too many of the voters have their own agenda and the criteria is far too arbitrary.

[haste10176]

is there a way to bet AGAINST giannis winning? I'd certainly bet on curry before I bet on giannis

wonder who "john wall" is supposed to be. jimmy butler?

love the sucker bets at the bottom. melo, ben simmons...risk-free money for the casino

Everyone beyond the first 8 is completely risk free money for the casino.

But yeah, you'd have to know basically nothing about the NBA to make those bets.... Like betting on Denver to win the title.

The 100% risk free starts at Blake Griffin.. The 99% risk free Anthony Davis..

[magicmerl]

Westbrook won't win because of voter fatigue. I think the MVP this year is Kawhi's to lose.

[Raps in 4]

Kawhi got robbed this year.

[The_Hater]

Kawhi got robbed this year.

I am very certain that wasn't the definition of robbed.

[Raps in 4]

Kawhi got robbed this year.

I am very certain that wasn't the definition of robbed.

Best two-way player in the NBA. Lost to a stat-padder.

[Pickled Prunes]

is there a way to bet AGAINST giannis winning? I'd certainly bet on curry before I bet on giannis

wonder who "john wall" is supposed to be. jimmy butler?

love the sucker bets at the bottom. melo, ben simmons...risk-free money for the casino

I could actually see Melo winning it over Giannis because of situation change. The Bucks would have to take a major leap to get Giannis into contention. But if Melo goes to the Rockets and they somehow get the 1-seed in the West he will receive a lot of credit. Particularly if he leads the team in points and rebounds. And if he goes to Portland and they finished with the best record in the West you can just give him the trophy. But if the Bucks win the East, it's still the East and I don't think Giannis wins it still. Gradual and expected improvement doesn't win MVP's. Sudden and inexplicable improvements do.

Don't get me wrong... none of that will happen but it's fun to think about.

almost every MVP is somewhat predictable. everyone knew westbrook was gonna put up huge numbers and be an MVP candidate. some even suggested he would flirt with a triple double average, which would have been a virtual lock for MVP. and then it happened

the only completely unpredictable MVP in recent years that I can think of off the top of my head was derrick rose

Westbrook wasn't predictable. The Thunder were supposed to be a fringe playoff team and Russ was not supposed to average a triple double. We knew he would have huge numbers and he would get some votes but if they lost a couple more games or if Russ had a couple less assists or rebounds it doesn't happen. Either way, it was his change in circumstance that made it possible. Ironically, it was the year Russell was injured and Durant carried the team that Durant won. Nash had zero MVP votes the year before he won. More examples of change of circumstance and new opportunities leading to MVP's. And yes, Chicago becoming relevant again post-Jordan gave Rose a big boost. But Chicago staying relevant after Rose went down had Noah in serious contention. Yet more examples.

[BallerTalk]

Westbrook wasn't predictable. The Thunder were supposed to be a fringe playoff team...
...
Either way, it was his change in circumstance that made it possible.

Actually Westbrook was at the top of most preseason MVP predictions because he was expected to put up huge numbers in Durant's absence.
Also it wasn't his "change in circumstance" that made it possible, they were still a low seed. It was a change in traditional criteria and a lowering of winning standards that made it so.

[dice]

Westbrook wasn't predictable. The Thunder were supposed to be a fringe playoff team...
...
Either way, it was his change in circumstance that made it possible.

Actually Westbrook was at the top of most preseason MVP predictions because he was expected to put up huge numbers in Durant's absence.
Also it wasn't his "change in circumstance" that made it possible, they were still a low seed. It was a change in traditional criteria and a lowering of winning standards that made it so.

it was having no clear best player on the league's best team. aided by the cavs having a poor regular season

and yes, westbrook was the significant preseason favorite to win it (almost as good a chance as steph and LeBron combined):

http://www.bovadasportsbook.com/westbrook-preseason-nba-mvp-favorite/