Jevone Moore/Icon Sportswire
Author: Anthony Vlahovic
Last Updated: 01 August, 2025
2025-26 NBA MVP Odds
After leading the OKC Thunder to the #1 seed in the Western Conference, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was named the NBA MVP for the first time in his promising career. While Nikola Jokic made a push to win his fourth MVP, Gilgeous-Alexander was the top scorer in the league and was the focal point of the best team in the league.
Not only did SGA also win NBA Finals MVP, but he has opened with the second-best odds to repeat as the regular season MVP during the 2025-26 season. With the 2024-25 season officially wrapped up, Nikola Jokic has opened as the favorite to win MVP for the upcoming campaign. Down below, NBA bettors can stay up to date on all odds changes from now until the next Most Valuable Player is crowned.
NBA Most Valuable Player 2025-26 - Best Odds Right Now
Player | Opening odds | Current Best Odds |
|---|---|---|
Nikola Jokic | +200 | +250 (FanDuel) |
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | +250 | +275 (Caesars) |
Luka Doncic | +800 | +650 (DraftKings) |
Giannis Antetokounmpo | +700 | +1000 (FanDuel) |
Victor Wembanyama | +1600 | +1700 (FanDuel) |
Anthony Edwards | +1000 | +2200 (Caesars) |
Cade Cunningham | +3000 | +4000 (FanDuel) |
Jalen Brunson | +3500 | +5000 (FanDuel) |
Kevin Durant | +8000 | +8000 (DraftKings) |
Paolo Banchero | +8000 | +8000 (DraftKings) |
Joel Embiid | +7000 | +10,000 (FanDuel) |
Donovan Mitchell | +8000 | +10,000 (FanDuel) |
Jaylen Brown | +10,000 | +15,000 (FanDuel) |
Ja Morant | +12,000 | +15,000 (FanDuel) |
Steph Curry | +15,000 | +15,000 (DraftKings) |
Anthony Davis | +10,000 | +20,000 (FanDuel) |
LeBron James | +15,000 | +25,000 (FanDuel) |
*Odds as of August 1, 2025
*Opening Odds from DraftKings
2025-26 NBA MVP Odds Comparison - TOP10 Contenders
Player | DraftKings | FanDuel | Caesars |
|---|---|---|---|
Nikola Jokic | +200 | +250 | +225 |
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | +250 | +200 | +275 |
Luka Doncic | +650 | +500 | +375 |
Giannis Antetokounmpo | +700 | +1000 | +900 |
Anthony Edwards | +1000 | +2100 | +2200 |
Victor Wembanyama | +1600 | +1700 | +1500 |
Cade Cunningham | +3000 | +4000 | +3000 |
Jalen Brunson | +3500 | +5000 | +4000 |
Joel Embiid | +7000 | +10,000 | +8000 |
Kevin Durant | +8000 | +4000 | +5000 |
*Odds as of August 1, 2025
2024-25 NBA MVP Winner - Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (OKC Thunder): The OKC Thunder entered the year with high expectations, and as far as the regular season goes, they lived up to those expectations. While the Thunder have a young and deep roster, most of their success can be attributed to Gilgeous-Alexander, who led the league in scoring this season with 32.7 points per game. Aside from scoring, SGA also averaged 6.4 assists per game and finished the regular season with 4.8 defensive win shares and .309 win shares per 48 minutes, the most he's ever had in a season.
Summary of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s MVP season:
Averaged 32.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, 6.4 assists, 1.72 steals, and 1.01 blocks in 34.2 minutes over 76 games.
Led the NBA in scoring while shooting an efficient 51.9% from the field.
Only player besides Michael Jordan (1987–88, 1990–91) to average 30+ points with 5+ rebounds, 5+ assists, 1.5+ steals, and 1+ block per game in a season.
Led the league in:
20-point games (75)
30-point games (49)
40-point games (13)
50-point games (4)
First to do so since James Harden in 2018–19
Made the most free throws (601) in the NBA and ranked 6th in free throw percentage (89.8%).
Recorded a 72-game streak of 20+ point games, the longest in a season since Wilt Chamberlain (80) and Oscar Robertson (76) in 1963–64.
Became the 10th player in history to lead the league in scoring for a team that won 60+ games.
2024-25 NBA Most Valuable Player Award Voting
Rank - Player | Total points | 1st place votes |
|---|---|---|
1. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City) | 913 | 71 |
2. Nikola Jokic (Denver) | 787 | 29 |
3. Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee) | 470 | 0 |
4. Jayson Tatum (Boston) | 311 | 0 |
5. Donovan Mitchell (Cleveland) | 74 | 0 |
6. LeBron James (LA Lakers) | 16 | 0 |
7. Cade Cunningham (Detroit) | 12 | 0 |
8. Anthony Edwards (Minnesota) | 12 | 0 |
9. Stephen Curry (Golden State) | 2 | 0 |
10. Jalen Brunson (New York) | 1 | 0 |
11. James Harden (LA Clippers) | 1 | 0 |
12. Evan Mobley (Cleveland) | 1 | 0 |
Past NBA MVP Winners & Odds
Season | Player | Team | Opening odds |
|---|---|---|---|
2024-25 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | Oklahoma City Thunder | +550 |
2023–24 | Nikola Jokić | Denver Nuggets | +300 |
2022–23 | Joel Embiid | Philadelphia 76ers | +600 |
2021–22 | Nikola Jokić | Denver Nuggets | +1600 |
2020–21 | Nikola Jokić | Denver Nuggets | +2500 |
2019–20 | Giannis Antetokounmpo | Milwaukee Bucks | +210 |
2018–19 | Giannis Antetokounmpo | Milwaukee Bucks | +475 |
2017–18 | James Harden | Houston Rockets | +1100 |
2016–17 | Russell Westbrook | Oklahoma City Thunder | +200 |
2015–16 | Stephen Curry | Golden State Warriors | +650 |
2014–15 | Stephen Curry | Golden State Warriors | +1600 |
Spotting MVP Sleepers Through Underused Advanced Data
Each NBA MVP voter is different, which means they may value different stats and metrics when it comes to voting. Everyone online and in the media will argue based on PER (Player Efficiency Rating) or similar advanced metrics. Still, at times, those arguments can become oversaturated and miss the stats that some voters are looking for.
Voters and bettors can certainly factor in PER, but ultimately, the stat excludes team success and defensive impact. This is where impact metrics come in, as they are much more valuable to the Most Valuable Player conversation. Stats such as Estimated Plus-Minus (EPM) or on/off stats can help truly separate the candidates.
A guy like Nikola Jokic has greatly benefited from these stats, as they show how valuable he is on both ends of the court. During the 2023-24 season, Jokic led the NBA in EPM, as he had the highest estimated impact on offense per 100 possessions and the second-highest defensive impact. If you mix that with the fact that he averaged a triple-double and led his team to 57 wins, he was the clear winner.
By tracking these stats early in the season, bettors may be able to find an edge and narrow the field down significantly, therefore helping determine who has the best value based on price.
Related articles & NBA betting resources
🔥 Hottest sportsbooks:
