With the NBA season over, the focus shifts to the 2025 MVP race amidst a frenzy of free agent moves. Despite significant player changes, the leading contenders for the MVP award remain with their current teams. Here we explore the top candidates and the best value picks for the 2025 NBA MVP.
NBA MVP Bets and Key Points
- Top Odds: Nikola Jokic and Luka Doncic both at +400.
- Team Dynamics: Klay Thompson to Mavericks may affect Doncic’s MVP chances.
- Value Bets: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (+650) and Giannis Antetokounmpo (+650).
- Health Concerns: Joel Embiid (+700) needs to stay healthy.
- Rising Stars: Anthony Edwards (+1200) and Jayson Tatum (+1400) have potential but face competition.
- Best Bet: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander offers great value at +650.
With all the big splashes being made here in June, what a perfect time to look ahead at who could be in the running for the 2025 NBA Most Valuable Player award.
Despite all of the moves around the NBA such as splash brother Klay Thompson leaving the Warriors to go to the Mavericks, Mikal Bridges going crosstown to the Knicks, or Paul George returning to the Eastern Conference to play for the Sixers, the front runners for the 2025 NBA MVP award are guys that are still with their current squad.
The two guys at the top of the table are Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets and Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks, both sitting at +400 (BetMGM NJ).
Now, seeing Jokic as the favorite should not be surprising to anyone, but interestingly enough Luka Doncic being tied for first is a little bit of a head scratcher.
Let’s not sit here and say Luka Doncic does not deserve to be priced here, because he is one of the best talents in the league. However, with Klay Thompson coming to the Mavericks to form a new big three in the NBA, you have to think that Doncic’s numbers may go down with Thompson and Kyrie Irving by his side. For me, I would stay away from taking Doncic because I believe now with Klay Thompson on the Mavericks, not everything will have to go through Doncic.
Following Jokic and Doncic we have the Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo at +650 with the top NJ bet apps each.
For me, I think there is a ton of value here with SGA priced at +650. Let’s not forget he was in the MVP conversation this past season and the Thunder as a team are only going to get better with all this young talent they have, and signing former Knick Isaiah Hartenstein to a three year deal. With a signing like that, it will only help Gilgeous-Alexander and his production as a Point Guard.
The bottom three to round out the top seven guys are Joel Embiid (+700), Anthony Edwardds (+1200), and Jayson Tatum (+1400).
For me, none of these guys really stand out to me. Despite the Sixers signing guys like Paul George and Andre Drummond, I still feel that Embiid to stay healthy for a full season is his biggest setback to winning an MVP award. If you feel he can stay healthy for a full 82 game season and play around 75 of those games while keeping up the production, then Embiid is the guy for you.
Anthony Edwards is another rising star in this league, and went on to have a great playoff run this past season before getting shut down by the Mavericks in the West Final. For me, I think there is still room for growth for Edwards, and I don’t think he is a MVP caliber player just yet.
Finally for Jayson Tatum, he just received a five year deal worth $314 million to stay with the Celtics after winning the NBA Finals MVP. I think Tatum is a great talent in this league, but quite frankly I do not believe he is an MVP in this league, there are just too many players ahead of him, many on this list.
Similar to Doncic, I also feel that Tatum has a lot of star power alongside him in guys like Derrick White, Jaylen Brown, and Jrue Holiday which diminishes Tatum from winning that MVP award.
NBA MVP Award Betting Prediction
The pick: If I were to place my future bet three months before the 2025 NBA season begins, I would go with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander at +650 to win the NBA’s Most Valuable Player award.
I believe that SGA should have won the MVP award this past season, and I think that SGA still has yet to reach his ceiling as a star in this league. For the price, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander would be my pick.
Best Bet
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (+650) is the recommended pick for the 2025 MVP. His past performance and team improvements make him a strong candidate with great value. The value is stronger with selected sportsbook promos, which you can find here.
