2026 NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) Odds

Nikola Jokic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (+225)

This pair has won four of the last five MVP awards and are not going anywhere. Gilgeous-Alexander led Oklahoma City to its first championship. The Thunder are still an extremely young team that had to learn the hard way about what a challenge it is to win the first title. This season, we will find out if OKC finds the crown too heavy to wear after playing basketball so late into the season. SGA is the catalyst, and his demeanor is that of a player who wants to win, while avoiding the ups and downs.

Jokic cannot be anything but thrilled with his retooled Denver squad, that had added more depth. The Nuggets could have knocked out the Thunder in the postseason with more bench scoring, and that will help Jokic. At 30, the Joker is in his prime and has a better understanding of conditioning and preserving energy. It’s hard not to think he won’t finish in the Top 3 of voting, but Jokic doesn’t offer betting value.

Luka Doncic (+500)

If you haven’t seen the pictures of Luka this off-season, he looks like he’s been ill, dropping 30 pounds. (The Mavs are thinking – now he drops the weight!) In truth, he looks great, will probably be much quicker, but might not hold as well, being bumped around. (Or the extra muscle could work for him.)

The Lakers are only the #5 betting choice to win the West. Yet, this could be a breakout year for a new Doncic, and if his Lakers teammates follow his lead, he’s at a fair price with an improved roster, where he could elevate everyone’s play and snag this trophy for the first time.

Giannis Antetokounmpo (+850)

Giannis is a two-time winner of this award. There was talk of moving Antetokounmpo; instead, Milwaukee upgraded the roster with more speed and presumably defense. However, the Bucks are a distant #8 by the odds to win the East, making it impossible to consider Giannis winning the award a third time.

Anthony Edwards (+1200)

It’s easy to forget Edwards is only 24. At the same time, both during the regular season and the postseason, Edwards was a no-show far more often than one might expect for his supposed superstar status. Ant-Man’s maturity could help him and his team, and there is still room for growth with Minnesota, if, say, Donte DiVincenzo can become the player he was in New York, among others.

Hard to imagine him supplanting the first three on this list.

Victor Wembanyama (+1600)

Wembanyama missed important growth time last year with a severe health issue. That could have helped to grow with De’Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle from a connectivity perspective.

Wemby’s future remains limitless. This is the best group of teammates he’s played with in the NBA. Nonetheless, the Spurs only show at #9 to take the West; anybody out of the Top 3 in a conference is not going to sniff the MVP trophy.

Cade Cunningham (+3300)

Cunningham and his teammates have risen from the ashes in Detroit to have a winning season (first in nine years) and reach the playoffs for the first time since the 2018-19 campaign.

The Pistons now have higher ambitions, like winning 50+ games and earning a Central title. While notable goals, leaping from 14 wins to 44 Ws is a fantastic jump. That experience should help Detroit as a whole, but the Pistons would need close to 60 victories and Cunningham turning into one of the three best players in the Association to receive enough votes.

Jalen Brunson (+4000)

At this juncture, how much better can Brunson play? A new coaching staff won’t demand as much as the previous coach did, which could save the legs and bodies of all of the New York players. And Boston is less of a threat without Jayson Tatum. If the Knicks can be the top seed in the East and Brunson plays at the same level, that will garner more attention. Brunson still feels like a long shot.

Kevin Durant and Paolo Banchero (+6000)

Banchero continues to be a player in the rise, with a ceiling that has room to reach new heights, especially with more offensive options. Even so, it’s tough to imagine him climbing to the Top 5 in the voting.

Kevin Durant? Seriously?

Donovan Mitchell and Joel Embiid (+8000)

Mitchell and Cleveland are the faves to win the East. They were the #1 seed last year, but suffered injuries late in the season that dashed their hopes. Let’s face it, the Cavaliers are built for the long haul, not short series matchups with the best in the sport, lacking enough shooters. Mitchell is a nice long shot bet if the Cleveland wins 62 or more games as the #1 seed.

Joel Embiid is 31 going on 36 in NBA years. Unless he can somehow avoid injury and play 70 games, he could improve his MVP status. The 76ers’ roster has individual talent that is often not cohesive. Don’t bet on Embiid.