2023-2024 NBA MVP Award Odds – Knicks’ Brunson on the Rise

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic remains the betting favorite to win this season’s award, but the public is beginning to shy away from Philadelphia 76ers star center Joel Embiid.

Can anyone, including Brunson, overtake Jokic and win the NBA’s most coveted individual award? Join me as we look closer at the DraftKings New Jersey 2023-2024 NBA MVP odds and more.

DraftKings 2023-2024 NBA MVP Odds

Nuggets Jokic Powers to Top

Reigning MVP Nikola Jokic is likely the player to beat. He’s won this award twice and has never opened any season as the betting favorite to win the MVP.

The Nuggets are ½ game behind the Minnesota Timberwolves for the top spot in the west, and Jokic is an assist shy of averaging a triple-double. Jokic should easily clear the 65-game requirement, and something major would have to happen for Jokic not to claim his NBA MVP hat trick. 

Shai Gilgeous Alexander Shines for Thunder

The Oklahoma City Thunder are the third seed in the West, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is a major reason why. The Thunder guard is third in the league in scoring while enjoying the second-highest usage of his career.

Gilgeous-Alexander isn’t just a great offensive player; he also excels on defense. His 2.2 swipes per night lead the NBA while also enjoying a career-high 4.7 defensive caroms per game. OKC would need to be the top seed in the West for him to win, but the Thunder is one game behind the T-Wolves, and anything is possible.

Doncic Making Moves

Dallas Mavericks forward Luka Doncic is the third favorite to win this award, but overtaking Doncic and Gilgeous-Alexander might prove to be a tall order. The Mavericks are the seventh seed in the West, but the NBA’s second-leading scorer is lighting up the Association and is 1.4 caroms shy from averaging a triple-double.

Doncic was ruled out of Wednesday’s game with an ankle sprain. The Mavs top gun might be one of the faces of the NBA, but the Mavs could miss the playoffs, and that would likely prevent Doncic from winning this award.

Giannis Antetokounmpo Set to Dominate

The Milwaukee Bucks are the second seed in the East because Antetokounmpo is the fourth-leading scorer in the league. The Bucks’ acquiring Damian Lillard vultured Antetokounmpo’s usage, likely preventing the two-time former MVP from winning this award.

The only real path I see to this award is for the “Greek Freak” to dominate the season’s second half and Milwaukee to lock down the No. 1 seed. Because Antetokounmpo won’t likely need big offensive nights to win games with Lillard and Khris Middleton on the floor, I don’t think the Bucks MVP will win the NBA MVP.

Embiid Tumbles

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid was the favorite until a day ago when he took a hard fall at Golden State, requiring an MRI, and no word yet on his status. The NBA is serious about its 65-game requirement for winning major individual awards like the MVP award, and bettors have backed away from Embiid.

Embiid already missed 12 of Philadelphia’s 46 games preceding this latest injury but is having an amazing season for Philadelphia. The 76ers’ big man leads the league in scoring with 11.7 rebounds and a career-best 5.7 dimes per night, fueled by the highest usage rate of his career.

Brunson’s Balling

Money has slowly come in on New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson, and why not? He would need to lead the Knicks to the top seed in the East, and with Julius Randle out for the next few weeks, New York overtaking the Celtics isn’t going to happen.

Brunson is 12th in scoring while contributing nearly seven helpers per night and has scored 20+ in each of his last nine games. Brunson is fun to watch and quite the baller, but he has too many players ahead of him, having better seasons on better teams to be named NBA MVP.

For more New Jersey sports betting information, take a look at Betting NJ.