The 2024-25 NBA season may still be months away, but oddsmakers are already predicting a fierce battle for the league’s Most Valuable Player award. Leading the early odds is a familiar face – Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, who is seeking to claim the prestigious trophy for an unprecedented third consecutive season.
Jokic Aims for Three-Peat
Fresh off guiding the Nuggets to their first championship in franchise history, Jokic opens as the +110 favorite to once again be crowned MVP. The Serbian superstar has redefined the center position with his unparalleled combination of scoring, rebounding and playmaking.
Jokic averaged a triple-double for the second straight season in 2023-24, posting 24.5 points, 11.8 rebounds and 10.0 assists per game. He became just the third player in NBA history to average a triple-double in multiple seasons, joining Oscar Robertson and Russell Westbrook.
What Jokic is doing is unprecedented. He impacts the game in so many ways. It’s hard to imagine anyone else winning MVP as long as he’s healthy and playing at this level.
– ESPN analyst Zach Lowe
Can Shai or Giannis Dethrone Jokic?
The biggest threats to Jokic’s three-peat bid appear to be Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (+250) and Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (+500).
Gilgeous-Alexander, 25, is coming off a breakout season in which he averaged 31.4 points and led the Thunder to a surprising playoff berth. His explosive scoring and clutch shot-making have drawn comparisons to a young Kobe Bryant. A deep postseason run could vault him into serious MVP consideration.
Meanwhile, Antetokounmpo remains a perennial candidate for the award he won in 2019 and 2020. The “Greek Freak” put up 32.3 points, 12.4 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game last season at age 29. He appears to be in the middle of his athletic prime and poised for another dominant campaign.
Doncic, Tatum Round Out Top Contenders
Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic has the fourth-shortest MVP odds at +750. The Slovenian wunderkind already has three first-team All-NBA selections at age 24 and is widely considered the best offensive player in the game today. If he can improve his defense and guide the Mavs on a deep playoff run, he could finally take home the MVP hardware.
Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum rounds out the top five contenders at 25-to-1. Tatum led the Celtics to the best record in the NBA last season, averaging 30.1 points, 8.8 rebounds and 4.6 assists. The 25-year-old wing has improved his numbers each season and many feel he’s on the cusp of superstardom. An MVP could cement his status as a top-five player.
Best of the Rest
A trio of rising stars – Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards, Cleveland’s Donovan Mitchell, and New York’s Jalen Brunson – come in at 100-to-1. All three guards are 26 or younger and coming off career-best seasons in which they led their teams to the playoffs.
Past MVP winners round out the list of notable longshots:
- Kevin Durant (2014) – 150-to-1
- Stephen Curry (2015, 2016) – 150-to-1
- LeBron James (2009, 2010, 2012, 2013) – 500-to-1
- James Harden (2018) – 500-to-1
At age 38, James would be the oldest MVP in league history if he were to win the award for a fifth time. Durant (35), Curry (36) and Harden (34) are also probably past their primes but remain supremely talented players capable of MVP-caliber seasons if healthy.
Rookie Sensation Wembanyama a Wild Card
The most intriguing name in the MVP futures might be French phenom Victor Wembanyama, who is 150-to-1 in his rookie season with the San Antonio Spurs. The 19-year-old, 7-foot-4 center is perhaps the most hyped prospect since LeBron James.
Wembanyama could be a generational talent. I think he has a real shot to be the best player in the league as a rookie and that’s saying something. There’s never been anyone with his combination of length, skill and athleticism.
– Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich
While big men typically take longer to develop than guards, Wembanyama appears to be the rare rookie capable of dominating from day one. His incredible length and shooting touch make him a matchup nightmare on both ends. If he lives up to the immense hype, Wembanyama could be the first rookie MVP since Wes Unseld in 1969.
The 2024-25 NBA MVP race is shaping up to be a fascinating one with a mix of established superstars, rising young talents and the most-hyped rookie in a generation. Can Nikola Jokic make history with a third straight MVP or will a hungry challenger emerge to take the crown? Basketball fans can’t wait to find out as another thrilling season unfolds.
