DALLAS – Keeping up with the new favorite NBA MVP is becoming a full-time job. It seems like people prefer to win the prize every week and right now, the race is wide open.
LeBron James ’ankle high sprain has a huge impact on his hopes of winning a fifth MVP award. Since learning that James will miss extended time, Denver’s Nikola Jokic has pulled away from the rest of the field, rising to +110 odds to win the award for the first time.
James has dropped from +160 all the way down to +450, holding on to Bovada’s best odds.
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Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic is tied for fourth best odds (+1200) with Damian Lillard at Portland and James Harden at Brooklyn. Both Lillard and Harden have engaged themselves in a conversation. Here’s how the odds stand:
Nikola Jokic +110
LeBron James +450
Joel Embiid +600
Giannis Antetokounmpo +900
Luka Doncic +1200
James Harden +1200
Damian Lillard +1200
At the start of the 2021 NBA season, Doncic was their favorite. Doncic’s numbers fell sharply after a 9-14 start that saw the Mavs fall to 14th in the Western Conference, Dallas have won 13 trophies in their last 18 games to jump on the way up to the eighth seed at 22-19.
The 22-year-old comes off a stunning 37-point performance in Dallas’ win over Portland, in which he was 8-of-9 from outside the 3-point arc. The eight made three points connecting Doncic’s senior which he turned at Jan.’s game. 17, 2020 against the Blazers.
“Luka was just amazing,” Carlisle said. “When he’s in that rhythm and mixes in the campaigns and all three, it’s almost impossible to deal with, and tonight he showed how good he was. “
There is no shortage of talent in the league but Doncic cannot be denied a seat at the MVP speaking table.