NBA awards betting: Bettors love Joel Embiid for MVP, Mikal Bridges for DPOY
More and more bettors are backing Joel Embiid for NBA Most Valuable Player.
The Philadelphia 76ers star is the betting favorite for MVP at BetMGM. Embiid is now listed at +125, ahead of two former MVPs — Denver Nuggets big man Nikola Jokic (+275) and Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (+375).
Compared to Jokic, Antetokounmpo and others, Embiid has received the most bets and money for MVP so far this season. According to BetMGM, Embiid has received 20.3% of the bets and 25.3% of the money.
Embiid is averaging 29.6 points, 11.2 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game while shooting 49.5% from the field and 36.9% from 3-point range for the Sixers, who are currently 35-23 and in third place in the Eastern Conference at the all-star break. Embiid’s play has set the stage for the stretch run for Philadelphia, which will soon add James Harden to the mix following a trade with the Brooklyn Nets.
The presence of Harden should be a big boost for a Philadelphia team short on lead guards, but could he detract from Embiid’s MVP chances? That’s something to keep in mind for bettors moving forward.
Who else do bettors like for NBA MVP?
Behind Embiid, Jokic has received the second-most bets (14.3%) and third-most money (12.0%) at BetMGM. Steph Curry, who is currently listed at +1100, has received 14.0% of the bets and 19.3% of the money, trailing only Embiid.
Other players who have received a noteworthy level of action for MVP include Ja Morant (+1400), DeMar DeRozan (+2200), Antetokounmpo (+375), Devin Booker (+2200) and Kevin Durant (+6600).
Morant, who opened the year at +5000 and is now up to +1400, has received 8.5% of the bets and 5.4% of the money. DeRozan has received 7.6% of the bets and 5.0% of the money. Antetokounmpo has received 7.2% of the bets and 9.9% of the money. Booker has received 6.6% of the bets and 3.8% of the money. Durant has received 4.3% of the bets and 7.4% of the money.
Joel Embiid: +125
Nikola Jokic: +275
Giannis Antetokounmpo: +375
Steph Curry: +1100
Ja Morant: +1400
Devin Booker: +2200
DeMar DeRozan: +2200
Luka Doncic: +4000
Kevin Durant: +6600
LeBron James: +15000
Jimmy Butler: +20000
James Harden: +25000
Donovan Mitchell: +25000
Trae Young: +50000
Bettors love Mikal Bridges for Defensive Player of the Year
Phoenix Suns wing Mikal Bridges has the fifth-best odds to win Defensive Player of the Year, but he’s a player that bettors have flocked toward.
According to BetMGM, Bridges, who has +1600 odds, has received 25.1% of the bets so far this season. That’s well ahead of both Antetokounmpo (+450) and Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert, the current betting favorite at +175.
Gobert, who has won the award three times, has received 24.6% of the money, more than any other player. Gobert’s ticket count, though, is 11.6%. That trails Bridges and Antetokounmpo, who is at 14.1%. Antetokounmpo has received 22.5% of the money, the second-most.
Draymond Green (+200) has received the fourth-most bets (9.1%) and money (11.6). Jaren Jackson (+700) is fifth with 8.8% of the bets and 7.5% of the money.
Here are the updated DPOY odds:
Rudy Gobert: +175
Draymond Green: +200
Giannis Antetokounmpo: +450
Jaren Jackson: +700
Mikal Bridges: +1600
Joel Embiid: +1800
Evan Mobley: +3000
Robert Williams: +4000
Matisse Thybulle: +5000
Jarrett Allen: +5000
Bam Adebayo: +8000
What about Rookie of the Year?
Cleveland Cavaliers big man Evan Mobley, now -350 at BetMGM, is the betting favorite for Rookie of the Year.
Mobley has received slightly more money, but Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham is the more popular bet on the whole. Cunningham (+900) has received 44.9% of the bets and 33.6% of the money while Mobley has received 13.4% of the bets but 33.7% of the money.
At +850, Oklahoma City Thunder guard Josh Giddey has slightly better odds than Cunningham. Giddey has received 8.7% of the bets and 5.2% of the money. Scottie Barnes is tied with Cunningham at +900 and has received 4.9% of the bets and 7.0% of the money.
Evan Mobley: -350
Josh Giddey: +850
Cade Cunningham: +900
Scottie Barnes: +900
Franz Wagner: +2000
Ayo Dosunmu: +6600
Chris Duarte: +8000
Jalen Green: +10000
Ja Morant dominating most improved player betting
Ja Morant has made a big leap from Year 2 to Year 3 and could be honored with the NBA’s Most Improved Player award. Morant, the betting favorite at -400, has received 15.3% of the bets and a whopping 49.2% of the money at BetMGM.
Other options include Miles Bridges (11.8% of bets, 9.4% of money), Desmond Bane (10.8% of bets, 4.6% of money), Darius Garland (8.0% of bets, 3.9% of money) and Dejounte Murray (6.6% of bets, 5.4% of money).
Ja Morant: -400
Miles Bridges: +650
Darius Garland: +1100
Dejounte Murray: +1500
Anfernee Simons: +3000
Desmond Bane: +5000
Jarrett Allen: +10000
Tyler Herro big favorite for Sixth Man of the Year
Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro is up to -1000 in the Sixth Man of the Year odds and the betting percentages reflect that. Herro has received 26.5% of the bets at BetMGM but a whopping 71.2% of the money.
Cleveland veteran Kevin Love is second in betting at 10.8% of the bets and 10.6% of the money.
Updated Sixth Man of the Year odds:
Tyler Herro: -1000
Kelly Oubre: +1400
Kevin Love: +2500
Montrezl Harrell: +5000
Jordan Clarkson: +6600
Buddy Hield: +6600
Jalen Brunson: +10000
Jordan Poole: +10000