NBA MVP Odds & Betting Favorites For 2026

NBA odds are one of the most popular betting options available at the BetMGM online sportsbook. But even among those who don’t bet very often, the NBA Most Valuable Player debate is a popular and deeply accessible topic of conversation. 

Even casual observers of American professional basketball usually have opinions. Who’s overrated? Who’s up-and-coming? Who’s won too many, or too few?

Is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander good enough to go back-to-back – something only 11 players have done since 1970?

The NBA MVP odds market offers a way to formalize your opinions and – with a little bit of luck – maybe even profit from them.

Here, I break down the full market, including many of the most popular names and candidates for the 2025-26 season.

NBA MVP Odds 2026

NBA MVP Prediction: Who Will Be Named NBA MVP For 2025-26?

Based on the current futures market, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has an implied 67.7% chance to win the NBA MVP award in 2026.

NBA MVP Odds: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Understandably, the Thunder point guard and reigning 2025 league MVP is a popular target to win the award again. As of Feb. 3, SGA accounted for 5.8% of all tickets and 12.8% of handle at BetMGM.

SGA’s stats are great – he’s averaging a 32/4/6 stat line on 55% shooting – but other major names are atop the ticket count because of the richer returns.

Of course, there’s a reason this price is so short. Very few basketball players can outplay SGA over the course of this season.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (OKC) @ -210

NBA MVP Odds: Nikola Jokic

Nikola Jokić, the Nuggets center, is currently +300 to win NBA MVP.

Jokić is looking to add to his MVP trophy cabinet after winning the award in 2021, 2022, and 2024. This year, he leads the NBA in rebounds per game (12.2) and assists per game (10.7). He’s shooting 59% from the floor. 

This year, Jokić has been the more popular of the two recent MVPs, drawing 12.2% of tickets and 16.3% of handle in the early-season market. He was absent from the MVP market for a few weeks in January because of a hyperextended left knee, but has resumed his previous position as the No. 2 player in the MVP table. 

If Jokic reinjures his knee, he could fall below the games threshold. Otherwise, he should be a popular name for MVP at the end of the season – assuming voter fatigue doesn’t hold him back. 

Nikola Jokic (DEN) @ +300

NBA MVP Odds: Luka Dončić

Luka Dončić, the Lakers forward, is currently +1800 to win NBA MVP.

As an elite scoring force in the modern NBA, Dončić was always going to be a factor in the MVP race this year. He’s been an early target for bettors in most of the last few seasons.

But this season is different. With Dončić now playing for a prestigious brand like the Lakers, he has become an even more popular target among BetMGM players. 

Add in the fact that Lakers fans are one of the most market-distorting factors in any futures market throughout all of online sports betting, and Dončić is screaming toward a troublesome liability for the sportsbook. He represents 12.7% of all tickets and 21.7% of all handle at BetMGM.

No one has attracted more dollars in the NBA MVP market, as of Feb. 3.

Luka Doncic (LAL) @ +1800

NBA MVP Odds: Victor Wembanyama

Victor Wembanyama, the Spurs center, is currently off the board in BetMGM’s NBA MVP odds market.

Wembanyama’s outstanding play in the opening weeks of the season made it clear that the Spurs super center was a bona fide MVP candidate. As of Feb. 3, he was the most popular MVP ticket at BetMGM with 17.2% of all bets. 

But there’s one glaring problem here: the NBA’s new games minimum. Since the 2023-24 season, NBA players are required to play at least 65 games in order to qualify for MVP, as well as some other key awards. 

As of Feb. 10, the 22-year-old Wembanyama has already missed 14 games this season. Most of the absence came late November and early December, courtesy of a calf strain.

To retain his awards eligibility, Wembanyama can only miss three more games in the regular season. If he misses any more than that, he can’t be the MVP.

Wemby showed his superstar upside in December when the Spurs beat Oklahoma City three times in two weeks. If the season ended today, there’s a good chance he’d be the MVP. But with Wemby now just a week’s worth of games away from the eligibility cliff, it’s virtually impossible to quantify an MVP price for him – at least with this much of the regular season remaining. 

For any already holding a Wembanyama MVP ticket, they’re just hoping we can stay on the court for the next two months.

NBA MVP Odds: Cade Cunningham

Cade Cunningham, the Pistons guard, is currently +1600 to win NBA MVP.

This position is a huge compliment to Cunningham, who is growing in both usage and effectiveness. His 25.3 points and 9.6 assists per game have made him one of the best point guards in today’s NBA.

But given the performances closer to the top of the market, it’s hard to see Cunningham winning the award without a major shake-up.

Cade Cunningham (DET) @ +1600

NBA MVP Odds: Jaylen Brown

Jaylen Brown, the Celtics guard, is currently +4000 to win NBA MVP.

With Jayson Tatum hurt this year, Brown is carrying the Celtics through a manageable Eastern Conference schedule. His 29 points per game rank fourth in the NBA this year.

That’s probably not enough to win MVP, but it is a feel-good story in Boston.

Jaylen Brown (Bos) @ +4000

NBA MVP Odds: Jalen Brunson

Jalen Brunson, the Knicks guard, is currently +25000 to win NBA MVP.

A hyperclutch, high-usage shotmaker, playing in the biggest media market in the world, spanning the gap to a new coaching regime? Who gave money off his contract to make the team better? And is averaging 27 points per game, playing in the East?

You can see why Brunson might be an alluring MVP candidate for some. But BetMGM players have been relatively hands-off – Brunson only accounts for 3.4% of all tickets in the market.

Jalen Brunson (NYK) @ +25000

NBA MVP Odds: Anthony Edwards

Anthony Edwards, the Timberwolves guard, is currently +25000 to win NBA MVP.

Edwards is a popular name with a Jordan-esque aesthetic, and the Timberwolves have been to two straight conference finals. It’s no wonder he’s BetMGM’s No. 6 most-popular MVP ticket with more than 5% of all tickets.

Anthony Edwards (MIN) @ +25000

NBA MVP Odds: Tyrese Maxey

Tyrese Maxey, the 76ers guard, is currently +25000 to win NBA MVP. 

With Paul George now 35 and Joel Embiid suddenly a major Philadelphia disappointment, the 76ers will go as far as Maxey takes them. That’s led to marginal MVP exposure.

The bigger shift has been in how NBA fans now view the 76ers and Maxey. It’s his team now, and that could pay MVP dividends in future seasons.

Tyrese Maxey (PHI) @ +25000

NBA MVP Odds: Donovan Mitchell

Donovan Mitchell, the Cavaliers guard, is currently +50000 to win NBA MVP.

Mitchell is averaging a career-best 29 points per game this season and has the reputation and aesthetic of a two-guard assassin, like Damian Lillard or Dwayne Wade. 

While that has the potential makings of an All-NBA season, it’s not quite enough for an MVP, which explains this long price.

NBA MVP Odds: Kevin Durant 

Kevin Durant, the Rockets forward, is currently +100000 to win NBA MVP.

Durant is a gifted scorer and a no-doubt Hall of Famer. His Rockets will have a real chance to win the West and play for a championship this year.

His path to an MVP is a lot harder. The MVP award is about greatness and narratives, and it’s hard to determine what Durant’s edge would be in the latter category. On a deep team, in a crowded conference, what would a known elite scorer like Durant have to do to impress voters?

He can’t carry an undeserving team, since the Rockets’ roster is quite good. If they beat out Denver, Oklahoma City, San Antonio, and other Western contenders for the No. 1 seed, that credit will accrue to the overall team dynamic, or perhaps even the front office for making the Durant move in the first place.

Durant is great, but I genuinely can’t imagine what would even have to happen for him to be holding the MVP trophy at the end of the year. Even a fat buy point like this doesn’t get me interested.

Kevin Durant (HOU) @ +100000

NBA MVP Odds: LeBron James

LeBron James, the Lakers forward, is currently off the board in BetMGM’s NBA MVP odds market.

The all-time great is now 41 years old. After missing the first month, he’s finally back on the court, averaging a 22/6/7 stat line.

List of NBA MVP Winners