There’s a new MVP favorite as the NBA regular season prepares to resume.
Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid overtook Los Angeles Lakers striker LeBron James last week and is now the agreed-upon favorite to win the regular season MVP award in sports betting across the country . Embiid is at +200 to win MVP at William Hill’s Caesars Sportsbook, followed by James at +225.
Denver Nuggets center-back Nikola Jokic is next at +350, followed by Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (+1300), Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (+1400) and Milwaukee Bucks striker Giannis Antetokounmpo (+1600).
Embiid opened the scoring at 40-1 to win MVP at Caesars Sportsbook for William Hill, but his odds steadily increased throughout the season as the number increased. Embiid averages 30.2 points and 11.6 rebounds per game. Following ESPN’s stats and information, he’s ready to join Curry as the only players to have averaged 30 points in 50% shooting and 40% in triples in a season. He also wants to become the first center to win an MVP since Shaquille O’Neal in 2000.
Embiid has attracted almost 20% of all MVP bets made with FanDuel sports betting, while James has gotten the most money wagered.
James, four-time regular season MVP, became the favorite to win his fifth award in late January. James saw his odds as short as +160 entering March before being overtaken by Embiid.
The 76ers occupy the top spot in the Eastern Conference, but are expected to be without Embiid and Ben Simmons for Thursday’s game against the Chicago Bulls due to COVID-19 league contact tracking protocols.