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Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers finally won his first NBA MVP award last season, beating two-time defending winner Nikola Jokic. Embiid finished second twice to Jokic before getting the recognition he deserved last season, but will the reigning MVP repeat this campaign?
Some people believe that Jokic was robbed of his third-straight MVP accolade due to the narrative by the media. Nevertheless, "The Joker" had the last laugh, as he led the Denver Nuggets to their first NBA championship.
He was also named the NBA Finals MVP after averaging 30.2 points, 14.0 rebounds, 7.2 assists and 1.4 blocks per game.
Giannis Antetokounmpo also received first-place MVP votes last season and ended up third overall. Jayson Tatum came in fourth and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander surprised everyone by finishing fifth.
Top favorites to win NBA MVP this season
It has been five years since an American player won the NBA MVP award. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokic and Joel Embiid showed how the game has changed and how international players have improved over the last few years.
Luka Doncic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will be in the conversation as well, and they're both international players. American players like Devin Booker and Jayson Tatum could have big seasons and bring the Michael Jordan MVP trophy back to the United States.
On that note, here are the top five favorites to win the 2024 NBA MVP. It should be noted that the odds are from Vegas Insider. They could change heading into the Opening Week and during the regular season.
#1 Nikola Jokic (+440)
Jokic opens as the favorite to win the 2024 NBA MVP. He's arguably the best basketball player in the world currently. He was dominant for the Denver Nuggets during their championship run, and it shouldn't change this upcoming season.
The problem for Jokic heading into the new season will be fatigue and championship hangover, though. Nevertheless, he should only get better, as winning a title elevates a player's game.
#2 Giannis Antetokounmpo (+500)
Antetokounmpo is looking to win his second championship, and a third NBA MVP award will be the icing on the cake. He has the second-best odds to win the Michael Jordan trophy, but it could change due to the acquisition of Damian Lillard.
Antetokounmpo won't be shouldering a lot of load on the offensive end now that Lillard is on the Milwaukee Bucks. "The Greek Freak" could now do more on the defensive end, which is scarier for teams, as Brook Lopez was a finalist for the Defensive Player of the Year last season.
#3 Luka Doncic (+650)
Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks was the favorite to win the NBA MVP early last season.
However, injuries and inconsistent play from the Mavericks cost him his place in the MVP rankings throughout the campaign. Dallas failed to make to the playoffs even though they were coming off a Western Conference finals berth in 2022.
Doncic showed at the 2023 FIBA World Cup that he can dominate basketball games at a high level. Fans can expect the same with the Mavericks this season, but with a better supporting cast. The front office did a better job this summer to improve the team's roster around Doncic and Kyrie Irving.
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#4 Joel Embiid (+700)
It's not surprising to see Joel Embiid among the top five favorites to win the 2024 NBA MVP.
Embiid has a really great chance to win back-to-back MVP trophies, considering his situation with the Philadelphia 76ers. Harden wants out of the Sixers, but the team won't get a fair deal for him.
That means Embiid will have to carry the team even more in a very competitive Eastern Conference. However, he also has to avoid missing a lot of games due to the league's new rules about awards. A player can only qualify for awards if he plays at least 65 games.
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#5 Jayson Tatum (+800)
Jayson Tatum is entering his seventh NBA season, but he's just entering his prime at 25.
Tatum should continue playing like a superstar with the Boston Celtics and is one of the best two-way players in the league. He has also been durable, which is needed now to win the NBA MVP award.
The Celtics made a lot of changes to their roster that should benefit Tatum. Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis replaced Marcus Smart and Robert Williams III, respectively. Tatum remains the team's focal point, but more help will make him more efficient and more effective.
