NBA Finals MVP 2025: SGA Opens as Finals MVP Favorite

• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder is the favorite to win the 2025 NBA Finals MVP.

• Reigning Champion Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics is the top contender for NBA Finals MVP.

• Last year’s NBA Finals MVP was Jaylen Brown of the Boston Celtics.

The final phase in the race for the NBA Championship begins, and the competition for its most outstanding player, the NBA Finals MVP, is afoot! While many players in the odds table will be eliminated from the competition with each successive round, the league’s stars will filter to the top en route to one of the most prestigious awards. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jayson Tatum, and Nikola Jokic headline the competitors, but surprises like last year’s Jaylen Brown proved that just one round is needed to make a winning impression. During that journey, the team at WSN will keep you locked in on top NBA sportsbook promos and welcome offers to make the most of your sports betting experience!

NBA Finals MVP Odds

Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook. Head over to FanDuel and place your bets on the 2025 NBA Finals MVP winner:Bet $5, Get $250 in Bonus Bets if Your Bet Wins.

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NBA Finals MVP Predictions

The NBA Finals MVP is a unique market for the 2025 NBA Playoffs. Place your bets now, but many competitors will be eliminated when the award comes close to being chosen. As seen last season, when Jaylen Brown took home NBA Finals MVP, it just takes one round of brilliance to shock the world and take home the playoffs’ most prestigious individual award.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander stands out as the favorite to win Finals MVP, as his team dominated the league this season, and he headlined the regular season MVP race. However, Boston Celtics duo Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are two of his top contenders, and the reigning champion Boston Celtics haven’t missed a step in their championship defense. Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell and Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic also join the fray, as both have been central to two of the NBA’s most successful teams during the regular season.

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NBA Finals MVP Pick

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City Thunder)

All eyes are on NBA Finals MVP favorite Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who leads his young Oklahoma City Thunder after a postseason disappointment last year. One of the NBA’s elite scorers, Gilgeous-Alexander, is central to the Thunder’s gameplan, and as favorites to reach the NBA Finals, he projects to be one of the 2025 NBA Playoffs’ top scorers.

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How to Bet on the NBA Finals MVP

It’s simple to bet on your pick to win NBA Finals MVP. The best place to start is to back a player to win! Consider the field of contenders for the award, and evaluate not only the quality and productivity of the player but also their odds of making the NBA Finals. While you may rate a player’s productivity for their team, it’ll all be pointless if they can’t reach the final round of the playoffs. In that sense, it may be worth considering who may win the NBA Championship, besides your wager on NBA Finals MVP!

Keeping track of player productivity throughout the NBA Playoffs will pay dividends for savvy bettors. Not only will their playoff averages be worth noting, but consider their performance against their opponents during the regular season to forecast their productivity in any given round. As the playoffs progress and the odds change, keep an eye on the value presented for each player in the NBA Finals MVP race.

The NBA Finals MVP award tends to go to the NBA Champion’s biggest stars, with less productive winners like Andre Iguodala and Wes Unseld occasionally coming out on top. Also, note that the NBA Finals MVP has gone to a player on the losing team once in the history of the NBA. 

How to Read NBA Finals MVP Odds

The market for NBA Finals MVP is straightforward to read. Choosing an outright winner requires sports bettors to consider the presented odds, its value, and the player’s chances of reaching the NBA Finals and winning the award.

Positive odds denote the amount you’d win with a $100 wager. For example, if Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is a +190 to win NBA Finals MVP, you’d win $190 with a $100 bet. The higher the positive odds, the less likely a player is to win, but the payout is much more significant should you succeed.

Negative odds denote the inverse of positive odds in the case of a $100 wager. Should Jayson Tatum be a -150 to win NBA Finals MVP, you’d need to wager $150 to win $100. The lower the negative odds, the more likely a player is to win the award. It’s not uncommon for a futures market to have no clear favorite or negative odds available to begin a market term. However, one is sure to appear as the competition progresses.

Through the NBA Playoffs, the odds for NBA Finals MVP can shift with a single performance, so stay locked in with each game!

Where to Bet on the NBA Finals MVP

There are many sportsbooks that offer the opportunity to bet on the NBA Finals MVP; you just need to choose the one that’s perfect for you!

FanDuel Sportsbook is ideal for new and experienced sports bettors to place their wager on the NBA Finals MVP. With an excellent mobile app, a Learn to Bet Guide for new users, and some of the industry's best promotions, FanDuel is a great place to place your NBA Finals MVP bet. Right now, new users of FanDuel can claim: Bet $5, Get $250 in Bonus Bets if Your Bet Wins.

BetMGM Sportsbook is another great provider for your NBA Finals MVP betting needs. Not only do they have competitive markets, but their 24/7 chat and email support, along with BetMGM and MGM Rewards program, present bettors with both real money and in-person perks! If you sign up with our promo code WSNSPORTS, you can claim: Get Up to $1,500 in Bonus Bets!

Caesars Sportsbook remains a top option for sports bettors on the go, featuring an easy-to-use mobile app for your NBA Finals MVP betting needs. They boast daily odds boosts and Caesars Rewards for real-life benefits at brick-and-mortar Caesars locations. New users can claim the following welcome offer: Bet $1, Get 10 100% Profit Boost Tokens if they sign up with our exclusive promo code WSNDYW.

NBA Finals MVP History

The NBA Finals MVP award, also known as the Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player award, is the most prestigious individual award of the NBA Playoffs. Introduced in 1969, it celebrates the top performer of the NBA Finals, usually awarded to a player from the winning team. A panel of media members selects the winner based on productivity and impact on the NBA Finals.

The inaugural winner of the NBA Finals MVP award was Jerry West of the Los Angeles Lakers, who is still the only player to win the prize from the losing team of the NBA Finals. Some of history's greatest players are multi-time NBA Finals MVP winners, like Michael Jordan (6), LeBron James (4), and Tim Duncan (3). There have also been surprise winners, like Andre Iguodala (2015) and Kawhi Leonard (2014), but the award remains a celebration of top performances and cements a player's place in history!