NBA MVP Odds, Picks, Winners 2025: Gilgeous-Alexander Improves His Lead

• The favorite to win MVP in 2025 is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

• The top contender to win MVP in 2025 is Nikola Jokic

• The 2024 NBA MVP was Nikola Jokic

The 2025 NBA MVP race has two main competitors, but there’s plenty of time for others to stake their claim on the award. At WSN, we’re locked in on the race for Most Valuable Player, offering the latest odds, predictions, and analyses for the 2024-25 NBA season!

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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander stands above the competition in the MVP race after half the regular season has gone by. Nikola Jokic is his top competitor, performing worthy of his fourth MVP award. Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jayson Tatum round out the top contenders as both lead strong Eastern Conference outfits, while Victor Wembanyama is a dark horse contender as he leads his Spurs.

Let's check out the bets!

2025 NBA Most Valuable Player Odds

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2025 NBA Most Valuable Player Pick

• My Pick: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (-185) at BetMGM at BetMGM

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s performance this season has been matched only by fellow MVP contender Nikola Jokic. The difference between them is that Gilgeous-Alexander leads a Western Conference-leading side. His performances and team success make Gilgeous-Alexander’s claim for MVP the strongest in the NBA.

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Who Is the Favorite to Win the NBA MVP in 2025?

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander - Oklahoma City Thunder (-185) at BetMGM

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was brilliant last week despite the Thunder losing their matchup against the league-leading Cavaliers. In three games last week, Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 32.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 2.3 steals, and 1.0 blocks per game on 50.8% from the field. His biggest night came in a bounce-back win over the Knicks, posting 39 points, three rebounds, two assists, two steals, and a block in 29 minutes.

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Who Are the 2025 NBA MVP Contenders?

Nikola Jokic - Denver Nuggets (+140) at BetMGM

Nikola Jokic played in just two of the Nuggets’ four games last week, winning both. In two matches, Jokic averaged 27.0 points, 15.0 rebounds, 12.0 assists, and 3.5 steals on 58.8% from the field. His best game came in a win over the Nets, posting 35 points, 15 assists, and 12 rebounds despite being ruled questionable to play with an illness.

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Giannis Antetokounmpo - Milwaukee Bucks (+2000) at BetMGM

Giannis Antetokounmpo has been dealing with a patella injury, but that didn’t stop him from competing last week. Over four games, Antetokounmpo averaged 25.3 points, 13.8 rebounds, and 6.8 assists on 57.0% from the field. His best performance came in a three-point win over the Magic, putting up 41 points, 14 rebounds, four assists, three steals, and two blocks.

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Jayson Tatum - Boston Celtics (+4000) at BetMGM

Jayson Tatum has been excellent for the Boston Celtics this season, leading them to the second seed in the Eastern Conference. In three games last week, Tatum averaged 27.3 points, 9.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 2.0 threes per game on 45.5% from the field and 23.1% from three. He bounced back from his only loss of the week by putting up 38 points, 11 rebounds, and two threes in a one-point victory over the Pelicans.

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Who is the Dark Horse to Win 2025 NBA MVP?

Victor Wembanyama - San Antonio Spurs (+10000) at BetMGM

Victor Wembanyama’s San Antonio Spurs have tried to compete in the Western Conference this season, but it’s been a tough road despite his excellence. In three games last week, Wembanyama averaged 18.7 points, 10.7 rebounds, 4.3 blocks, and 2.7 threes per game on 46.9% from the field and 34.8% from three-point range. While it wasn’t his most productive performance, Wembanyama starred in a 24-point blowout win over the Lakers, putting up 23 points, eight rebounds, five assists, three steals, two blocks, and two made threes–a truly all-around performance.

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Who Was the 2024 NBA MVP?

Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets won the 2024 NBA MVP Award. Jokic is among seven international players to win the NBA's highest individual prize. The 2024 NBA MVP Award was the third of Jokic's career, along with the prizes he earned in 2021 and 2022.

Through the 2023-24 NBA season, Jokic led his Denver Nuggets to the second seed in the Western Conference and the Western Conference Conference Semifinals in the NBA Playoffs - eventually losing to the Minnesota Timberwolves in seven games. In his MVP-winning season, Jokic posted averages of 26.4 points, 12.4 rebounds, 9.0 assists, 0.9 blocks, and 1.4 steals on 58.3% from the field and 35.9% from three-point range.

Jokic emerged as the clear winner of the 2024 NBA MVP Award. Through the voting process, Jokic accumulated 79.0 first-place votes compared to the runner-up Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's 15.0 first-place votes. The season's top three in MVP voting were Jokic, Gilgeous-Alexander, and Doncic. An international player has won Most Valuable Player for the sixth straight season.

NBA MVP by Year

Does the NBA MVP Receive a Prize?

The winner of the NBA MVP Award doesn’t receive a prize per se. The Maurice Podoloff Trophy is awarded to the winner, but in terms of cash incentives or bonuses, there are none.

Many player contracts stipulate a bonus upon receiving the award, but that is subject to the terms of the team agreement and not the NBA organization.

In a less direct sense, the NBA MVP winner in the current climate would receive much more exposure, the opportunity for endorsements, and nationally broadcasted matches for his team. The most authentic prize for the NBA MVP Award winner is that their name is written in history as one of the greatest ever to play the game.

Does Fan Vote Determine the NBA MVP?

No, fans of the NBA do not have a say in who will win the NBA MVP. Unlike All-Star voting, the NBA MVP Award is voted upon by a panel of sportswriters and broadcasters across the United States and Canada.

The NBA All-Star Game considers fan voting, where they make up 50% of the total. Votes by current NBA players and a panel of media members account for 25% each.

The voting process for the NBA MVP Award is as follows: Media members can award a player of their choice a “vote” from first place, worth ten points, to fifth place, worth one point. The player with the highest points total wins the award.

Has There Ever Been a Unanimous MVP?

In 2015-2016, Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors was named the NBA’s Most Valuable Player. It was the first time in history that the NBA MVP was decided unanimously. A unanimous vote means that Curry received all available votes among the voting parties.

Shaquille O’Neal in 2000 and LeBron James in 2013 fell one vote short of a unanimous MVP selection.

When Will the NBA MVP Award Winner Be Announced?

The NBA’s Most Valuable Player is named upon the conclusion of the regular season and Play-In Tournament. The league or winner’s team usually makes the announcement again during a broadcast of Inside the NBA.

Who Won the First NBA MVP Award?

The first-ever winner of the NBA MVP was forward-center Bob Pettit in 1956, who played for the now-defunct St. Louis Hawks.

Pettit, an LSU alumnus and the second overall pick in the 1954 NBA Draft, won the NBA MVP Award in just his second season in the NBA. He won the award again in 1958 when he led the St. Louis Hawks to the NBA Championship.

Bob Pettit was the original interior presence in the NBA. Pettit’s career stats are up there with the best of all time. His career averages of 26.4 points, 16.2 rebounds, and 3.0 assists on 43.6% shooting from the field justify his hall-of-fame place.

Which Position Wins the Most MVP Awards?

Position in the NBA has a fluid definition over the course of NBA history. As times have changed, styles have changed as players succeeded in eras defined by the type of play. The positional success of players to the MVP award significantly represents this.

Point Guard (11)

Winners: Bob Cousy, Oscar Robertson, Magic Johnson, Steve Nash, Stephen Curry, Russell Westbrook

The point guard position has won the second-most MVP award. Defined by their ability to distribute the ball, point guards are primarily responsible for their team's success. Generally talented in accumulating assists, players like Steve Nash, Bob Cousy, and Magic Johnson wowed fans and critics with their ability to lift the play of their teammates.

Newer stars like Stephen Curry and Derrick Rose added to the primary playmaking responsibilities of the point guard by becoming elite scorers. Their ability to distribute and score at will drove the success of their squads and garnered their votes.

In a league of their own, Oscar Robertson and Russell Westbrook are the only players to average a triple-double in a season – separated by 53 years. The two were terrors across the court, dangerous from every position and transcendent to basketball.

Shooting Guard (8)

Winners: Michael Jordan, Allen Iverson, Kobe Bryant, James Harden

The positional title defines the players who have won the MVP award at shooting guard. Shooting guard is the position with the least NBA MVP wins. Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant are two of the league’s best-ever scorers, and they built the success of their teams.

While Allen Iverson failed to win an NBA Championship, the diminutive guard’s ability to score was transcendent for a player of his size. James Harden is also one of the league’s most creative scorers, breaking records set by his predecessors and ushering in a score-first mentality not seen since Bryant.

Small Forward (9)

Winners: Julius Irving, Larry Bird, LeBron James, Kevin Durant

The do-it-all nature of its players has defined the Small Forward position. These players could do it all by scoring, defending, playmaking, and rebounding.
There has been a rise in the use of small forwards in recent history as skill level has significantly increased. Julius Irving and Larry Bird were excellent scorers in their way and filled the stat sheet every night.

The entry of LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo into the fold defined an almost new position. Small forwards in body but point guards in ability dominate opponents on each end of the court, with little drawback to their game.

Don’t forget a player with the skills of Kevin Durant. Durant may not be the playmaker, rebounder, or defender these other winners are, but he shows that scoring in the game of basketball is still paramount. 6-11 with a monstrous wingspan and a feathery shooting touch, Durant is one of the best scorers of all time

Power Forward (11)

Winners: Bob Pettit, Charles Barkley, Karl Malone, Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett, Dirk Nowitzki

Size matters in the NBA, whether in terms of height or strength. The power forward position took a long time to see growth. Power forwards like Bob Pettit, Charles Barkley, and Karl Malone were excellent scorers in the low post. Being of more diminutive stature, Barkley showed off guard-like skills, while Malone benefitted from fantastic interplay with his teammates.

Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett are famed for their defensive intensity. The two could not be more opposite regarding their personality, but their contributions to the court are immense. The two NBA Champions’ ability on the defensive side defined their team’s success, on top of their ability to score.

Dirk Nowitzki was the first of his type in the NBA. A lanky seven-footer from Germany made his name on the perimeter rather than in the post. While criticized early in his career, Nowitzki’s uniqueness made him the most unguardable player in his prime.

Center (28)

Winners: Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Shaquille O'Neal, Nikola Jokic

Remember when we said size matters in the NBA? The center position epitomizes that. It is by far the most successful position in terms of winning the NBA MVP Award, doubling its closest competitor as of 2022.

An easy basket nearest to the rim is what coaches want, and when you tout the sheer size, skill, and strength of Hakeem Olajuwon, Shaquille O'Neal, Wilt Chamberlain, or Kareem Abdul-Jabbar there are few, if any, that can stop them.

As the last defense for an NBA team, the center position is also saddled with responsibility should his teammates fail. Bill Russell, Wes Unseld, and Moses Malone showed that stopping a team from scoring or getting second chances was as valuable as scoring the ball.

Centers used to define the game of basketball, but the game's direction has changed to the perimeter. Despite having the most winners by position, it was a 21-year gap between Shaquille O'Neal winning MVP in 2000 and Nikola Jokic winning in 2021.