Las Vegas really likes LeBron James. His Cleveland Cavaliers are favored to win the NBA title with 14/5 odds by SportsBook, and James himself is now the favorite to win the MVP at 2/1 odds. Another sports book, Bovada, has his odds at 11/4, with Anthony Davis at 4/1, Kevin Durant at 11/2 and Steph Curry at 6/1.
It may be a bit surprising that Curry, the reigning MVP, isn’t the favorite, but it makes a certain amount of sense. Curry was helped last year by the narrative surrounding both him and the Golden State Warriors – the meteoric rise no one saw coming, the absolute dominance of the entire team, and Steph’s seemingly endless barrage of insane shots and crossovers. He was also helped by LeBron and the Cavs’ early struggles.
Curry doesn’t have any of those benefits anymore. He and the Warriors are still elite, but everyone is expecting them to be this season. LeBron, meanwhile, is still the best player on the planet, and it’s unlikely — after one year together with this core — the Cavs sputter out of the gate like they did last year. LeBron’s case is helped even further by the still indefinitely sidelined Kyrie Irving.
However, while LeBron is the favorite, he’s certainly not a lock. The story aspect still isn’t on his side. If Anthony Davis, already experiencing an insane amount of hype, leads the New Orleans Pelicans to the playoffs while posting his usual insane numbers, that could give him the edge over LeBron. The same could be said of KD, whose return to form could likewise sway voters looking to give the award to someone besides just the best player in the league. James Harden, who sits at 7/1 odds, also shouldn’t be counted out, especially if the Rockets emerge as the top-tier title contender some expect them to be.
The other obstacle in LeBron’s path to a fifth MVP is…well, LeBron James. He said he wants to play fewer minutes this season to stay fresh. If his minutes decline, his numbers will likely follow suit. That dip, though understandable and reasonable, might be enough to cause voters to look elsewhere. For now, though, the MVP is LeBron’s to lose.
(Via Sportsbook.ga and Bovada)
