The 2023-2024 NBA season will feature a thrilling NBA MVP race. There are several candidates who will look to take over the race, from previous winners of the award to players who are looking to earn the trophy for themselves for the very first time. Here, we look at the favorites to win the award, along with some deserving longshot candidates.
2023-24 NBA MVP Odds
NBA MVP Award Favorites
Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
A previous MVP that is among the favorites when looking at NBA MVP odds this season is Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets. Jokic has won this award twice already in his career, but it is nearly impossible to keep him out of future MVP discussions because of how much he does for his team. With the Nuggets set to contend for a second straight NBA title, it will take a superb effort from another candidate to knock Jokic out of the top spot in this race.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder
The Oklahoma City Thunder have gone from being a laughingstock in the NBA in the recent past to being a top-tier team in the Western Conference. A huge reason for that has been the play of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who is one of a handful of players averaging over 30 points per game on the season so far. If the Thunder get back to the postseason this year, SGA could be deemed the league’s Most Valuable Player for leading them there, especially if their seeding trumps that of the Nuggets in the West.
Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks
Luka Doncic might be playing the best individual basketball of anyone in this year’s NBA MVP race. But his team is not performing as well as the teams of the other top candidates on this list. That could hurt Luka’s chances of winning MVP, as could the fact that Doncic is going to have to share the ball with Kyrie Irving in big games down the stretch if the Mavs are going to lock down a top-six spot in the Western Conference.
Other NBA MVP Candidates
There are so many other worthy candidates to come away with the MVP award that have longer odds than the three players mentioned above. Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jayson Tatum headline that list. But there are so many other players who can still step up and claim this award and so many teams that can make pushes to help their top stars claim the highest individual honor the NBA has to offer.
2024 NBA MVP Prediction
If we are talking about pure value, there is no other choice than Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The Mavericks and Nuggets have other star players who can carry their teams on a given night. But the Thunder would still be a laughingstock without SGA, which is why he is our pick to come away with this award at the end of the season.