Two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo is having yet another great season, but the Milwaukee Bucks have fallen short of expectations so far in the 2023-24 season, sitting in the No. 3 spot in the East.
Giannis is averaging 30.8 points, 11.2 rebounds, and 6.4 assists per game, but he finds himself sitting on the outside of the top two contenders in the MVP race. In the latest straw poll by ESPN, Giannis was third in the MVP race, but he received fewer first-place votes than Luka Doncic.
The MVP race according to @TimBontemps' straw poll 👀 pic.twitter.com/YN9qNR0NDP
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) February 14, 2024
Should Bucks fans and bettors consider wagering on Giannis to win MVP? Let’s look at the latest odds and break down his case this season.
NBA MVP odds after All-Star break
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Is Giannis Antetokounmpo worth a bet to win MVP?
At this point in the season, it’s hard to see Antetokounmpo winning the MVP award, and his odds are a little high at +850 to take a shot on him.
The Bucks have slipped to the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference, and the team is just 3-7 in its last 10 games. For a squad that was expected to compete for the No. 1 seed, falling short of that would make it tough to consider that Giannis had an MVP season – especially over the likes of Jokic, Gilgeous-Alexander, and Doncic.
For Jokic and SGA, they’ve led their teams to more success than the Bucks this season, and the Thunder had much different expectations than Giannis and the Bucks.
If Giannis’ odds start to fall more after the All-Star break, then he could be in consideration as a value bet. However, the team has struggled under Doc Rivers and has the third-hardest remaining strength of schedule this season.
It would take some impressive play from Giannis to earn his third MVP this season.
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.
Find Peter Dewey's NBA betting record here (futures included). You can also follow my daily plays on BetStamp here.