There is a new MVP favorite as the NBA regular season prepares to resume.
Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid caught up with Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James last week and is now the consensus favorite to win the regular season MVP award at sportsbooks across the country. Embiid is listed at +200 to win MVP at Caesars Sportsbook by William Hill, followed by James at +225.
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic is next with +350, followed by Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (+1300), Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (+1400) and Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (+1600).
Embiid opened 40-1 to win MVP at William Hill’s Caesars Sportsbook, but his odds steadily improved throughout the season as he put in big numbers. Embiid scores an average of 30.2 points and 11.6 rebounds per game. He is well on his way to joining Curry as the only player with an average of 30 points on 50% shooting and 40% on 3-pointers in a season, according to ESPN Stats & Information. He also wants to become the first center to win MVP since Shaquille O’Neal in 2000.
Embiid has brought in nearly 20% of all MVP bets placed with FanDuel’s sportsbook, while James has collected the most money bet.
A four-time regular season MVP, James emerged as the favorite to win his fifth prize in late January. James saw his odds drop to +160 in March before being surpassed by Embiid.
The 76ers are in first place in the Eastern Conference, but are expected to be without Embiid and Ben Simmons for Thursday’s game against the Chicago Bulls due to the league’s COVID-19 contact tracking protocols.