Luka Doncic has split from Giannis Antetokounmpo and emerged as the consensus favorite to win the regular NBA MVP at US sportsbooks, and punters are flocking to the young Dallas Mavericks superstar.
On Nov. 10, Doncic and Antetokounmpo opened as +550 co-favorites at William Hill’s Caesars Sportsbook. Since then, Doncic has raised twice the bets – and twice the money – than any other player to become the solo favorite at +450.
Antetokounmpo, the two-time reigning MVP of the Milwaukee Bucks’ regular season, has dropped to +500, followed by Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry and Lakers stars Anthony Davis (+800) and LeBron James (+850). Doncic has made more bets on William Hill than Antetokounmpo, Davis and James combined.
With sportsbook operator PointsBet, one in three bets placed was on Doncic, who broke through a second NBA season with an exciting playoff performance in the bubble in Orlando.
“I thought he should have finished higher than last year in the [MVP] votes, ”said Jeff Sherman, a longtime NBA oddsmaker for the Westgate SuperBook in Las Vegas.
Sherman said sophomore New Orleans Pelicans striker Zion Williamson has also received support from gamblers, increasing his MVP odds at the SuperBook from 80-1 to 50-1.
Atlanta Hawks point guard Trae Young has also sparked interest in sportsbooks. Young’s odds have been reduced from 200-1 to 50-1 on the SuperBook, and William Hill reported taking a $ 1,000 bet on Young for MVP with odds of 100-1.
“Our greatest liability so far has been assumed [Charlotte Hornets rookie] LaMelo Ball at 5,000-1, ”said Sherman.
Odds of Winning the NBA’s Regular MVP (Courtesy of Caesars Sportsbook by William Hill, starting Tuesday):