By Larry Rupp
The 2021-22 NBA season is in full swing and that means fans looking to bet on the sport can get going across all platforms. There are a multitude of ways to get in on the action, but keep an eye on the future award bets. And, of course, projecting who is going to win the NBA MVP award is set to be a major storyline as the season progresses.
Let’s take a look at the top candidates to win the prestigious honor, with all odds coming from DraftKings Sportsbook.
Luka Doncic (+380)
The young phenom from the Dallas Mavericks finds himself leading the pack at the beginning of
the season. Doncic is quickly rising as one of the truest talents in the league, and he’s coming off a season in which he nearly averaged a triple-double with 27.7 points, 8.6 assists and 8.0 rebounds per game. The 22-year-old also shot a career-high 47.9 percent from the field and finished sixth in the NBA MVP voting. Doncic could be catapulted to the top given he finds a way to lead the Mavericks to a top-four playoff seed in the Western Conference.
O stepback do @luka7doncic 🔥#NBAnaESPN #MFFL pic.twitter.com/C6tFGpZXWt
— NBA Brasil (@NBABrasil) October 14, 2021
Kevin Durant (+600)
Durant heads into the fall looking to keep his momentum going from a historic playoff stretch with the Brooklyn Nets last season. The 11-time All-Star is said to be fully healthy and motivated to prove he is still the top dog in the Eastern Conference. Durant only played in 35 games last season, but he showcased his skills by averaging 26.9 points per game. That was his highest mark since his days of playing with the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Nets have a legitimate shot to win the NBA title and Durant’s leadership is a big reason why. Earning his second MVP award is definitely not out of the realm of possibilities here, especially if teammate Kyrie Irving continues to miss large chunks of the season.
📼 @KDTrey5 with 19 in our last warm-up 📼 pic.twitter.com/U9YxzLUc46
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) October 15, 2021
Giannis Antetokounmpo (+800)
It shouldn’t be shocking to see the reigning NBA Finals MVP near the top of the odds. Antetokounmpo has taken home this honor in two of the last three seasons thanks to his continued dominance on the Milwaukee Bucks. The 26-year-old has averaged a double-double in each of the last four seasons, is coming off his first championship and has one of the best supporting casts in the league. All-Stars Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday are just a few of the other big names on this squad. Antetokounmpo finished fourth in the voting last year, which means he’s a player to keep an eye on throughout the season.
Dunks ✅
— NBAIndia (@NBAIndia) October 16, 2021
Dimes✅
3-Pointers✅
Is there anything @Giannis_An34 cannot do? pic.twitter.com/dWUuPYhvy5
Joel Embiid (+800)
The Philadelphia 76ers have been surrounded by controversy this offseason as the team attempts to deal with point guard Ben Simmons. However, it’s important to keep in mind that they have an All-Star starting at center every single night. Joel Embiid was the NBA MVP runner-up last season after posting a career-high of 28.5 points per game to go along with 10.6 rebounds and 1.4 blocks. Health is the most important thing here. If Embiid can stay healthy and lead the Sixers to another deep playoff run, he could become the second consecutive center to win the award (Nikola Jokic in 2020-21).
Pump fake ✅
— NBA (@NBA) October 12, 2021
Take flight ✈
Joel Embiid rocks the rim on ESPN 2! pic.twitter.com/WdqtnEIgTi
Picture Credit: Google Creative Commons Licenses
