Steve Dominey
- BetOnline has just released new odds for the NBA’s six regular season awards
- Giannis Antetokounmpo (-1000) is now the heavy favorite for MVP ahead of James Harden (+350)
- Luka Doncic (-3000) is favored to win Rookie of the Year over Trae Young (+500)
With the NBA Finals still over a week away, the league just announced the finalists for their six major award races.
Now, unfortunately these are regular season awards so there are no categories such as “Best Playoff Buzzer Beater Before Leaving Toronto Forever” or “Best Reminder that We Don’t Actually Need Kevin Durant”. However, there are still some fun ones on the board. Let’s look at BetOnline to determine which NBA personalities will take home the hardware.
2019 Coach of the Year Odds
| Coach | 2019 Coach of the Year Odds at BetOnline |
|---|---|
| Mike Budenholzer | -1200 |
| Doc Rivers | +700 |
| Michael Malone | +1000 |
*All odds taken 05/21/19
Coach Bud is at -1200 to win Coach of the Year after leading the Bucks to a league-best 60-22 record in his first season with the club.
Coach of the Year Finalist:
Mike Budenholzer, @Bucks
2018/19 Record: 60 – 22
2017/18 Record: 44 – 38#FearTheDeer pic.twitter.com/sZluVzRTZw— NBA Canada (@NBACanada) May 19, 2019
Reminiscent of Steve Kerr taking over for Mark Jackson in Golden State, Budenholzer’s results are so impressive that it makes former head coach Jason Kidd look borderline incompetent.
Pick: Mike Budenholzer (-1200)
2019 Defensive Player of the Year Odds
| Player | 2019 Defensive Player of the Year Odds at BetOnline |
|---|---|
| Rudy Gobert | -500 |
| Giannis Antetokounmpo | +350 |
| Paul George | +900 |
Rudy Gobert cried on camera after not being named to the All-Star team this year, but after ranking second in total blocks (187) and fourth in rebounds a game (12.9), the Stifle Tower will likely be leaking tears of joy at the NBA Awards ceremony on June 24th.
If he wins, Gobert will become just the ninth player in NBA history to win back-to-back Defensive Player of the Year awards, joining legends such as Dennis Rodman, Hakeem Olajuwon, and Dikembe Mutombo.
Pick: Rudy Gobert (-500)
2019 Most Improved Player Odds
| Players | 2019 Most Improved Player Odds at BetOnline |
|---|---|
| Pascal Siakim | -1600 |
| D’Angelo Russell | +400 |
| De’Aaron Fox | +5000 |
For Lakers fans, it’s just too bad that Magic Johnson didn’t step down before trading D’Angelo Russell to Brooklyn. In his fourth season, the young guard helped lead the Nets to the playoffs with 21.1 points and seven assists per game, however, his jump in play pales in comparison to the leap made by Pascal Siakim.
You cannot stop Pascal Siakam you can only hope to contain him pic.twitter.com/9V2p79gbcv
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) May 16, 2019
The 25-year-old Raptors forward averaged 16.9 points (more than double his scoring output last year), 6.9 rebounds, and 3.1 assists, showcasing an all-around game that earned him the nickname Spicy P.
Pick: Pascal Siakim (-1600)
2019 Most Valuable Player Odds
| Players | 2019 Most Valuable Player Odds at BetOnline |
|---|---|
| Giannis Antetokounmpo | -1000 |
| James Harden | +350 |
| Paul George | +5000 |
Reigning MVP James Harden was seemingly neck-and-neck with Giannis for this award all year, and it’s hard to see where he went wrong exactly. After all, The Beard paced the league in scoring with 36.1 points per game.
Giannis is the MVP. ✍?https://t.co/oiPB0LcYt3
— Pau Gasol (@paugasol) May 16, 2019
In comparison, the Greak Freak led the Bucks to a league-best 60 wins while ranking third in the league in scoring (27.7), sixth in rebounds (12.5), and 10th in blocked shots (1.5). In a close race, Antetokounmpo’s defense should be the difference.
Pick: Giannis Antetokounmpo (-1000)
2019 Rookie of the Year Odds
| Players | 2019 Rookie of the Year Odds at BetOnline |
|---|---|
| Luka Doncic | -3000 |
| Trae Young | +500 |
| Deandre Ayton | +10000 |
After being traded for each other on draft night, Luka Doncic and Trae Young put together two of the most impressive rookie seasons in NBA history. Showing Mark Cuban that there is in fact life after Dirk, the 6’7″ Slovenian sensation finished with averages of 21.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 6.0 assists, compared to Young’s per game line of 19.1 points, 8.1 assists, and 3.7 rebounds.
Luka Doncic and Trae Young unanimously selected to 2018/19 All-Rookie First Team
FULL TEAMS: https://t.co/cRiDElxUol pic.twitter.com/wL0hmguRcr
— NBA Australia (@NBA_AU) May 21, 2019
While Doncic is the heavy favorite, the Hawks’ diminutive guard might have won voters over with a sizzling second half to the season that put him first among rookies with nine games of 30 or more points.
Pick: Trae Young (+500)
2019 Sixth Man Award Odds
| Players | 2019 Sixth Man Award Odds at BetOnline |
|---|---|
| Lou Williams | -1600 |
| Domantas Sabonis | +800 |
| Montrezl Harrell | +1000 |
If two actors from the same film are nominated for Oscars, there’s always speculation that they may split the vote. There appears to be no danger of that here, however, as Clippers guard Lou Williams is a comfortable favorite over teammate Montrezl Harrell and Pacers forward Domantas Sabonis.
If the all-time leading sixth man scorer wins for the second straight year, he’ll join Jamal Crawford as the only players to win three Sixth Man of the Year awards.
Pick: Lou Williams (-1600)
Steve Dominey 
