Trent Reinsmith
The 2022 NBA Finals begin tonight in San Francisco. The best-of-seven series, which kicks off on June 2, features the Golden State Warriors vs. the Boston Celtics. Game 1 of the series takes place on June 2 at Chase Center in San Francisco, California. ABC carries the entire 2022 NBA Finals series.
Golden State were the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference. After a fast start to the season, the Warriors were up-and-down. They finished the regular season with a record of 53-29, which put them behind the Memphis Grizzlies and the Phoenix Suns. Golden State made its way to the 2022 NBA Finals with series wins over the Denver Nuggets (4-1), Grizzlies (4-2) and the Dallas Mavericks (4-1).
The Boston Celtics finished the 2022 season with a record of 51-31. That put them behind only the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference standings. Boston’s road to the 2022 NBA Championship Finals started with a four-game sweep of the Brooklyn Nets. The Celtics then defeated the defending champion Milwaukee Bucks in a seven-game series. Boston then dismissed the Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals in seven.
The only player from either team who has won the NBA Finals MVP in a previous season is Andre Iguodala of the Golden State Warriors. Iguodala, who won the award in 2015, has only played three games in this year’s playoffs and his return to the Warriors lineup for the Finals is questionable. The other years when the Warriors took home titles in recent years — 2017 and 2018 — Kevin Durant won the MVP. Durant now plays for the Brooklyn Nets.
Before we look at 2022 NBA Finals MVP Picks, odds and predictions, check out our guide for betting on the 2022 NBA Playoffs and our tips for betting on the NBA.
2022 NBA Finals MVP picks
| To Win 2022 NBA Finals MVP |  |  |
| Stephen Curry | -120 | +100 |
| Jayson Tatum | +150 | +150 |
| Jaylen Brown | +1000 | +1000 |
| Klay Thompson | +1200 | +1400 |
| Jordan Poole | +2200 | +2500 |
| Draymond Green | +2500 | +1500 |
| Andrew Wiggins | +2500 | +4000 |
| Marcus Smart | +4000 | +3000 |
| Al Horford | +4000 | +10000 |
| Robert Williams | +20000 | +25000 |
| Kevon Looney | +20000 | +25000 |
Steph Curry
Steph Curry is the favorite to win the 2022 NBA Finals MVP Award. Despite winning the overall NBA MVP twice (2015 and 2016), Curry has never taken home the Finals MVP. That run could end this year if the Warriors defeat the Celtics in the NBA Finals.
Curry has played well this postseason and with the long rest the Warriors got after ending their series against Dallas on May 26, Curry will be well rested for the 2022 Finals. He leads the team in scoring this year in the playoffs with 25.9 points. Curry is hitting 44.9 percent of his field goals and 38 percent of his three-point shots. He is also contributing 4.9 rebounds and 6.2 assists per game.
Jayson Tatum
If the Celtics overcome the odds to become the 2022 NBA Champions, Jayson Tatum will most likely be the biggest reason for that triumph. Tatum is playing 41.1 minutes per game for the Boston club and leading the team with 27 points per game. He has also averaged 6.7 rebounds and 5.9 assists per game. Tatum is hitting 44.6 percent of his field goals and 37.5 percent of his three-point attempts.
Tatum is not the only reason the Celtics are playing in the NBA Finals for the first time since 2010, but he is the biggest reason the team made it to the Finals.
Jaylen Brown
Jaylen Brown is not the player who you think of first when the Celtics get mentioned, but he is a player who is 100 percent in the mix for the NBA Finals MVP. If the Warriors defense keys on Tatum — and they will — Brown will be the player the Celtics look toward.
Brown is second on the Boston team in points (22.9) and time on the court (38.2 minutes). He is hitting 48.5 percent of his field goals and 38.6 percent of his three-point shots.
Klay Thompson
Klay Thompson is to the Warriors, what Brown is to the Celtics. Golden State needs him to contribute in a big way if the team wants to win the 2022 NBA Championship. Thompson, who came back to play 32 regular season games for the Warriors in 2022 after missing the 2020 and 2021 seasons with injuries, is averaging 19.8 points per game on a team high 35.1 minutes on the court. Thompson is connecting on 45.7 percent of his field goals and 39.9 percent of his three-pointers.
Our pick
The expectation is that the Golden State Warriors are going to win this series and claim the 2022 NBA Championship. With that, I expect Steph Curry to take home the MVP for the 2022 NBA Finals.
Pick: Steph Curry to win the 2022 NBA Finals MVP Award.
See below a list of reliable NBA Finals sportsbooks and choose the best one for you.
