Steve Starr
- BetOnline and BetUS has updated 2021 NBA Regular Season MVP odds on the eve of the postseason
- Nuggets center Nikola Jokic is now a massive -5000 favorite to win the award
- Consider wagering on the Knicks’ Tom Thibodeau to win NBA Coach of the Year at +250
One of the contenders for the NBA Regular Season MVP, Steph Curry (+1600) will face LeBron James’ Lakers in the NBA’s new play-in tournament on Wednesday – but no matter what happens in that game, Nikola Jokic (-5000) looks to have wrapped up the honor.
Before the NBA playoffs start this week, we’ll take a look at the Serbian center’s incredible statistics and examine why he’s a lock for the Most Valuable Player award. You can also find tips for betting on basketball here.
2021 NBA Regular Season MVP
 |  |
|
| Nikola Jokic | -5000 | -5000 |
| Stephen Curry | +1600 | +1200 |
| Joel Embiid | +2000 | +2500 |
| Giannis Antetokounmpo | +5000 | +6600 |
| Damian Lillard | +8000 | +8000 |
| Chris Paul | +10000 | +6600 |
Nikola Jokic’s incredible season
While there were lots of twists and turns in this year’s NBA MVP race with superstars like Kevin Durant, Joel Embiid, James Harden, and LeBron James all missing significant time with injury, Nikola Jokic (-5000) ended up lapping the field. The 26-year-old put together a historic campaign, scoring over seven points more per game than he did last year (26.4 ppg), with shooting averages in the range of 50/40/90.
Perhaps the greatest passing big man ever, Jokic averaged 8.3 assists per game and pulled down 10.8 boards per contest, averaging just short of a triple-double. Unlike other stars, the big Serbian also hasn’t missed a game all season and carried his Nuggets to a 12-5 record down the stretch after his teammate Jamal Murray went down to secure home-court advantage.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The Definitive MVP Case for Nikola Jokichttps://t.co/aiHzmHHvr3
— Hardwood Paroxysm (@HPbasketball) May 12, 2021
While Steph Curry (+1200) put together a vintage season for the Warriors and Joel Embiid (+2000) led the Sixers to the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference, Jokic leads most advanced statistics that measure per-minute production and has played more minutes than the other contenders for the award.
What you should wager on instead
Since there’s not much money to be made by wagering on Jokic to win MVP. let’s turn our attention to the NBA Coach of the Year race. If you head to BetOnline, you can get Knicks bench boss Tom Thibodeau at +250 to win the award.
Suns coach Monty Williams is currently a -175 favorite after leading the surprising Suns to a 51-21 record and the second seed in the West, but there is a good chance voters give most of that credit to Hall of Fame floor general Chris Paul. Meanwhile, in his first year in the Big Apple, Thibodeau led a team that many thought would be among the worst in the league to the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference.
Tom Thibodeau effect. 🔒🔒
(via @nyknicks) pic.twitter.com/UzgKGkGBUb
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) May 16, 2021
The oddsmakers have this one wrong. Given the size of New York’s massive media market alone, Coach Thibs is the pick at +250.
See below the top sportsbooks where you can wager online and choose the best one for you:
