2027 NBA MVP Odds: Wemby’s First of Many Best Player Awards?

The NBA MVP race enters the 2026-27 season with a familiar mix of established superstars and rising challengers, but one name stands above the rest. Victor Wembanyama opens the year as the betting favorite after another spectacular campaign that reinforced his status as one of basketball’s most dominant two-way players. If he stays healthy and leads the Spurs into playoff contention, this could be the first of many MVP trophies in what already looks like a historic career.

The latest NBA MVP odds also feature proven winners such as back-to-back winner Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Luka Doncic, making this one of the deepest MVP fields in recent memory.

🏀 2027 NBA MVP odds

Player	Odds	Implied Probability
Victor Wembanyama	+200	33.33%
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander	+400	20.00%
Luka Doncic	+450	18.18%
Nikola Jokic	+600	14.29%
Giannis Antetokounmpo	+1100	8.33%
Jayson Tatum	+1400	6.67%
Anthony Edwards	+1600	5.88%
Cade Cunningham	+2200	4.35%
Jalen Brunson	+2800	3.45%
Tyrese Maxey	+6000	1.64%

NBA MVP odds provided by bet365, accurate as of October 20

NBA MVP Odds Favorites

Victor Wembanyama | +200 odds to win NBA MVP

Victor Wembanyama deserves to be the favorite in the NBA MVP odds entering the 2026-27 season. The Spurs superstar was an MVP finalist last year and won Defensive Player of the Year odds by unanimous vote, becoming the youngest player ever to capture the award and the first unanimous winner in league history. He also helped lead San Antonio to the NBA Finals before the Spurs fell to the New York Knicks, giving him plenty of motivation heading into next season.

The current Victor Wembanyama to win MVP odds reflect both his elite production and the expectation that the Spurs will remain one of the NBA’s top contenders. If he stays healthy and plays 65-plus games, Wembanyama has a strong chance to capture what could be the first MVP trophy of a historic career.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | +400 odds to win NBA MVP

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander enters the 2026-27 season as one of the strongest challengers in the NBA MVP odds market, but history is working against him. SGA has already won back-to-back MVP awards, and only three players in NBA history have ever captured three consecutive MVP trophies. Even Michael Jordan and LeBron James never accomplished the feat, while the last player to do it was Larry Bird from 1984 through 1986. Oklahoma City is also a favorite in the NBA championship odds, meaning it would take a lot for SGA to sway voters who already view his team as contenders.

That is why the Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to win NBA MVP market is so fascinating. Voter fatigue is real, and with stars such as Wembanyama, Nikola Jokic and Luka Doncic also in the race, it would likely take a truly historic season from SGA for voters to award him a third straight MVP.

Luka Doncic | +450 odds to win NBA MVP

Luka Doncic NBA MVP odds deserve attention with LeBron James no longer in Los Angeles. Doncic is now officially the man in LA, with the Lakers’ offense revolving around his scoring, playmaking, and ability to control games. He should have a realistic shot at averaging 30-plus points per night while also piling up assists and rebounds.

That combination gives him the statistical profile voters look for when considering the league’s top individual award. The biggest factor will be team success: if Doncic keeps producing at an elite level and leads the Lakers to a competitive record near the top of the Western Conference, he has a genuine chance to win his first NBA MVP award.

😴 NBA MVP Odds Sleeper Pick

Jayson Tatum | +1400 odds to win NBA MVP

Jayson Tatum stands out as one of the best sleeper picks in the NBA MVP odds market and may offer some of the strongest value among the top contenders. Tatum enters the 2026-27 season a full year removed from his Achilles tendon surgery, giving him a much better chance of starting the season fully healthy and playing at an elite level from opening night.

The Jayson Tatum to win NBA MVP odds become even more interesting because Boston is now without Jaylen Brown, which places even more offensive responsibility and attention on Tatum. If the Celtics remain a top team in the Eastern Conference, voters are likely to give Tatum a significant share of the credit, making him one of the most appealing value bets on the board.

📖 How to read NBA MVP odds

Reading NBA MVP odds is straightforward. Odds are usually presented in a format like +500 or -200. Positive odds (e.g., +500) show how much profit you’d make on a $100 bet. For example, a $100 bet at +500 odds would win you $500, plus your original $100 stake, totaling $600.

🤔 Who decides who wins the NBA MVP Award?

The NBA MVP award is decided by a panel of sportswriters and broadcasters who cast their votes for their top five NBA MVP candidates using a weighted point system.

The player that receives the most points after all votes have been tallied is crowned the winner after the regular season concludes. The winner is usually announced during the NBA Playoffs in May.

💰 How to bet on the NBA MVP odds

Placing a futures bet on the NBA MVP odds is a five-step process that focuses on finding the best value.

1. Choose a Bookmaker and Compare Odds

Start by comparing MVP odds across multiple legal sportsbooks (e.g., bet365, Stake). Odds for longshot candidates can vary significantly (+2000 vs. +2500), directly impacting your potential return. Selecting the best price ensures maximum value for your bet.

2. Sign Up and Deposit Funds

Complete the online registration with the chosen bookmaker, providing necessary personal details for identity verification. When depositing funds, consider any available welcome bonuses, as these offers can effectively reduce the risk on your initial portfolio investment.

3. Locate the Futures Market

Once logged in, navigate the bookmaker’s menu to find the market. The path is typically: NBA → Futures → Awards → MVP or Regular Season MVP.

4. Select Your Bets and Enter Stakes

Identify your 3-4 preferred longshot players and click on their odds to add them to your bet slip. For each selection, enter the same wagering amount (stake) to create your diversified portfolio. It is crucial to place these as individual straight bets, not a parlay.

5. Review and Place the Bet

Before finalizing, review the bet slip to confirm the players, the locked-in odds, and the total amount risked. Once satisfied, submit the bets to secure your longshot odds for the entire NBA season.

💸 Key Betting Strategies for NBA MVP Odds

The following three strategies focus on maximizing value, managing risk and exploiting market inefficiencies across the NBA Season.

1. The Preseason Portfolio (Maximizing Odds)

The core of this strategy is maximizing initial value by placing multiple, small, diversified bets immediately after the odds are released. Your focus should be on 3 to 4 longshot players who are in situations offering high-volume opportunities (e.g., a starter and a go-to scorer). By selecting odds of +2000 or higher, you are constructing a portfolio that diversifies risk. If any one of your selections breaks out, the return on the small, pooled stake is massive.

• Example: Placing $10 on four different players —Player A (+2500), B (+4000), C (+2000), and D (+3000) results in a total risk of $40.

2. Dynamic In-Season Monitoring and Adjustment (Identifying Breakouts)

The second stage involves rigorous monitoring of your longshots during the first few months of the season (October-December) to identify an odds-shortening breakout. You are tracking a sustained run of excellent production (e.g., a player averaging at least 25 points per game through 30-40 games). This breakout performance will dramatically shift the market and prepare you for the third strategic step. Volume and consistency are the only metrics that matter here, as they validate the initial preseason bet.

• Example: Your $10 bet on Player B at +4000 sees their odds plummet to +300 after a dominant stretch where they are top 10 in points, rebounds or assists, confirming their status as an award contender.

3. The Calculated Mid-Season Hedge (Guaranteeing Profit)

This final, crucial strategy is pure risk management designed to lock in a guaranteed net profit. If your initial longshot has become a top favorite, you identify their closest rival and calculate the precise stake needed to place a bet on that rival. This is the “hedge bet.” The goal is to ensure that regardless of which of the two top candidates ultimately wins the award, you walk away with a guaranteed, significant return on your small initial investment, effectively taking risk off the table late in the season.

• Example: With Player B at +300, and their rival, Player E, at +500, you calculate an $80 stake on Player E. This maneuver guarantees a net profit of at least $320 (if B wins) or $390 (if E wins), securing a massive return on your initial $40 risk.

📈 NBA MVP Betting Trends

When wagering on the NBA MVP odds or any other NBA player award futures, it is always wise to research betting trends that have been established over the years. Here is a look at some key trends to consider before placing this season’s bets.

• The Most Valuable Player award has been handed out 58 times to 35 different players, with Michael Jordan holding the record for most wins at six.

• Gilgeous-Alexander’s win in 2026 made him the 14th player to ever win back-to-back MVP awards.

• The award is rarely given to rookies, with Wes Unseld being the last to achieve this feat in 1969, and only four MVPs have been under the age of 23.

• MVPs typically come from elite teams; since 1985, only five winners have played for teams that didn’t finish first or second in their conference.

• NBA MVP winners typically average +400 to +500 odds prior to the season tipping off

🏆 Previous NBA MVP winners by position

Our best NBA betting sites

To make sure you get the most value on your NBA odds, go to the best NBA betting sites prior to placing your wagers throughout the season.

Want more insights on NBA betting markets?

Take a look at other Oddspedia Insights articles that give you everything you need in order to become a successful bettor.

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🏆 Previous NBA MVP winners

❓ NBA MVP odds FAQs

Who won the NBA MVP in 2025?

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder won the NBA MVP for the 2024-2025 season. He averaged over 32 points per game, 6.4 assists per game and five rebounds per game. Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder to the NBA title last season as well.

When will the NBA MVP award be decided?

The NBA MVP is voted on immediately following the conclusion of the regular season. The winner is announced during the NBA Playoffs typically in mid-to-late May. However, the timing of the announcement can vary from year-to-year.

How is the NBA MVP decided?

The NBA MVP is decided by a panel of sportswriters and broadcasters, who cast votes after the conclusion of the regular season. A weighted point system is used to determine the winner. The player that receives the most points after all votes have been tallied is crowned the winner after the regular season concludes.

Disclaimer: The odds displayed for entertainment, political, and other non-sporting events on this page are purely speculative and intended for entertainment purposes only. These are not real betting markets offered by licensed operators. Please note that the odds above have been generated by Oddspedia for this article only. They are not necessarily reflective of the actual probability of the event occurring and it is not possible to place a wager on this event through Oddspedia. Any implied probabilities derived from these odds are not based on professional bookmaking standards and should not be used for actual wagering decisions. Please gamble responsibly with licensed providers.