3 Players Not Named Steph Curry That Could Win MVP This Year

After the 37-point eruption from Steph Curry in Brooklyn, he’s clearly the favorite to win MVP in the NBA this season. Curry and the Warriors have the league’s best record, and Curry is shooting the lights out in the process. 

However, there are still over 60 games left in the season and players can always climb up the list. 

Curry is the odds on favorite at WynnBET to win the award, but here are three other players that still have a chance to take home the MVP trophy this year. 

Odds to Win MVP

• Steph Curry: +250
• Kevin Durant: +500
• Luka Doncic: +600
• Giannis Antetokounmpo: +600
• Joel Embiid: +1000
• Nikola Jokic: +1200

Kevin Durant (+500)

Although Kevin Durant came up short in an early season MVP statement game against Steph Curry, there is still a lot of basketball left to be played. One of my biggest contentions about Durant winning the MVP before the season started was that he wasn’t going to get votes due to the “super team” narrative. However, Kyrie Irving isn’t playing and James Harden doesn’t look like himself. The Nets are going to go as far as he takes them.

Durant certainly has the stats to back up his argument -- 28.9 points per game on 57/42/84 shooting splits. If the Nets can get another statement win, or Durant has a statement game, he’s right back in the conversation. 

Nikola Jokic (+1200) 

As good of a season as Jokic had last season, he might be having a better season now. His scoring is relatively the same, but his efficiency is up and his rebounding is much higher. On top of that, Jokic’s defense has been very respectable. 

Denver is tied with Utah for the fourth-best record in the Western Conference. If the Nuggets can get home court advantage with Jokic leading the way, all he needs is for one of the candidates to fall off and he’s in the mix. 

The Nuggets aren’t expected to have Jamal Murray back until the end of the season -- if he even plays at all. Jokic could lead them to a top 4 seed with Will Barton and an underperforming Michael Porter Jr. as his supporting cast. 

Giannis Antetokounmpo (+600)

The Milwaukee Bucks are struggling right now, but the path is laid out for the Greek Freak to win his third MVP in four years. Similar to Jokic, the Bucks are depleted right now. If Antetokounmpo can lead the Bucks out of the hole they’re in, he can claim some stake in the race. 

Antetokounmpo is having his worst scoring season since 2017, but he can use that as a positive. He is averaging a career-high in assists, which can help build the case that he is lifting his teammates up. Antetokounmpo is still one of the best defenders in the league and that, combined with picking the Bucks up out of the dirt, should be enough to get him some votes.