Best NBA MVP Bets Ahead of 2021-22 Season

The 2021-2022 NBA season is just one week away, and the team at BetSided is here to get you set with a total predictions for each team and best bets in the Futures market. 

Let’s waste no time and get to our MVP best bets. The BetSided team breaks down who they see as the most likely ticket to cash, but also gives everyone their dark horse that can break the part from further down the board. 

All odds courtesy of WynnBET Sportsbook

NBA MVP Best Bets

Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks +450

I know betting on the favorite isn’t as fun as finding a dark horse, but this is the best pick.

Doncic was one of the favorites to win the award last season, but the Mavericks had a slow start to the season, which put Doncic behind the pack. This season is going to be different.

As wide open as the Western Conference was last season, it’s even more for the taking this season. The Clippers and Nuggets are going to fall due to their injuries, the Jazz and Suns could see regression and the Blazers and Warriors are still relative unknowns. Even if the Lakers get the No. 1 seed, the Mavericks could easily get the No. 2 seed and put Doncic in a great position. 

Dallas’ offense runs entirely through Doncic. He averaged 27.7 points, 8.0 rebounds and 8.6 assists. Now that Jason Kidd is the head coach, we should expect a similar offense to the one he ran in Milwaukee -- which is star-dominant and will have the ball in Doncic’s hands the entire game. 

If Doncic can get a little bit of help so he doesn’t run out of gas, this is the year he jumps into the distinguished category of players to win MVP. -- Donnavan Smoot

Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors (+550)

If the Golden State Warriors had built any semblance of a supporting cast around Steph Curry last season, he would have won MVP. 

Curry won the scoring title and got the Warriors into the No. 8 spot in the NBA’s Play-In Tournament, but Golden State lost back-to-back games to miss the playoffs. 

The Kelly Oubre trade didn’t work out, and James Wiseman was way too raw to make an immediate impact. Golden State has a ton of unknowns again this season with Klay Thompson’s eventual return and more youngsters in Moses Moody and Jonathan Kuminga. 

However, the Warriors don’t need everything to work out perfectly in order to be competitive as long as Thompson can contribute in the second half of the season. If Curry carries the Warriors to as many wins as they are projected (48.5), Golden State is going to finish with a top-five seed in the West. 

The numbers will be there as always, but a Warriors resurgence in a loaded Western Conference would cement Curry as the MVP in my eyes. -- Peter Dewey

Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors (+550)

I agree with Peter on this one, Curry reminded everyone of his MVP level last season off of an injury-filled season prior. I’m always looking to find a narrative when I bet into the Futures market, and Curry has one with an emerging roster and a somewhat questionable hierarchy in the Western Conference. 

I’m interested in watching Golden State this season and firmly believe that with good health they can come out of the West. Last season’s roster was depleted with Thompson out, but it gave role players an opportunity to develop and the team was able to add two more lottery picks to the mix. 

To me, Curry is going to continue to thrive with the versatile roster Golden State has on hand and the narrative that can nab him his third MVP. -- Reed Wallach

Kevin Durant, Brooklyn Nets (+550)

I'm stunned that Durant wasn't taken by my BetSided colleagues especially given the unknown of Kyrie Irving's availability this year.

Durant hasn't won the MVP since the "You the real MVP" season back in Oklahoma City in 2014 when he averaged 32 a game with 7.4 boards and 5.5 assists. Last year, Durant averaged 31.9 points, 6.9 assists and 6.3 rebounds without Irving. With him, he had 25.5 points, 7.3 boards and 5.2 assists.

If Brooklyn lives up to the hype even without Irving at the point, Durant's playmaking and ability to take over games down the stretch should set him up. Even at 33 years old, I'd look for more of the 2014 version of Durant who still remains perhaps the league's most unguardable player.

Also, the annual NBA General Manager survey voted Durant as the most-likely MVP. He's playing this season with a vengeance, especially after the way they were knocked out of the postseason last year. -- Ben Heisler

Dark Horse MVP Bets

James Harden, Brooklyn Nets (+2000)

James Harden might be the best offensive player in basketball right now, and the only person above him is on his team. Harden ran the point last season, even with Kyrie Irving in the lineup. If Irving isn’t there, expect Harden to be the orchestrator of what will be the best offense in the league. Along with Irving, Kevin Durant might not be available every night either. 

Harden was a front-runner for the MVP award last season before he got hurt. Normally, he is reliable and plays in a majority of the games every season. If he’s healthy, he’s as good of a pick as anyone.

Harden had his second-best assist season last year, averaging 10.9 assists per game once he got traded to Brooklyn. Even if Harden’s scoring stays the same, his passing makes up for it and will give him the edge over the rest of the league. -- Donnavan Smoot

James Harden, Brooklyn Nets (+2000)

The Brooklyn Nets are keeping guard Kyrie Irving away from the team until he receives the COVID-19 vaccination, which may not happen, opening the door for James Harden and Kevin Durant to win the MVP award this season. 

Harden’s going to have an even bigger role as the team’s primary playmaker and distributor now that Irving is out, and while Durant is the better player, I believe in Harden’s durability more than KD’s. 

If Harden plays 70-plus games, Irving misses the majority of the season and the Nets still get the No. 1 seed in the East, I think he has to be in the conversation. Let’s not forget Harden put up 24.6 points, 8.5 rebounds and 10.9 assists per game for the Nets last year on a usage rate of 28.4 percent, his lowest since the 2013-14 season. 

If that goes up, Harden’s numbers are going to be hard to overlook. -- Peter Dewey

Paul George, Los Angeles Clippers (+5000)

Again, I’m trying to find the narrative, and what about if we pick up where we left off towards the end of last season. Clippers superstar Kawhi Leonard went down with what was later declared a partially torn ACL, forcing Paul George into the No. 1 option on the team. 

George didn’t disappoint, averaging nearly 30 points, 11 rebounds and 5 assists over the next round and a half. 

The Clippers still have a formidable roster around George, but they may fall short of Finals contention without Leonard. However, if Los Angeles can outperform expectations this season, PG13 will be a big reason and the major market of LA will only help bolster his case. 

I’ll take a stab at 50-1. -- Reed Wallach

Ja Morant, Memphis Grizzlies (+3500)

Morant was solid, but not spectacular in his sophomore season, slightly improving his scoring and rebounding and assists throughout the year.

Now in Year 3, this is where the elite talent finally begin to take over. For Morant, not only should bettors expect another major bump in scoring and assists with a healthy Grizzlies lineup, but his three-point shooting should be far better. After shooting below 25% in the first three months, Morant's numbers got way better, moving from 27.6% in March, to 40.9% in April. He was a 23.3% three point shooter pre-All Star break, to 34.4% afterwards. If defenders have to honor his ability to shoot from outside, he becomes one of the hardest point guards to defend in the league.

Meanwhile, over at FiveThirtyEight, they project how players will perform over the course of their careers and stack up their stats to create notable comparisons.

The number one comp? Derrick Rose in 2011... the same year Rose became the youngest MVP in NBA history. -- Ben Heisler

This line is going to move sooner rather than later, and I'm all aboard the Ja-Train before it leaves the station.

Make sure to place your MVP bets with WynnBET Sportsbook!