Joel Embiid's MVP Odds Skyrocket Following Nuggets, Nikola Jokic Downturn

The NBA MVP race is becoming even clearer as we enter the final stretch of the 2021-22 season, as Joel Embiid is the outright favorite to win the award over Denver Nuggets big man Nikola Jokic.

WynnBET Sportsbook has Embiid at -200 odds to win MVP, while Jokic has fallen to +175 with the Nuggets losing back-to-back games and four of their last 10. The struggles have bumped Denver into the play-in conversation in the Western Conference.

Denver has lost ground to the Minnesota Timberwolves, who have the best record in the NBA since the All-Star break, and that's going to make it hard to Jokic to win MVP this season.

The reigning MVP has a done a lot with very little around him this season, but the Nuggets would need to finish outside the play-in tournament for Jokic to beat out Embiid for MVP. Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers currently only have one more win than the Nuggets, but they are the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference.

Does Joel Embiid Deserve to Be Outright Favorite for MVP?

Embiid has been fantastic this season, but I wouldn't think about laying the -200 juice with him to win the MVP award, as the Sixers could fall in the Eastern Conference standings relatively quickly.

Numbers wise, I think Jokic and Embiid are fairly even, but at the moment Embiid has led his team to a better record and seed. If Jokic can bring Denver out of the No. 7 spot, it obviously improves his case, but Embiid isn't safe at the No. 3 spot in the East.

The Sixers are just 3.5 games up on the Toronto Raptors, who are the No. 7 seed in the East, and Philly is tied record wise with the No. 4 seeded Boston Celtics.

The MVP race isn't this clear cut just yet, but a strong finish by Philly would lock things up for Embiid.

Who Else Can Win NBA MVP This Season?

Outside of Jokic, only Giannis Antetokounmpo (+750) has shorter than +1000 odds at WynnBET Sportsbook. Milwaukee is currently the No. 2 seed in the East, but it is just half a game ahead of the Sixers in the standings.

If I were to bet on MVP today, I still think I'd take Jokic at +175 in hopes that he can bring Denver back out of the play-in conversation. I've been dying on the hill that he is the most valuable player to his team this season, as the Nuggets' on/off numbers without him would place them among the worst teams in the NBA.

It's Embiid's award to lose, according to oddsmakers, but there isn't much betting value because of that at this point in the campaign.

Find Peter Dewey’s full betting record in the NBA this season here.