Khris Middleton Surpasses Giannis Antetokounmpo in NBA Finals MVP Odds

Don’t lock in your bet for Giannis Antetokounmpo to win NBA Finals MVP just yet. 

After hyperextending his knee in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Atlanta Hawks, Antetokounmpo has not returned to the lineup and is listed as doubtful for Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Tuesday night.

The Milwaukee Bucks star still may return during the series against the Phoenix Suns, but it seems unlikely that he’ll be able to play tonight which has vaulted his teammate ahead of him on WynnBET’s odds list for the NBA Finals MVP. 

Khris Middleton, who was fourth on the list yesterday at +600 odds, has now moved to +550 to win Finals MVP while Antetokounmpo’s odds have fallen from +550 to +600. 

It’s not surprising that Middleton has been tabbed as the Bucks’ top Finals MVP candidate, as he’s been the team’s closer throughout these playoffs.

While he has put up big numbers when the Bucks need him, Middleton has still been inconsistent this postseason. He’s scored less than 20 points in seven of his 17 playoff games, and the All-Star wing is shooting just 43.4 percent from the field and 33.8 percent from 3 this postseason. 

That’s a major drop off from the 47.6 percent from the field and 41.4 percent from 3 that Middleton posted this regular season, but if his two games without Giannis are any indication, he’s a value bet at +550 to win Finals MVP. 

Middleton put up 26 points on 10-of-20 shooting in Game 5 against Atlanta and followed that up with a 32-point performance on 10-of-22 shooting in Game 6. At +550 odds, Middleton certainly has more value than Devin Booker (+250) or Chris Paul (+160). 

If Giannis is unable to play early in the NBA Finals, it’s going to be hard to justify him as the Finals MVP if Milwaukee wins, unless they run the table once he returns. Middleton has stepped up in the big spots this postseason, but now he’s expected to do it regularly as the de-facto No. 1 option.