2026 NBA MVP Odds, Favorites & Prediction: SGA Goes Back-to-Back

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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s name is back on the Michael Jordan Trophy, repeating as NBA MVP in 2025-26.

The Oklahoma City Thunder guard saw his NBA MVP odds shorten from -300 to -5000 in the final week of the regular season, finishing with averages of 31.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 6.6 assists per game.

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SGA’s prohibitive NBA odds were a testament to his spectacular play as well as a reaction to Luka Doncic’s season-ending hamstring injury, which caused the Lakers star to fall short of the 65-game threshold required to qualify for award consideration.

🏀2026 NBA MVP odds

Team

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

-5000

Victor Wembanyama

+1500

Nikola Jokic

+5000

Odds before the market closed, courtesy of bet365, one of our best betting sites. Sign up with our bet365 promo code, or get one of our other sportsbook promos.

📈 NBA odds over time

This year’s MVP chase was a heavyweight melee. See how the top contenders rose and fell through the season.

💰2026 NBA MVP opening odds

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander +150

Popular NBA awards odds

How is the NBA MVP decided?

The MVP award is one of the most prestigious honors in professional basketball — and one of the most debated. But how is the MVP actually chosen?

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🗳️ MVP Voting Process

The MVP is determined by a panel of 100 sportswriters and broadcasters from the U.S. and Canada, as well as a fan vote that counts as one ballot. Each voter selects five players, ranked from first to fifth place. The point system is as follows:

1st place vote: 10 points

The player with the highest total point tally at the end of voting is crowned NBA MVP.

📊 What Do Voters Consider?

While there’s no official checklist, MVP voters typically weigh several key factors:

Individual statistics: Points, assists, rebounds, efficiency, advanced metrics like PER or Win Shares

Team success: MVPs are rarely chosen from losing teams and Top 3 seeds are the norm

Narrative and storyline: Voters often reward players overcoming adversity or carrying a franchise

Consistency and availability: Games played, durability, and…


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Publish date : 2026-05-27 18:33:00

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