NBA MVP odds - Kobe favored to win at +300
Sportsbook betting - NBA MVP odds: Kobe looks to defend MVP title
- Team USA teammates set for season-long duel
- James and Paul try to close the gap on Bryant
- Howard and Duncan worthy of consideration
The NBA preseason has yet to tip off, but that shouldn’t stop you from thinking about who will lead NBA MVP futures. The usual suspects are being touted to battle for the award, with Team USA teammates Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and Chris Paul heading the favorites. This category is producing some exciting online sportsbook odds.
Defending MVP Bryant comes in with NBA MVP odds of +300, and you can bet he’ll be even hungrier after his Los Angeles Lakers lost in the NBA Finals to Boston. Once again, Bryant elected to pass on offseason surgery on his injured finger. But considering his play in the Beijing Olympics, you wouldn’t even know he was hurt.
With Bryant, Pau Gasol and a healthy Andrew Bynum back, online sportsbook odds have the Lakers as early NBA Championship futures leaders. The same goes for Bryant and NBA player futures.
James has been listed as a +300 co-favorite with Bryant, and the Cleveland Cavaliers’ star was a force in Beijing on both ends of the floor. The Cavaliers went out and got scoring guard Mo Williams from Milwaukee, giving “King James” another offensive option that will, hopefully, take some pressure off of him.
James finished second in the 2006 NBA MVP voting and fourth last season, and he’s a sure bet to be in NBA awards betting again.
Many thought Paul should have been the NBA MVP last season, due to the New Orleans Hornets’ surprising season that ended with a second seed in the ultra-competitive Western Conference.
Paul and the Hornets will be eager to prove last season was no fluke, and the 2006 NBA Rookie of the Year has all the tools to make it happen. If he can continue getting top-notch help from fellow All-Star David West, watch out. Paul comes in with NBA MVP odds of +400.
Dwight Howard emerged as a force last season with Orlando, as “Superman” was nearly unstoppable in the post. However, he still needs to develop other moves besides the power dunk, and his free-throw shooting is awful. Howard has solid NBA MVP odds of +800, but the 22-year-old is still one year away, at least, from being a legitimate candidate.
Another year will pass, Tim Duncan will put up a 20/10 season, and no one will seem to notice. That’s because the two-time MVP is so consistent we now take it for granted.
Many wonder when Duncan and the San Antonio Spurs will start slowing down, but you can bet he’ll be a good pick to have his name in the NBA MVP futures conversation. If you bet on sports, you should pick “The Big Fundamentals” for a good value of +800.
Hit betonline.come, and visit the Bettor’s Edge for more tips and insight into NBA odds and other basketball betting picks.
Craig Parsons is an avid sports fan, but his true love has always been basketball. Too short to realize his dream of playing in the NBA, he did the next best thing? Sports betting and covering basketball for a living. Thoughts or questions?
