NBA awards are widely discussed and debated each regular season. With six major awards, some have clear frontrunners, while others are wide open and unpredictable. They will certainly change throughout the season. However, the preseason odds for each award are highly intriguing. Here are the current odds for each major NBA award. Odds are provided by DraftKings Sportsbook and are accurate as of September 5th.
Current Major 2024-25 NBA Awards Odds
MVP
- Nikola Jokic +350
- Luka Doncic +370
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander +600
- Joel Embiid +600
- Giannis Antetokounmpo +650
The reigning MVP, Nikola Jokic, remains the slight favorite for the award this year. He is a three-time MVP with unmatched stats and impact. Nevertheless, Jokic winning his fourth MVP in five years would put him in historic company. Coming off an NBA Finals run, Luka Doncic is now widely considered the league’s second-best player. Doncic made five straight All-NBA first teams but never finished higher than third in MVP voting. If he continues his elite statistical production and the Mavericks win 50-plus games, it’s easy to see him winning MVP.
While it’s understandable why Jokic and Doncic are MVP frontrunners, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander remains an excellent value pick at +600 odds. The Thunder are coming off a season in which they were the top seed in the West, and Gilgeous-Alexander was the MVP-runner up. With an upgraded roster the Thunder are poised to continue their regular season dominance. They could realistically win 60+ games, which would catapult Gilgeous-Alexander in MVP conversations.
Joel Embiid and Giannis Antetokounmpo are frequent top-three MVP finishers. Notably, Embiid won the award in 2022-23, while Antetokounmpo has won two MVPs, with his last coming in the 2018-19 season. Both players could possibly win the award but would need their team to finish within the top three of the Eastern Conference.
Defensive Player of the Year
- Victor Wembanyama -180
- Rudy Gobert +1100
- Bam Adebayo +1200
- Evan Mobley +1600
- Chet Holmgren +1600
Victor Wembanyama is the heavy favorite for Defensive Player of the Year. Notably, he is the only player with minus odds for any award. As a rookie Wembanyama finished second in DPOY voting. He is a historically talented defender with an unmatched combination of shot blocking, size, length, and mobility. Ultimately, he is poised to dominate the DPOY award for the next decade.
It’s highly unlikely Rudy Gobert will win a record-breaking fifth DPOY. Bam Adebayo, Evan Mobley, and Chet Holmgren remain possibilities if Wembanyama gets injured or if one of their respective teams dominates defensively. Adebayo is incredibly versatile and arguably the league’s best individual defender outside of Wembanyama. Mobley and Holmgren are highly impactful defenders on elite defensive teams.
Rookie of the Year
- Zach Edey +600
- Reed Sheppard +700
- Zaccharie Risacher +750
- Alex Sarr +900
- Stephon Castle +1000
- Matas Buzelis +1000
- Dalton Knecht +1000
Rookie of the Year is one of the more open awards, especially this season. Zach Edey will play an important role on a likely competitive Grizzlies squad. Additionally, at 22, the seven-foot-four college phenom is one of the more NBA-ready rookies. Similarly, Reed Sheppard has bankable skills as an elite three-point shooter and high-level playmaking. This will allow him to make an instant impact as a well-rounded role player on a fairly competitive Rockets team. Zaccharie Risacher was the No. 1 overall pick. While he likely won’t put up monster numbers, his shooting and defensive potential could also allow for an immediate impact.
Alex Sarr’s rookie season feels a little boom or bust. One on hand, his elite defense is likely to translate, and he’ll have plenty of opportunities to develop offensively on lowly Wizards teams; however, his poor shooting efficiency in summer league play is concerning. Stephon Castle, Matas Buzelis, and Dalton Knecht are tied for the fifth shortest odds. They will have the opportunity to immediately contribute to their respective teams, albeit in different ways. Knecht will make an impact as an elite movement shooter on a competitive Lakers squad. Castle and Buzelis will have many opportunities to showcase their all-around games on young teams.
Most Improved Player
- Victor Wembanyama +1000
- Evan Mobley +1000
- Jonathan Kuminga +1400
- Scottie Barnes +1600
- Josh Giddey +1700
The Most Improved Player is often the hardest to predict, and odds reflect this. It’s somewhat ridiculous to have Wembanyama as the favorite. While he will likely make a massive jump in his second season, he is a generational talent, and second-year jumps should be expected. Evan Mobley fits the mold of the award much better. Entering his fourth season, Mobley has shown a lot of potential as a young defensive-minded big man; however, his offense hasn’t caught up yet. Mobley averaged 15.7 points, but if he could become a 20-plus point-per-game scorer, he would have a great case for this award. This is also realistic, given the natural offensive progression and new head coach, Kenny Atkinson.
Jonathan Kuminga is coming off a career year averaging 16.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 2.2 assists. However, if he could become a consistent 20-point scorer and establish himself as the clear second option on the Warriors next to Stephen Curry the M.I.P. award feels in play. Scottie Barnes is coming off an All-Star season in which he averaged 19.9 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 6.1 assists. This sets a high bar for Barnes, making M.I.P. unlikely unless he becomes a legit 25-27 point per game scorer.
Josh Giddey is coming off a down season with the Thunder, where he averaged 12.3 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 4.8 assists. However, the 21-year-old six-foot-eight guard has plenty of talent, and with the Bulls, he could rejuvenate his career. Giddey averaged 16.8 points in the 2022-23 season. If he could exceed these numbers, an M.I.P. award would be realistic.
Coach of the Year
- Ime Udoka +900
- Joe Mazzulla +1000
- Jamahl Mosley +1000
- Nick Nurse +1200
- Tom Thibodeau +1300
- Mark Daigneault +1300
Though he’s only been a head coach for two full seasons, Ime Udoka is widely considered one of the best in the league. Udoka consistently gets the most out of the talent around him. However, for him to win Coach of the Year, the Rockets would have to jump up the standings and make the playoffs. This past season, Joe Mazzulla led the Celtics to 64 wins and an NBA Championship. If Mazzulla can replicate success and the Celtics have another 60-plus win season, it’s easy to see him winning Coach of the Year.
Jamahl Mosley, Nick Nurse, and Tom Thibodeau’s viability for the award will be linked with team success. If the 76ers or Knicks are a top-two or even the top seed in the East, Nurse or Thibodeau would have a rock-solid case for the award. Since the Magic have slightly lower expectations, a top-three seed would allow Mosley, who finished second last year, to take home the award. The reigning Coach of the Year, Mark Daigneault, also has a strong case, especially if the Thunder can have the best record in the league with their offseason additions.
Sixth Man of the Year
- Malik Monk +475
- Naz Reid +650
- Caris LeVert +1100
- Donte DiVincenzo +1200
- Jordan Clarkson +1300
The Sixth Man of the Year award is often forgotten about. Last year’s runner-up, Malik Monk, has the best odds. Monk is the quintessential sixth man as a microwave three-level scorer. Monk will be in great shape to win the award if the Kings offense can return to an elite level. Naz Reid won Sixth Man of the Year last season and has a great chance to go back-to-back. He is an elite bench scorer with guard-like skills and a knack for shooting. He is an integral part of a Timberwolves team that is a clear title contender.
Caris LeVert is a talented isolation scorer, which makes him an ideal sixth man. If he establishes himself as a closer for the Cavs and has a high-scoring season, LeVert may find himself in Sixth Man of the Year conversations. Donte DiVincenzo was a crucial part of a talented Knicks squad last year, mostly as a starting shooting guard. However, with the Knicks offseason trade for Mikal Bridges, DiVincenzo will move to the bench. DiVincenzo is one of the league’s best bench players, and his dynamic three-level scoring abilities on a contending team make him a clear candidate for Sixth Man of the Year.
The 2020-21 Sixth Man of the Year, Jordan Clarkson, has a chance to win the award if he produces a monster scoring year. Clarkson is coming off a down season from an efficiency standpoint and is on a rebuilding Jazz team. Nevertheless, if he averages 20-plus points, he could be in contention for this award.
