Jayson Tatum’s NBA MVP odds are already rising through just four games. The Boston Celtics won 64 games last year and led the league in point differential, yet he finished sixth in MVP voting. Before the preseason even started, his odds of winning a regular season MVP award were slim. After a few games, Tatum’s chances at winning MVP have increased.
Jayson Tatum MVP Odds Continue to Rise
On October 11th, one week after the preseason started, Tatum’s MVP odds were +2000 at Fanatics Sportsbook. He had lower odds than Victor Wembanyama, who had a +1500 chance of winning the award.
Tatum had the ninth-best odds at the award, with Nikola Jokic leading at +350. According to bettors, the Celtics’ loaded roster of Jrue Holiday, Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, and Kristaps Porzingis work against Tatum’s odds. Players like Luka Doncic, Anthony Edwards, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander have better chances.
Yet, after the first four games, Tatum has increased his MVP odds significantly. As of October 28th, he has the third-best chance to win the award, with odds ranging between +375 to +500. Doncic leads the way with a +320 chance to win the MVP, followed by Gilgeous-Alexander at +400.
Can Jayson Tatum win an MVP Award?
Tatum had an eventful summer. He won the championship title yet missed out on the Finals MVP, signed the largest contract in NBA history, and made it to the cover of NBA 2K, and then it all went downhill. He struggled during exhibition games with Team USA and got benched for most of the Olympics.
Motivated to prove doubters wrong, he worked this summer on improving his jump shot. He poured in 37 points in the season opener and also led the team in assists. That is an area where he can improve even more.
Tatum is averaging 28.5 points on 51.3% shooting from the floor and 41.9% from behind the arc. He also grabs 6.8 rebounds on average and dishes out 5.5 assists. He has never averaged more than 4.9 assists.
His two biggest rivals are Jokic, Doncic and Gilgeous-Alexander. Jokic is posting 32.3 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 7.0 assists. Doncic is averaging 27.7 points per game, 10 rebounds, 9.7 rebounds, and 6.7 assists. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander averages 28.7 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 6.3 assists while shooting 44.9% from the floor.
The Mavericks and Thunder Have New Additions
What might work in Tatum’s favor this year is that while the Celtics have a stacked team, they will play without Porzingis for much of the year. At the same time, the Dallas Mavericks signed Klay Thompson, and the Oklahoma City Thunder got Isaiah Hartenstein and Alex Caruso. Although, they still aren’t as stacked as the Celtics.
At the same time, Jokic and the Denver Nuggets have had trouble out of the gate. And with Jokic already having a few MVPs on his resume, it will be harder for him to win another without being the No. 1 seed and posting crazy numbers.
Jayson Tatum Can Join Celtics’ Rich History
While Boston is the most successful franchise in NBA history with 18 titles, only four Celtics have won a regular season MVP award. Larry Bird won it three times, Bill Russell won five, and Dave Cowens and Bob Cousy won it once a piece.
If Tatum gets the award, he will be the fifth Celtics player to have such an accomplishment. Furthermore, if he wins regular season and Finals MVP, he will be only the third Celtics player to do so, joining Bird and Russell.
