NBA Finals 2024 Odds & Best Bets: Is Jayson Tatum a Good MVP Pick?

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The Boston Celtics are up 2-0 over the Dallas Mavericks as the 2024 NBA Finals head to American Airlines Center for Game 3 on Wednesday. There’s still plenty of basketball betting action to get in on as the championship series continues, including when it comes to wagering on this year’s Finals MVP.

The Celtics are loaded with all-star-level talent, including Jayson Tatum — one of the league’s top five players (and you can argue for higher than that). With Boston just two wins away from clinching the championship, many are wondering if Tatum will take home MVP honors this spring.

Choosing the award recipient can be tough, so Betting News is here to help. Let’s check out the latest NBA Finals MVP odds and whether Tatum is a good bet to take home the accolade.

And if he isn’t, who is?

NBA Finals MVP ODDS 2024: Is Jayson Tatum a Good Pick?

NBA Finals MVP 2024 odds are courtesy of BetOnline as of Monday, June 10 at 10:30 p.m. ET.

• Jaylen Brown, BOS (+130)
• Jayson Tatum, BOS (+150)
• Jrue Holiday, BOS (+500)
• Luka Doncic, DAL (+600)
• Kristaps Porzingis, BOS (+4000)
• Derrick White, BOS (+5000)
• Kyrie Irving, DAL (+6600)
• P.J. Washington, DAL (+50000)
• Al Horford, BOS (+50000)

Jayson Tatum heads into Game 3 with the second-best NBA Finals MVP odds (+150), only trailing those of Celtics teammate Jaylen Brown (+150).

While the 26-year-old superstar has been instrumental in helping Boston reach the Finals, Tatum’s play has left some bettors to wonder if he’s worthy of taking home MVP honors. He leads all Celtics players in assists (8.5) and rebounds (10.0), however, he only ranks third on the team with a 17.0 PPG clip.

For comparison, Tatum averaged 21.8 points in Round 1, 26.8 points in Round 2, and 30.3 points in Round 3.

He’s also averaging 0.5 steals and blocks through Games 1 and 2 along with 4.5 turnovers per contest.

What makes his point totals look even worse is his inefficient shooting splits. Although he averages 44.0% field-goal and 34.8% three-point percentages in his postseason career, Tatum is only shooting 31.6% from the floor and 28.6% from deep in this year’s Finals. That’s just inexcusable for a player of his caliber even if the Celtics are leading in this series.

Jayson Tatum struggled to shoot the ball through the first two games of the NBA Finals. Will that hurt his MVP odds? 

So, is Tatum still a good NBA Finals MVP pick even though his offensive performance has left much to be desired?

In terms of the award’s 55-year history, only one player — 2004 Detroit Piston’s Chauncey Billups — was named MVP up a field-goal percentage worse than 40.0% (39.4%). Even if Tatum starts shooting the ball better, there have been just four MVPs since 2011 who shot worse than 50.0% in the championship round.

If that doesn’t hurt Tatum’s case enough, history hasn’t been kind to sub-20.0 PPG performers. Since the 1991 NBA Finals, the league has only seen five MVP winners who averaged less than 20.0 PPG and there hasn’t been one since Andre Iguodala did it with the Golden State Warriors in 2015.

At the same time, let’s not act has if Tatum isn’t capable of turning things around in the next two games (at minimum). We’re talking about a five-time NBA All-Star who’s finished sixth or better in regular-season MVP voting in each of the last three years.

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If Tatum can increasehis assist total, he would also become the second player in NBA history to average a triple-double in the Finals, following only LeBron James in 2017. Accomplishing a historical feat like that is bound to earn votes for the former Duke product.

With that in mind, it makes sense to sprinke some money on Tatum. Although his performance hasn’t been mind-blowing thus far, he’s still good enough to turn things around while potentially making history along the way. If his shot starts to fall more consistently, these might be the last time you see his odds looking like they do before Game 3.

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NBA Finals MVP 2024 Best Bet & Picks

Even though Jayson Tatum is a good pick to win the 2024 NBA Finals MVP award, is he the best option?

As mentioned before, Jaylen Brown (21.5 PTS/5.0 REB/4.5 AST/3.0 STL/1.5 BLK) is the current favorite at +130 odds. The Celtics likely wouldn’t be up 2-0 without his leadership and efforts, so no one would bat an eye.

Will Jaylen Brown cash in on his favorable odds to become the 2024 NBA Finals MVP? 

If the Mavericks pull of a miracle by winning four of the next four/five games, you know Luka Doncic (+600) will likely be the reason why. The human highlight-reel is averaging 31.0 points, 10.5 rebounds, 6.0 assists, and 3.0 steals with .511/.381/.462 shooting splits, making him worth of a sprinkle if you think the Mavericks can pull off the comeback.

For reference, Jerry West (1969) is the only player in NBA history to have been named MVP on the losing team in the Finals.

As for myself, I’m intrigued about the idea of Jrue Holiday (+500) being named NBA Finals MVP. The former champion’s experience has paid off through two games as he’s nearly averaging a double-double in points (19.0) and rebounds (9.5) while putting up 4.0 assists, 1.0 steal, and 0.5 blocks. Holiday has also been the most accurate Celtics in this round, leading with a 65.2 FG% and 44.4 3P% without missing a single free throw on four attempts.

Does Jrue Holiday have a case for NBA Finals MVP? 

Unlike Tatum and Brown, Holiday hasn’t even coughed up the ball once while playing 38 minutes per night. His 166 offensive rating is also No. 1 on the Boston roster while his 103 defensive rating illustrates the positive impact he makes when he’s on the floor.

If Holiday can string together a few more strong performances, I could see him making a case for Finals MVP. His statistics aren’t too far off from Tatum and Brown, plus he’s been more efficient than the pair. It’s a solid option worth considering if you’re looking for a bit more value.

NBA Finals MVP Best Bet: Jaylen Brown (+130)

Sprinkle for Fun: Luka Doncic (+600)

NBA Finals MVP Best Value: Jrue Holiday (+500)

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NBA Finals 2024: Mavericks vs. Celtics Series Schedule

• Game 1: @ TD Garden — Thursday, June 6 at 8:30 p.m. ET (ABC)
• Game 2: @ TD Garden — Sunday, June 9 at 8 p.m. ET (ABC)
• Game 3: @ American Airlines Center — Wednesday, June 12 at 8:30 p.m. ET (ABC)
• Game 4: @ American Airlines Center — Friday, June 14 at 8:30 p.m. ET (ABC)
• Game 5: @ TD Garden — Monday, June 17 at 8:30 p.m. ET (ABC)
• Game 6: @ American Airlines Center — Thursday, June 20 at 8:30 p.m. ET (ABC)
• Game 7: @ TD Garden — Sunday, June 23 at 8 p.m. ET (ABC)

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NBA Finals 2023-24 FAQ

When are the 2023-24 NBA Finals?

• The 2023-24 NBA Finals are scheduled to begin on Thursday, June 6, and should be wrapped up by Sunday, June 23.

Where are the 2023-24 NBA Finals?

• The 2023-24 NBA Finals will be played at TD Garden (Boston) and American Airlines Center (Dallas).

How can I watch the 2023-24 Finals?

• Every game of the 2023-24 NBA Finals will be airing exclusively on ABC.

Where can I bet on the 2023-24 Finals?

• Basketball bettors can wager on this year’s NBA Championship and Finals MVP odds on the majority of online sportsbooks, including the following that Betting News highly recommends:

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