NBA Finals MVP Odds: Tatum or Doncic to Take Home the Hardware?

Tonight, the 2024 NBA Finals will tip off as the Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks meet in Game 1 at TD Garden in Boston.

The Celtics, who were the #1 seed in the Eastern Conference and won 64 games in the regular season, are in the Finals for the second time in three seasons. They are seeking their first championship since 2008, which would give them a record 18^th title, one more than the rival Los Angeles Lakers.

The Mavericks, who were the #5 seed in the Western Conference after going 50-32 in the regular season, are in the Finals for the first time since 2011, when they won their only title to date in an upset of the Miami Heat.

At the end of the series, an outstanding performer will be given the Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award.

While it is not impossible that a player from the losing team could win the award, the recipient will almost certainly be a member of the winning team. In 1969, Los Angeles Lakers star and Hall of Famer Jerry West, who is the inspiration for the NBA logo, won the inaugural award despite the Lakers falling to the Boston Celtics in seven games. Since then, no one from a losing team has been named NBA Finals MVP.

Who will join the likes of West, Michael Jordan, LeBron James, and other hardwood legends as NBA Finals MVP winners? As per the latest odds, Celtics star Jayson Tatum and Mavericks star Luka Doncic are the two firm favorites, and history indicates that one of them will likely take home the trophy.

Odds to Be Named 2024 NBA Finals MVP

The NBA Finals odds below are courtesy of BetOnline, a longtime fixture among the top online sports betting sites. Check out our BetOnline sportsbook review, then bag a big bonus (100% if your first deposit is with Bitcoin, Ethereum, or another cryptocurrency) to bet on 2024 NBA Finals MVP odds.

• Jayson Tatum -115
• Luka Doncic +200
• Jaylen Brown +750
• Kyrie Irving +1000
• Derrick White +3500
• Kristaps Porzingis +4000
• Jrue Holiday +5000
• P.J. Washington +25000
• Al Horford +25000
• Derrick Jones Jr. +50000

NBA Finals MVP Favorites

Jayson Tatum (NBA Finals MVP Odds: -115)

In 14 games in this year’s playoffs, Tatum is averaging 26.0 points per game, 10.4 rebounds per game, and 5.9 assists per game.

However, after averaging only 21.7 PPG through his first seven games, he has averaged 30.3 PPG in his last seven games, including 30.3 PPG in Boston’s four-game sweep of the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference finals.

Luka Doncic (NBA Finals MVP Odds: +200)

In the regular season, Doncic won the NBA scoring title by averaging 33.9 PPG and finished second in assists at 9.8 APG.

Those numbers are down in the playoffs, but he is still averaging a robust 28.8 PPG, 9.6 RPG, and 8.8 APG. In the Mavericks’ Western Conference finals win over the Minnesota Timberwolves, he averaged 32.4 PPG, 9.6 RPG, and 8.2 APG, and his clutch play in the first two games in Minneapolis set Dallas up with an invaluable 2-0 series lead.

Jaylen Brown (NBA Finals MVP Odds: +750)

Brown enters the NBA Finals averaging 25.0 PPG and 6.1 RPG in Boston’s playoff run, and he is shooting 54.1% from the field, his best percentage in any postseason to date.

Tatum is the Celtics’ main scoring option, but Brown has scored 25+ points eight times in 14 games, including a 40-piece against the Pacers in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals.

Kyrie Irving (NBA Finals MVP Odds: +1000)

Irving and Celtics guard Jrue Holiday are the only two players on the list of NBA Finals MVP favorites with championship-winning experience. In 2016, he hit the decisive shot in the final minute of Game 7 to propel the Cavaliers over the 73-win Warriors for their long-awaited first title.

Since then, he has had forgettable stints in Boston and Brooklyn and courted controversy on numerous occasions. But after missing the playoffs following last season’s trade to Dallas, Irving is delivering on the big stage once again.

He averaged only 15.7 PPG in the second round against the Oklahoma City Thunder, but he hit the 30-point mark three times in the Western Conference finals, matching his output from the first round against the Los Angeles Clippers.

Doncic is certainly the likeliest candidate to be named NBA Finals MVP if the Mavericks win the title. But Irving’s ability to take over and deliver in clutch moments also makes him a strong candidate.

NBA Finals MVP History

Recent Winners (2000-Present)

• 2023: Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
• 2022: Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
• 2021: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
• 2020: LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers
• 2019: Kawhi Leonard, Toronto Raptors
• 2018: Kevin Durant, Golden State Warriors
• 2017: Kevin Durant, Golden State Warriors
• 2016: LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers
• 2015: Andre Igoudala, Golden State Warriors
• 2014: Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio Spurs
• 2013: LeBron James, Miami Heat
• 2012: LeBron James, Miami Heat
• 2011: Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks
• 2010: Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers
• 2009: Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers
• 2008: Paul Pierce, Boston Celtics
• 2007: Tony Parker, San Antonio Spurs
• 2006: Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat
• 2005: Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs
• 2004: Chauncey Billups, Detroit Pistons
• 2003: Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs
• 2002: Shaquill O’Neal, Los Angeles Lakers
• 2001: Shaquille O’Neal, Los Angeles Lakers
• 2000: Shaquille O’Neal, Los Angeles Lakers

Most All-Time Wins

• 6: Michael Jordan (1991-1993, 1996-1998)
• 4: LeBron James (2012, 2013, 2016, 2020)
• 3: Magic Johnson (1980, 1982, 1987), Shaquille O’Neal (2000-2002), Tim Duncan (1999, 2003, 2005)
• 2: 7 players, including active players Kawhi Leonard (2014, 2019) and Kevin Durant (2017, 2018)

Other NBA Finals Betting Information

Where to Bet on the 2024 NBA Finals

Are you interested in betting on NBA Finals odds? Many of the top online sportsbooks will have a variety of odds for the NBA Finals, ranging from game odds, futures odds, and prop bets.

Throughout the season, in addition to being able to bet on 2024 NBA championship odds, you can make daily NBA picks on odds for every game all season long, including NBA playoffs odds.

Also, you can bet on the All-Star Game, NBA Draft odds, and the major awards like NBA MVP, NBA Rookie of the Year, and more at most reputable sports betting sites.

There are plenty of sports betting sites you can choose from that are good for NBA betting. In addition to BetOnline, here are several books that we have reviewed and highly recommend:

• BetDSI (review)
• BetUS (review)
• Bookmaker (review)
• Bovada (review)
• MyBookie (review)
• Sportsbetting.ag (review)

What if you don’t have an account at a book on this list? Check out our sportsbook reviews to help you determine if it is worth your interest and your betting funds.

Looking to make some player prop picks for the series? Bovada is one of the best sports betting sites for NBA player props, as they offer a plethora of prop markets for every game on the schedule. They also have a hefty welcome bonus for cryptocurrency users (75% up to $750).

Interested in Learning More About NBA Betting?

Looking to learn more about the ins and outs of betting on the NBA? Check out our NBA betting guide. Also, if you’d like to learn more about NBA player prop bets, check out our NBA player props guide.

Did you enjoy this look at 2024 NBA Finals MVP odds? We have plenty of content dedicated to the NBA Finals and more is to come, so bookmark the site so you don’t miss out on any of what is in store.

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