Who’s Your Money on for 2019-20 NBA MVP?

By  //  October 23, 2019

It’s an incredible achievement to win an NBA MVP award – that much we all know. The respective stars of personal performance, team performance and a great story need to align to produce the perfect MVP. 

It’s an incredible achievement to win an NBA MVP award – that much we all know. The respective stars of personal performance, team performance and a great story need to align to produce the perfect MVP. 

With the season starting on 22 October, the talk surrounding teams, players gunning for MVP and more is heating up. 

After a thrilling 2018/19 campaign, William Hill have Giannis Atetokounmpo as the 3/1 favourite to take the title for a second season. Who else do the bookies think are in the running?

Giannis Antetokounmpo – 3/1

As the 2018/19 MVP, it would take an incredible effort for almost 7ft-tall Giannis Antetokounmpo to take the MVP title for a consecutive season. To win over voters two seasons in a row is a huge thing – Steph Curry and Steve Nash winning consecutive MVP awards were incredible achievements. 

Not only will Giannis have a lot of weight on his shoulders to perform big in 2019/20, so will the Milwaukee Bucks. He may be a favorite with the bookies and he definitely has a great chance, but it would be a huge achievement to be awarded MVP in back-to-back seasons so it might make more sense to consider a rival.

Stephen Curry – 5/1

There’s a reason Steph Curry is the highest paid NBA star with an annual salary in excess of $40 million. The point guard/shooting guard has been crowned NBA MVP twice (in consecutive seasons) and became the first-ever unanimous winner of the award in the 2015/16 season. 

Consistently included in discussions surrounding who the best player ever to grace the NBA stage is, it was always going to be difficult for the Golden State Warrior to emulate his 2015/16 season.

However, the 31-year-old wowed NBA followers all over again with his 2019 form and will be looking to carry this on as the season starts.

James Harden – 6/1

A former NBA MVP, James Harden took the crown after the 2017/18 season. The Houston Rockets guard has said he felt he was robbed of the 2018/19 title and it should have gone to him, not Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Harden being the current third favorite for the upcoming season is an interesting one, though, as it may be a struggle for him to shine as brightly given that 2016/17 MVP Russell Westbrook is also on the Rockets side, joining from Oklahoma City Thunder.

Harden thinks playing together again will be a positive thing and he told GQ: “There’s a different kind of relationship and communication that we have, a different type of excitement that we have for each other.” Will it be a help or hindrance? We’ll soon find out.

LeBron James – 7/1

Four-time MVP winner and LA Lakers’ LeBron James is still in the running for his fifth title, despite the fact he’ll turn 35 during the 2019/20 season.

Undoubtedly one of the best players to ever play in the NBA, it’s actually his age that has some pundits thinking he’ll have the toughest time of all the favorites to take the MVP title.

Understandable when you consider the 82-game NBA schedule. But would you bet against LeBron? If anyone can do it, he’s surely the man?