Lakers News: LeBron James Named 2019 NBA MVP Favorite Over Anthony Davis, Giannis Antetokounmpo

LeBron James has been the NBA’s best player for the last decade, but he hasn’t won the MVP award since 2013. That could change in his first year with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Two months before the 2018-2019 season is set to get underway, James has been named the favorite to be recognized as the league’s most valuable player. Bovada.lv gives him 10/3 MVP betting odds, putting him ahead of Anthony Davis (4/1), Giannis Antetokounmpo (9/2) and 2018 MVP winner James Harden (11/2).

James is arguably coming off the best offensive season of his 15-year career. Before leading the Cleveland Cavaliers to yet another NBA Finals with a historic playoff run, James averaged 27.5 points and career-highs of 8.6 rebounds and 9.1 assists per game. He shot 54.2 percent from the field and played in all 82 games.

With Kyrie Irving being traded to the Boston Celtics and Kevin Love missing a quarter of the season due to injuries, James was forced to carry the Cavs for much of the year. The veteran could be in a similar position in 2018-2019, joining a team without a returning All-Star.

Ranking third in the league in scoring and second in assists on a 50-win team, James was voted second in the 2018 MVP race behind Harden. It was his best finish since 2014 when he was edged out by Kevin Durant.

In each of the last 13 years, James has never placed lower than fifth in the MVP voting. He finished fourth or better 12 times and won the award four times. James was a top-three MVP candidate in every season from 2009-2016.

Davis is considered to be James’ biggest competition after he finished third in the 2018 MVP voting. The 25-year-old averaged a career-high 28.1 points on just 19.5 shots per game last season, adding 11.1 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per contest.

James will celebrate his 34th birthday before New Year’s Day 2019. The three players with the best MVP odds after James are all 28 years old or younger.

Durant (9/1) hasn’t had a top-four MVP finish since he won the award in 2014. Kawhi Leonard (11/1) was a top-three MVP candidate in 2016 and 2017 before missing all but nine games last season.