NBA MVP Race: Betting Odds Split On James Harden, Giannis Antetokounmpo

The NBA MVP race looked like a one-man show for much of the regular season, but it has begun to heat up. Houston Rockets guard James Harden was the heavy favorite according to most oddsmakers in recent months, but new odds released this week suggest things could be changing.

Interestingly, oddsmakers are split on whether or not Harden should be the favorite. OddsShark posted new odds on Monday that still had Harden as a minus-money favorite with -250 odds to win MVP. Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks came in second with +155 odds, which is roughly how things have been for much of the year.

However, new odds from Westgate (via Action Network ) tell a different story. Antetokounmpo is their minus-money favorite with -250 odds, the same as Harden’s at OddsShark. Harden is only at +200 in Westgate’s odds, with OKC’s Paul George a somewhat distant third at +700 odds.

Antetokounmpo has a 71 percent chance of winning the regular season MVP award, per Action Network.

There are solid arguments not only for Harden and Antetokounmpo, but for George, as well. The case for Harden is clear: He won the award last year and is averaging six more points and nearly one more rebound per game on slightly increased minutes. He also went on a staggering tear of 32 straight games with at least 30 points, which finally ended on Monday night.

Antetokounmpo could win MVP through a combination of his own dominance and his team’s success. The Bucks are running away with the top spot in the Eastern Conference a year removed from firing their head coach mid-season. The 24-year-old phenom is averaging 27.2 points, 12.7 rebounds and six assists per game on perhaps the best team in basketball.

He also has the most defensive win shares in the league, making him strong at both ends of the floor.

Speaking of which, George’s excellence on both offense and defense this year should not be forgotten. With per-game averages of 28.6 points, 8.1 rebounds and 4.3 assists, George has unexpectedly become a more valuable part of OKC’s rotation than former league MVP Russell Westbrook.

George’s offensive mastery pairs well with his defensive dominance. His defensive win shares are second behind Antetokounmpo, and he has been credited with making the Thunder one of the best defensive teams in basketball.