The race to the 2019 NBA MVP has been an exciting and in some ways unexpected one. One pre-season MVP odds by Bovada tipped the scales in LeBron’s favor 10-to-3. Giannis Antetokounmpo and James Harden came in third and fourth respectively in pre-season polls.
But as the season carried in, between Harden and Antetokounmpo became the favorites, and every performance the two when they play is put under every type of microscope.
A handful of websites show the odds are that Giannis will take the crown, despite the incredible numbers Harden has put up.
Giannis is averaging 27.7 points per game, 12.5 rebounds and 5.9 assists per game and had his fifth career 50-point triple double last Saturday. Harden is averaging 36.6 points per game and 7.5 assists.
Antetokounmpo is at the top of the list with odds of -200, followed by Harden +150 as of April 1, according to Sports Betting Dime (SBD).
Giannis is only 24, but the youngest player in NBA history to win MVP was Derrick Rose in 2011. He was 22 years old and was in his third year in the league.
According to OddsShark on March 4, Giannis was in top spot with odds of -125, followed by Harden with odds of +110. The list included odds for Paul George of +600, LeBron with odds of +3300, Steph Curry with odds of +3300, Nikola Jokic +4000 and Kevin Durant +5000.
Oddschecker has Giannis in the top spot with odds of 2-5, Harden comes in second with odds of 2-1, George in the fourth spot with 50-1 odds and 10 NBA All-Stars (Ben Simmons, KD, LeBron, Curry, Joel Embiid, Kyrie Irving, Russell Westbrook, Damian Lillard, Kemba Walker and Kawhi Leonard) tied at 100-1 odds.
FanDuel Sportsbook has the Greek Freak at No. 1 with odds of -280, Harden odds of +195 and George in third with odds of +5000.
It appears as though the table is set for Giannis, but for Harden, may the odds be ever in his favor.
