Westbrook remains favorite to capture 2017 MVP
A Kevin Durant-less Oklahoma City Thunder should mean plenty more scoring opportunities for Russell Westbrook, which would help his case as he vies for the first NBA Most Valuable Player award of his career.
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Oddsmakers have made slight adjustments to the race over the past two months, but what hasn't changed is Westbrook's place atop the mountain as the favorite - above the likes of LeBron James and reigning back-to-back winner Stephen Curry.
| Player | Team | 8/15/16 | 10/18/16 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Russell Westbrook | Oklahoma City Thunder | 2/1 | 2/1 |
| Stephen Curry | Golden State Warriors | 4/1 | 9/2 |
| LeBron James | Cleveland Cavaliers | 5/1 | 9/2 |
| Kevin Durant | Golden State Warriors | 12/1 | 10/1 |
| Anthony Davis | New Orleans Pelicans | 16/1 | 10/1 |
| Kawhi Leonard | San Antonio Spurs | 16/1 | 10/1 |
| James Harden | Houston Rockets | 16/1 | 10/1 |
| Paul George | Indiana Pacers | 22/1 | 22/1 |
| Blake Griffin | Los Angeles Clippers | 28/1 | 33/1 |
| Damian Lillard | Portland Trail Blazers | 28/1 | 33/1 |
| Kyrie Irving | Clevleand Cavaliers | 33/1 | 33/1 |
| Karl-Anthony Towns | Minnesota Timberwolves | 50/1 | 33/1 |
| Chris Paul | Los Angeles Clippers | 33/1 | 33/1 |
| Carmelo Anthony | New York Knicks | 33/1 | 33/1 |
| DeMarcus Cousins | Sacramento Kings | 33/1 | 40/1 |
| Giannis Antetokounmpo | Milwaukee Bucks | 33/1 | 40/1 |
| Draymond Green | Golden State Warriors | 50/1 | 60/1 |
| John Wall | Washington Wizards | 50/1 | 60/1 |
(courtesy: Bovada.lv)
Westbrook averaged 23.5 points, 10.4 assists, and 7.8 rebounds on 45.4 percent shooting in 80 appearances last season. He also led the NBA in triple-doubles with 18, tying Los Angeles Lakers great Magic Johnson for the most in a single season over the past 40 years.
Oklahoma City won 55 games with Durant and Westbrook at the forefront last season, but with the four-time scoring champion now in the Bay Area, that number is expected to drop. MVP winners tend to come from teams near the top of their respective conferences, so for Westbrook to stay in the conversation, he'll need to keep the Thunder in the thick of things out West.