2019 NBA Awards betting guide
The 2019 NBA Awards Show kicks off Monday evening to officially tie the bow on the 2018-19 season. With plenty of hardware to be handed out, here's our guide for the awards bettors can wager on.
MVP
| Player | Odds |
|---|---|
| Giannis Antetokounmpo | 1-10 |
| James Harden | 9-2 |
| Paul George | 50-1 |
Antetokounmpo and last year's winner, Harden, were neck and neck down the final lap of the season before the former ultimately pulled away. Harden certainly had his moments in 2018-19, notably an 11-game stretch with at least 35 points. But Antetokounmpo was the backbone of the league's best team during the regular season, averaging 27.7 points and 12.5 rebounds per game while posting a defensive rating of 99.4.
Rookie of the Year
| Player | Odds |
|---|---|
| Luka Doncic | 1-35 |
| Trae Young | 15-2 |
| Deandre Ayton | 100-1 |
There were concerns entering the 2018 NBA Draft of how Doncic's game would translate to the Association. The Rookie of the Year favorite put the league on notice this past season, consistently delivering with clutch performances. Overall, Doncic averaged 21.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, and six assists per game in Year 1.
Sixth Man of the Year
| Player | Odds |
|---|---|
| Lou Williams | 1-50 |
| Domantas Sabonis | 14-1 |
| Montrezl Harrell | 16-1 |
The Clippers have two contenders for Sixth Man of the Year. Sweet Lou Will is the runaway favorite, so you'd have to pay a pretty penny. Harrell, the former second-round pick, carved out a big-time role for L.A. this past year, playing in all 82 games during the regular season while averaging career highs in virtually every offensive category.
Defensive Player of the Year
| Player | Odds |
|---|---|
| Rudy Gobert | 2-7 |
| Giannis Antetokounmpo | 7-2 |
| Paul George | 10-1 |
This is the closest race in terms of the odds, although Gobert still leads the pack quite comfortably. The Utah Jazz center, who took home last year's award, finished second in the league in defensive win shares, fourth in both rebounds per game and overall defensive efficiency, and tied for first in defensive box plus/minus.
Most Improved Player
| Player | Odds |
|---|---|
| Pascal Siakam | 1-20 |
| D'Angelo Russell | 7-1 |
| De'Aaron Fox | 20-1 |
The Toronto Raptors handed Siakam an immediate starting role as a rookie in 2016-17 and the early return was a cause for skepticism. The former WAC Player of the Year at New Mexico put up just 4.2 points and 3.8 rebounds over 15.6 minutes per game. Two years later, Siakam had his coming-out party, averaging 16.9 points and 6.9 boards for the eventual champions.
Coach of the Year
| Coach | Odds |
|---|---|
| Mike Budenholzer | 1-16 |
| Doc Rivers | 10-1 |
| Mike Malone | 14-1 |
Budenholzer is in line to net his second Coach of the Year honors, his first coming in 2015 after leading the Hawks to a franchise-best 60 wins. Budenholzer bagged another 60 victories during his first year with the Milwaukee Bucks this past season, which led the entire NBA.
Alex Kolodziej is theScore's betting writer. He's a graduate of Eastern Illinois who has been involved in the sports betting industry for 11 years. He can quote every line from "Rounders" and appreciates franchises that regularly wear alternate jerseys. Find him on Twitter @AlexKoIodziej.