The NBA season tipped off exactly two weeks ago. With no games on Tuesday, it's the perfect time to check out the updated odds for four major awards: MVP, Rookie of the Year, Sixth Man of the Year, and Most Improved Player.
While most teams have only played six or seven games, there's been some slight and some drastic movement on the oddsboard. Let's check out where things stand in early November.
MVP favorites
| Top 5 favorites before season (odds) | Top 5 favorites as of 11/7 (odds) |
|---|---|
| Nikola Jokic (+425) | Nikola Jokic (+300) |
| Luka Doncic (+500) | Luka Doncic (+375) |
| Giannis Antetokounmpo (+550) | Jayson Tatum (+750) |
| Jayson Tatum (+750) | Joel Embiid (+800) |
| Joel Embiid (+750) | Steph Curry (+1100) |
Two-time MVP and reigning runner-up Nikola Jokic remains the favorite, but Luka Doncic's stellar start to the season narrowed the gap.
Doncic's averaging a near triple-double with 31.6 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 8.9 assists. His numbers have been otherworldly, and unlike last season, he's carrying the Mavericks to wins.
Dallas is 6-1 and second in the Western Conference. It's early, but the knock against Doncic's candidacy in the past has been his team's lack of success. If the Mavericks continue winning and their top-five offensive rating doesn't take a hit, Doncic may finally capture the elusive award.
Joel Embiid is also quietly putting together another MVP campaign. He's averaging 32.5 points per game - tied for the best mark in the league - and his team is tied for first in the Eastern Conference.
Rookie of the Year favorites
| Top 5 favorites before season (odds) | Top 5 favorites as of 11/7 (odds) |
|---|---|
| Victor Wembanyama (+105) | Victor Wembanyama (-400) |
| Scoot Henderson (+300) | Chet Holmgren (+400) |
| Chet Holmgren (+300) | Ausar Thompson (+4000) |
| Brandon Miller (+1400) | Brandon Miller (+5000) |
| Amen Thompson (+3500) | Keyonte George (+5000) |
The fact Victor Wembanyama was ever plus-money to win this award seems ludicrous. Maybe oddsmakers were skeptical about his immediate impact or whether he would play the necessary 65 games.
Expectations surrounding Wembanyama were out of this galaxy before the season, but somehow, he's landed on the moon. There have certainly been growing pains - which are expected of any rookie - but his defensive impact and ability to tower over people on offense is nothing like anyone's ever seen in the NBA.
His odds shortened dramatically following his 38-point performance against the Suns.
Despite all the praise for the French teenager, Chet Holmgren has been just as impactful. If Wembanyama didn't enter the league with as much expectation as he did, and the national media didn't marvel at his every move, Holmgren could easily be the favorite.
Holmgren's averaging 17 points, eight rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game with a 72% true shooting percentage on a team that's ready to win now. Wembanyama's averaging 19.4 points, 8.4 boards, and 1.7 assists per game with a 57% true shooting percentage.
Under normal circumstances, this race would be a lot closer, but the astronomical hype around Wembanyama makes it his award to lose.
Sixth Man favorites
| Top 5 favorites before season (odds) | Top 5 favorites as of 11/7 (odds) |
|---|---|
| Immanuel Quickley (+800) | Immanuel Quickley (+650) |
| Norman Powell (+900) | Tim Hardaway Jr. (+650) |
| Malcolm Brogdon (+1000) | Chris Paul (+700) |
| Malik Monk (+1200) | Cam Thomas (+800) |
| Buddy Hield (+1300) | Malik Monk (+1200) |
Immanuel Quickley has been a consistent force off the bench for the Knicks this season, averaging 14.6 points and 3.3 assists in 23.6 minutes per game.
He can operate with Jalen Brunson on the floor and run the show with the second unit, which I wrote about when I picked him to win the award before the season.
Chris Paul's appearance here is interesting. Many outside observers wondered if he'd start or not when the Warriors shockingly acquired him. He's coming off Golden State's bench and has been a great addition without carrying his typical scoring load.
He's scoring 8.8 points per game and shooting 13.8% from three, on pace for career lows in both categories. However, he's dishing out 7.8 assists and initiating the offense effectively.
Most Improved Player favorites
| Top 5 favorites before season (odds) | Top 5 favorites as of 11/7 (odds) |
|---|---|
| Mikal Bridges (+1000) | Tyrese Maxey (+230) |
| Tyrese Maxey (+1000) | Scottie Barnes (+550) |
| Austin Reaves (+1300) | Cam Thomas (+1000) |
| Cade Cunningham (+1300) | Cade Cunningham (+1200) |
| Anfernee Simons (+1500) | Tyler Herro (+1800) |
Tyrese Maxey's emergence as a lethal scorer and much-improved playmaker for the Sixers led his odds to shorten significantly over the last two weeks.
He's recording 25.5 points and 7.3 assists per game while shooting 44.2% from deep. Philadelphia felt even more confident about shipping James Harden off when it realized Maxey could be a legitimate No. 2 option on a contending team.
Maxey's numbers dipped slightly over the last three games, but if he comes close to this level of production the rest of the season, he'll walk away with the Most Improved Player award and earn a huge payday next summer.
Sam Oshtry is a sports betting writer at theScore. You can follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @soshtry for more betting coverage.
