The Suns have two of the top seven candidates to win the NBA MVP award next season, according to odds unveiled by FanDuel.
Devin Booker was the team’s best player in the postseason, but it’s Kevin Durant who opens with slightly better odds to claim the hardware.
Durant won the MVP in 2013-14 and even at age-34 the oddsmakers expect another great season from him. Durant’s odds are listed at +1300, which is sixth among candidates.
Booker comes in right after him at +1600 odds, tied with Stephen Curry for seventh. Booker reached another level in the playoffs and proved that the addition of Durant would not hamper his game at all.
They are the only pair of teammates listed in the top-10 to win MVP, according to FanDuel on June 16th. Here is a look at those candidates:
- Nikola Jokic +440
- Giannis Antetokounmpo +500
- Luka Doncic +700
- Joel Embiid +700
- Jayson Tatum +850
- Kevin Durant +1300
- Devin Booker +1600
- Stephen Curry +1600
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander +2300
- Anthony Davis +2900
Donovan Mitchell, De’Aaron Fox and Damian Lillard are next on the list, and there are some interesting names as we begin to take a look at the longshots.
LeBron James is no longer in his heyday and is listed at +5000 odds to win MVP heading into his age-39 season. Interestingly, other sportsbooks think much higher of him, as DraftKings has James at +1900 and BetMGM has him listed at +2200.
So for those who think James has one last magical season in him, FanDuel definitely has the best value odds on an MVP wager.
Kawhi Leonard has been bogged down by injuries the past several years and can be had at +7500 odds, which is good value if he can actually manage to stay on the court for 70-plus games in 2023-24. However, the injury history makes that a questionable proposition.
Zion Williamson also has +7500 odds. Everyone knows about the pure talent, but he has yet to put it all together in the NBA, thus the longshot odds.
Mikal Bridges looked really good with the Brooklyn Nets after they acquired him in the Durant trade, and he has MVP odds of +21000.
Presumptive No. 1 overall pick Victor Wembanyama has +32000 odds, which are identical to Bradley Beal and superior to some players who have made All-Star teams in the past.
Here is a look at the entire list of MVP candidates beyond the top-10, according to FanDuel on June 16:
- Donovan Mitchell +3400
- DeAaron Fox +4000
- Damian Lillard +4300
- Jalen Brunson +4800
- Jimmy Butler +5000
- LeBron James +5000
- Domantis Sabonis +6000
- Zion Williamson +7500
- Kawhi Leonard +7500
- Kyrie Irving +9500
- Jaylen Brown +12000
- Paul George +12000
- Tyrese Haliburton +16000
- Pascal Siakam +19000
- Mikal Bridges +21000
- Julius Randle +21000
- Karl-Anthony Towns +21000
- Jamal Murray +21000
- Victor Wembanyama +32000
- Zach Lavine +50000
- Paolo Banchero +50000
- LaMelo Ball +50000
- DeMar DeRozan +50000
- Dejounte Murray +50000
- Bam Adebayo +50000
- Lauri Markannen +50000
- Jrue Holiday +50000
- Russell Wesbtrook +50000
- Brandon Ingram +50000
