2020/21 NBA MVP dark horses. Luka Doncic (+750) was favorite to win MVP some weeks ago, however since then, the 21-year-old's odds have increased, something that could be down to the Mavericks' form. It’s a stretch for Harden to win MVP, especially with the greatness of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving surrounding him, but the Nets are 11-1 against teams over.500. With Harden firing on all.

The 2020-2021 NBA season is in full swing! With all teams hovering around the 10-game mark, let's check the pulse of the MVP market. Odds are courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook on Monday, January 11.

It's still too early to make sweeping conclusions about the season. However, there is something to be said for the fact that many teams are easing into this one given the abbreviated training camp, unique schedule, and quick turnaround from last year.

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Joel Embiid is off to a hot start, averaging 24.6 points, 11.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.8 blocks in just 32.3 minutes per game through eight games for the 76ers, whom are 7-3 atop the Eastern Conference.

The 26-year-old is now 10-1 to win the NBA MVP per DraftKings, as only Luka Doncic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Kevin Durant have shorter MVP odds.

In the Western Conference there were four-and-a-half games separating the No. 1 seed (Lakers) and the No. 15 seed (Grizzlies) on Monday.

I find there have been some curious shifts in odds after the first few weeks of play, especially when considering that some teams are still playing themselves into shape. With some slow starts based on expectations, there is value to be had in the MVP market. Here are a few that stick out at their current number.

Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets (+1200)

Denver had a deep run in the bubble, losing in the Western Conference Finals to the Lakers, and some considered the Nuggets as a possible regression candidate.

Well, there has been no hangover for Denver's best player, Nikola Jokic.

It's a 10-game sample, but the Joker is averaging a triple double for the year and sniffing the league lead in assists. He is averaging 24.4 points, 11.2 rebounds, and 10.4 assists, less than one behind James Harden for the league lead in dimes.

Denver is 5-5, but the Nuggets have proven that they are a contender in the West following last season's playoff performance. I expect wins to start flowing in and the Jokic MVP narrative to grow. A big like Jokic taking home the assist title would definitely warrant some serious consideration for MVP.

As teams still look to find its footing this season, betting Jokic is a smart way to buy low on the Nuggets to climb towards the top of the Western Conference standings.

LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers (+1200)

There was a lot of speculation around how James would approach this season. After capturing his fourth title in the bubble last October, many expected the Lakers to take it slow with an abridged offseason.

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That doesn't appear to be the case. James has played in all 11 games for L.A. this season and while his numbers are not as gaudy, they are still fantastic. James is averaging 24 points, over eight rebounds, and seven assists while leading the Lakers to the best record in the league.

With some sloppy play across the NBA early on, the Lakers continuity and apparent motivation could see them go wire-to-wire with the best record in the league.

There is always going to be a narrative around James suffering from voter fatigue, but he has not taken home the award since 2013. This could be the year voters pay their respects to LeBron and give him the nod if no one pulls away with it.

LeBron was +700 preseason to win the award, and I can't follow why he has dropped considerably after a great start.

Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors (+1400)

Curry's number has moved again after dipping from his preseason number of +1000.

Since getting Draymond Green back in the lineup, the Warriors have been able to unlock Curry much more easily. Curry gets a championship winning veteran to help make plays alongside a young and reckless supporting cast that held the Warriors back early on.

I'm highlighting Green, but Curry has begun to remind people why he is in fact the two-time MVP. He went for 62 two Sundays ago in a win over the Blazers, and dropped 38 in a come from behind victory over the Clippers last Friday.

Steph's path to his third MVP would be the Russell Westbrook case from a few years ago, carrying an under qualified team to the postseason with gaudy stats and numerous highlights.

A playoff berth and another handful of scoring barrages like the aforementioned two will put Curry firmly in the mix for his third MVP. He has value right now at +1400.

Just two days after winning his fourth NBA title while declaring, “I want my respect,” LeBron James was listed as the seventh most likely winner of next season’s MVP award.

The race to be first with MVP odds was won by PointsBet, which has back-to-back MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo the favorite at +350. Giannis is followed by Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks +450, Steph Curry of the Golden State Warriors (+600), Anthony Davis of the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers (+700) and James Harden of the Houston Rockets (+700).

Kawhi Leonard of the Los Angeles Clippers has the same odds as LeBron at +900.

No player has won three consecutive MVP awards since Larry Bird from 1984-86, so Antetokounmpo would be in rare company if he was to win it next season for a Bucks team that underperformed in the playoffs and could trade Eric Bledsoe and/or Khris Middleton.

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No love for LeBron

James has won the award four times, most recently in 2012-13 when he was a member of the Miami Heat. He was the only player aside from Antetokounmpo to receive first place votes in the most recent balloting, and anyone who watched the NBA Finals gained a greater appreciation for just how great this freak of nature is. The Lakers will retain their core for next season, so James will be back with virtually the same team that just brought Los Angeles a championship for the first time in a decade.

So the placement of him as the seventh choice is curious.

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“For James, part of the problem is his success in the playoffs, and what he wants to do is make the playoffs and turn it up from there, whereas Davis should be more motivated to produce in the regular season and put up better numbers,” said Andrew Mannino, Director of Risk Management at PointsBet. “It’s not that we don’t think he has a shot at it. He clearly does. But when you look at guys like Giannis, Curry and Luka, they are in a spot to stand out more and accumulate numbers, and those monster stat lines will put them in a stronger position with voters.”

Beasts of the East

Kevin Durant of the Brooklyn Nets is one spot below James/Leonard at +1200, and when he returns it will be the first time he has played since tearing his Achilles tendon during the 2019 NBA Finals. Durant and Kyrie Irving (on the board at +5000) are part of a Nets team that is favored by some sites in the legalized US sports gambling market to win the Eastern Conference.

Still, nobody yet knows when exactly the next NBA season will begin, and what changes might come to different teams through trades and free agency. The players on PointBet’s list include two members of the Philadelphia 76ers: Joel Embiid (+2000) and Ben Simmons (+10000), who could be traded if 76ers ownership believes it is time for the franchise to move forward without them paired together under incoming coach Doc Rivers.

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“We have to book the lines with where they are now,” Mannino said. “Trades are speculation, and the lines on Embiid and Simmons are a reflection of what we think will be a stronger Eastern Conference, especially with a resurgent Brooklyn team. It gives them a taller ladder to climb.”

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Longshots

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The only other former MVP on the board that was not mentioned above is Russell Westbrook of the Houston Rockets at +10000. Still to be determined is who will be the coach in Houston after Mike D’Antoni‘s contract expired. Tyronn Lue and Jeff Van Gundy are the leading contenders, ESPN reported today.

Other players on the board with uncertain futures with their current teams include Chris Paul of the Oklahoma City Thunder at +15000 and Kyle Lowry of the Toronto Raptors at +25000 – the same odds as incoming rookie LaMelo Ball – who has not even been drafted yet.

“[Ball] is an outsider for sure, but the opportunity is there for him because of the talent and because of the name. He resonates with people,” Mannino said.

Other players with long odds include Jamal Murray of the Denver Nuggets at +8000, Zion Williamson of the Pelicans at +10000 and Paul George of the Los Angeles Clippers at +10000. Jimmy Butler of the Miami Heat, who just put on a show in the NBA playoffs, is +6000.