National Basketball Association

2023 NBA MVP odds shift drastically, Joel Embiid huge favorite to win

Updated Apr. 5, 2023 1:49 p.m. ET

After dropping 52 points, 13 rebounds, six assists on 20-of-25 shooting from the field in a huge win against the Celtics, Joel Embiid's odds to win the NBA MVP award have shifted drastically all the way to -714 at FOX Bet.

The race has been quite a rollercoaster in 2023.

Starting the season, the odds were pretty even between the league's top players.

Once things heated up, Denver Nuggets' star, Nikola Jokic, had taken over as the favorite while leading his team to the league's best record.

Jokic was going for the three-peat, which hadn't been done since Larry Bird back in 1986.

In February, many thought he would run away with it. At the time, his odds had shifted to -278 to win, and he was the clear favorite.

However, along came the Philadelphia 76ers' superstar, Joel Embiid.

The Sixers went on an absolute tear in March, while Jokic and the Nuggets did the exact opposite.

The Nuggets lost four straight, and on March 16th, Embiid had all of a sudden taken over as the favorite at -110. Jokic remained close behind at +150, but with only 14 games left in the season, Nikola needed to get going.

Joel Embiid leads Jokić in final NBA MVP straw poll

Nick Wright, Chris Broussard and Kevin Wildes discuss the NBA MVP race featuring Philadelphia 76ers Joel Embiid and reigning 2x MVP Nikola Jokić

Embiid would remain a small favorite for the next couple of weeks until last night when he took over as the runaway favorite. Not only did Embiid have the historically dominating night, Jokic had one of his worst games of the season, posting eight turnovers as the Nuggets fell to the Houston Rockets in a game that could have clinched first place in the West.

If the two were close heading into Tuesday night, they aren't any longer, with Embiid now the huge favorite. The Joker is still in second, but his odds are currently as high as +850, leaving him with a very slim chance with only three games remaining.

ODDS TO WIN 2022-2023 NBA MVP AWARD*

Joel Embiid: -714 (bet $10 to win $11.40 total )
Nikola Jokic: +850 (bet $10 to win $95 total )
Giannis Antetokounmpo : +850 (bet $10 to win $95 total )
Jayson Tatum : +20000 (bet $10 to win $2,010 total )

*odds as of 4/5/2023

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