The fight for the MVP with the new NBA rule: Shai, Jokic, and company on the edge

The fight for the regular season NBA MVP has intensified in recent weeks, not only due to the performance of the top contenders, but also because of the impact of a new rule that could exclude several aspirants.

According to the current regulations, any player who misses more than 17 games in the regular season is automatically disqualified from individual awards, including the MVP. This condition directly puts the two top favorites in the betting world at risk: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic.

Gilgeous-Alexander continues to be the main favorite in the betting houses. The Oklahoma City Thunder guard is listed at -125 odds on DraftKings, while Jokic, the Denver Nuggets star, appears with odds of +310.

However, both are on the edge. Gilgeous-Alexander was ruled out for Wednesday's game against the Detroit Pistons due to an abdominal strain that has kept him sidelined since February 3. It will mark his eleventh missed game this season, and in order to contend for the award for the second consecutive year, he must play at least 16 of the remaining 22 games.

Jokic, on the other hand, has already accumulated 16 absences. If he misses two more games, he will automatically be out of the MVP race.

Cunningham Gains Ground in Betting

The uncertainty surrounding the two favorites has sparked interest in other contenders, especially in Cade Cunningham, the Pistons' guard. Over the past week, Cunningham has received more MVP bets on DraftKings than all other players combined. His odds have shifted from 14-1 to 9-2, solidifying him as the third option.

At BetMGM, Cunningham has received the most MVP bets throughout the season. Additionally, market movements have also impacted Jaylen Brown of the Boston Celtics, whose odds have notably varied in recent days.

Wembanyama, Also under Pressure

Another significant name in the race is Victor Wembanyama, center for the San Antonio Spurs, who is listed at 20-1 odds. The French player has met the minimum requirement so far but has already missed 13 games (14 in total, although one counts as played for the NBA Cup), putting him close to the regulatory limit as well.

Regarding the volume of bets on DraftKings during the season, Wembanyama leads the list as the player with the most tickets registered in the MVP market.

Other Contenders and Overall Landscape

Following the top names, there are options like Luka Doncic (50-1), along with recent movements favoring Donovan Mitchell of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Anthony Edwards of the Minnesota Timberwolves.

A recent survey conducted by ESPN with 100 media members indicated that Gilgeous-Alexander would be the clear MVP choice if he meets the games-played requirement.

With several weeks still ahead in the regular season, the race for the award will not only depend on individual performance, but also on the physical availability of the contenders and their capacity to stay within the new threshold set by the league.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, La lucha por el MVP con la nueva norma NBA: Shai, Jokic y compañía al límite