Strong week has Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo back in MVP race

Nikola Jokic remains the consensus odds-on favorite to win the regular-season MVP award at sportsbooks, but a big week from Giannis Antetokounmpo has put the Milwaukee Bucks big man back in the mix.

Antetokounmpo’s MVP odds have improved from 12-1 to 5-1 this week, making him the third choice behind Jokic (-200) and Joel Embiid (+200) at Caesars Sportsbook. No other player has MVP odds better than 60-1 (Phoenix guard Devin Booker) at Caesars Sportsbook.

At 12-1 entering the week, Antetokounmpo’s MVP odds were as long as they’ve been all season. That would change after back-to-back big performances against the Philadelphia 76ers and Brooklyn Nets. He scored 44 points, including a late 3-pointer to force overtime, and grabbed 14 rebounds in the Bucks’ 120-119 win over the Nets on Thursday. He had 40 points and 14 rebounds in a win over the 76ers on Tuesday.

A spokesperson for Caesars Sportsbook said while Antetokounmpo has attracted the second-most MVP bets behind Booker and the second-most money wagered behind Jokic over the last seven days, the odds movement from 12-1 to 5-1 was caused primarily by performance rather than any increase in betting interest.

Antetokounmpo and LeBron James are each averaging a league-best 30.1 points per game, with Embiid at 30.0 points per game. Jokic, who won last season’s MVP, is ninth in the league in scoring at 26.5 points per game but also is second in rebounds and leads all big men with eight assists per game.

Antetokounmpo won MVP in 2019 and 2029. Embiid has yet to win the award.

Entering April, and with two weeks until the playoffs begin, Cleveland Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley is the favorite for rookie of the year at -250 at Caesars Sportsbook. Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart is the favorite to win defensive player of the year at +110, and Memphis guard Ja Morant is the favorite for most improved player at -550.