NBA MVP Odds & Predictions 2026-27: Victor Wembanyama Favored Ahead of Opening Night

With Opening Night approaching Oct. 20, let's take a look at the 2026-27 NBA MVP odds.

I break down who is most likely to take home the award, who is the most undervalued in the market, and who has a realistic shot despite being priced at greater than +2000 odds.

NBA MVP odds 2026-27

See all of our experts' NBA picks based on the latest NBA odds.

NBA MVP best bet

Victor Wembanyama (+247 via Pinnacle)

Victor Wembanyama has been a transformative player.

The Spurs entered last season with +3300 odds (the ninth-shortest in the NBA) to win the championship and made it to the finals behind an MVP-caliber season from Wembanyama. In just his third season, he ranked first in Dunks & Threes' estimated plus-minus (+7.8), ahead of both three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic and the reigning back-to-back MVP, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

While the Spurs and Thunder are co-favorites in the NBA championship odds, Wembanyama's defensive impact (his +4 estimated defensive plus-minus ranked first in the NBA) and potential voter fatigue with Gilgeous-Alexander - no one has won three consecutive MVPs since Larry Bird in the '80s - will likely give the Spurs forward the edge at the end of the season.

Wembanyama to win MVP (+247 via Pinnacle) is the best line available among the top NBA betting sites.

NBA MVP value pick

Luka Doncic (+600 via BetMGM)

We're not getting the best line on Luka Doncic right now - he opened at +650 at DraftKings on July 21 - but there's still value to be had at this price.

Doncic has the second-shortest odds at Pinnacle at +459, ahead of both Gilgeous-Alexander and Jokic, while he has the fourth-shortest odds at BetMGM at +600, the best line available among the top sports betting sites. While Pinnacle isn't the source of truth it once was, its lines are still much closer to fair odds than BetMGM's.

Doncic ranked first in usage rate (36.5%) last season, and that was while playing alongside LeBron James, who ranks 10th all-time in career usage rate.

With James now in Philadelphia, Doncic is the clear No. 1 option in Los Angeles, which has 34 nationally televised games. With the Thunder and Nuggets scheduled for just 30 and 28 national TV games, respectively, the Lakers guard will have more opportunities in prime time to make his case over Gilgeous-Alexander and Jokic.

NBA MVP dark horse

Cade Cunningham (+2500 via FanDuel)

The market has soured on the Pistons this offseason, but I don't agree that they should be downgraded. They opened with the seventh-shortest NBA championship odds at +2500 (June 14 at DraftKings) and now own the 11th-shortest odds at +3300, which has lengthened Cade Cunningham's MVP odds.

Nothing has fundamentally changed with the Pistons, though. This is an overreaction to James signing with the 76ers, Kawhi Leonard being traded to the Raptors, and Giannis Antetokounmpo being traded to the Heat.

The Pistons were the No. 1 seed in the East last season after finishing with the best defensive rating in the conference (108.9), and I don't expect any of the blockbuster offseason moves to stop the Pistons from being the No. 1 defense in the East again.

Sixteen of the last 26 MVPs have finished with the best record in their conference, and since Cunningham will likely lead the Pistons in usage rate, points, and assists again, he has a legitimate shot at taking home the award. Cunningham to win MVP (+2500 via FanDuel) is the best line available among the top sports betting apps.

Live NBA MVP odds

Follow all of our NBA analysis and expert predictions this season.

NBA MVP opening odds

Odds via DraftKings, as of July 21.

NBA MVP recent betting history

Preseason odds via Covers' Sports Odds History.