🏀 Jalen Brunson MVP Odds: Should You Back Knicks Star As Favorite After Game 1?

For the first time in decades, the New York Knicks are just three wins away from an NBA championship, and Jalen Brunson is the biggest reason why. After leading the Knicks to a 105-95 victory over the San Antonio Spurs in Game 1 of the NBA Finals, Brunson has surged to the top of the NBA Finals MVP odds as the +100 favorite.

With New York now holding home-court advantage and Brunson continuing to deliver in the biggest moments, is there still value on the Knicks superstar, or has the market already fully adjusted to his championship-winning potential?

📊 NBA Finals MVP odds after Game 1

Before the series, Wembanyama was a sizable favorite at roughly -170 to -185, while Brunson was available between +200 and +210. Following New York's Game 1 win, the market flipped dramatically in Brunson's favor with his +100 odds implying a 50% chance that he wins the award. Notably, that's shorter than the Knicks' -135 odds to win the series.

📈 Are we betting Jalen Brunson to win Finals MVP at +100?

Brunson at +100 to win NBA Finals MVP is one of the most attractive bets on the board following the Knicks' Game 1 victory over the Spurs. New York now holds a 1-0 series lead, and Brunson remains the clear face of the franchise and engine of the offense.

More importantly, this wager is essentially a bet on the Knicks winning the championship, but potentially at a better price than the team title market itself. I am taking advantage of this and betting Brunson to win MVP, as the gap between his MVP odds (+100) and the Knicks' series price (-135) is too big to ignore.

When voters hand out the Finals MVP trophy, they almost always award it to the best player on the winning team. Brunson has been that player throughout New York's playoff run. He controls the offense, leads the team in scoring, and consistently delivers in clutch moments - just like he did down the stretch of the Knicks' Game 1 win.

Brunson is averaging 9.8 points in the fourth quarter, and his late-game heroics are proving why he's becoming this generation's most clutch scorer. Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby, and the rest of the supporting cast are important pieces, but Brunson is the player receiving the spotlight and carrying the offensive burden.

Unless another Knick dramatically outperforms him over the remainder of the series, Brunson would be the overwhelming favorite to claim Finals MVP in a Knicks championship scenario. That's what makes this market appealing: rather than laying a shorter price on New York to win the NBA Finals, bettors can back Brunson at plus money and gain exposure to essentially the same outcome.

If you believe the Knicks will capitalize on their 1-0 lead and finish the job (as I do), Brunson at +100 offers a strong combination of value, narrative support, and championship equity heading into Game 2.

🔢 Jalen Brunson playoff stats

Brunson is currently a top-three playoff scorer in total points and sits firmly in the elite tier of postseason guards, both in volume and efficiency. His combination of scoring (27+ PPG) and playmaking (nearly 7 APG) places him in the same production tier as the very best players in the 2026 playoffs, making him a legitimate Finals MVP frontrunner if the Knicks win the title. He has the numbers warranted to win this award based of the duration of his 2026 playoff statistics, and what he is projected to do in the rest of the NBA Finals.

🏆 Past NBA Finals MVP winners

Here's a look at the last 10 NBA Finals MVP winners with their pre-series odds:

❓ NBA Finals MVP FAQ

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

Who is favored to win the 2026 NBA Finals MVP?

Jalen Brunson is the favorite to win the 2026 NBA Finals MVP with +100 odds, which imply a 50% chance that he'll win the award.

Has a player ever won NBA Finals MVP on the losing team?

Jerry West won the 1969 NBA Finals MVP even though his Los Angeles Lakers lost to the Boston Celtics in seven games. West averaged 37.9 points per game in the series and remains the only player on the losing team to win NBA Finals MVP honors.

Who votes for the NBA Finals MVP?

The award is decided by an 11-member panel of media members, who cast their votes after the final game of the series.

Who won NBA Finals MVP last year?

Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander won the 2025 NBA Finals MVP, averaging 30.3 points and 5.6 assists in a seven-game series win over the Indiana Pacers.

What is the NBA Finals MVP trophy called?

The award is officially the Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award, named for the 11-time champion and Celtics legend. He never won Finals MVP in his career, as the award was introduced in his final season (1969) and awarded to Jerry West.