NBA’s 2023-24 MVP odds released with a few interesting values

Sitting atop the release of the 2023-24 NBA Most Valuable Player odds are the names most would likely expect. 

Nikola Jokic holds the top spot as the overall favorite at +375, and the top five includes names like Luka Doncic (+500), Giannis Antetokounmpo (+550), Joel Embiid (+850) and Jayson Tatum (+900).

But after that point, things get a bit more interesting. The drop-off after Tatum goes to down to Kevin Durant at +1300 and only increases from there, and this is where a few of the primary value targets are going to jump out. 

Pinpointing MVP value picks is a tough task, especially since there are a number of things to factor in, specifically including how a player's team will do next season.

All that said, here's a look at a few names that stand out in that category, based on the odds from Caesars Sportsbook.

Stephen Curry +1400

If playing the hypothetical game and assuming the awkward tension surrounding the Golden State Warriors will now be removed thanks to the Jordan Poole trade, targeting Stephen Curry here makes a lot of sense. 

The fact that the Warriors even finished up with a  44-38 record and managed to knock off the primed-to-be-Cinderella Sacramento Kings with Draymond Green's punching looming over the locker room is nothing short of amazing.

If targeting a name just outside of the top group, you may regret looking past Curry's name.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (+1500), Trae Young (+2200), Donovan Mitchell (+2500)

These are all grouped together for one specific reason — the entirety of their hypothetical MVP case would largely be decided by how their respective teams do next year. 

If the Oklahoma City Thunder, Atlanta Hawks or Cleveland Cavaliers become the darlings of the NBA and finish near the top of their conference, it'll be largely thanks to these names.

These are absolutely long shots, and the chances of them getting it done would require an out-of-this-world season from any, with the exception of SGA, who appears on the path to stardom, and the Thunder are progressively improving.

De'Aaron Fox (+3500)

Last but not least is the player who fueled the belief in the Kings' turnaround. De'Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis were integral in Sacramento's success last year, and if they're going to build on that and continue taking major steps forward, one of those two will likely emerge as a legitimate breakout star. 

On the surface, Fox makes the best choice overall due to the flashes of legitimate star upside he showed last season.

It'll take the Kings improving even more next year and Fox doing the same, but why not light the beam and join in on the ride?