NBA Future Bets
The 2026 NBA MVP Futures market is officially open — and it’s as stacked as ever. With three-time winner Nikola Jokic opening as the favorite and reigning champ Shai Gilgeous-Alexander right behind him, oddsmakers are expecting a tight race at the top. In fact, this might be the deepest MVP field we’ve seen in years.
That said, fresh faces like Anthony Edwards and Victor Wembanyama are creeping up the board. Meanwhile, proven stars like Luka, Giannis, and even Curry still have enough shine to get voters’ attention.
How NBA MVP Voting Has Evolved
Back in the 1980s, MVPs were all about dominance and winning — think Larry Bird’s three-peat or Magic Johnson racking up trophies while leading the Showtime Lakers.
Then, in the ’90s, the narrative shifted toward cold-blooded killers like Michael Jordan and Hakeem Olajuwon, who won with a mix of stats, swagger, and rings.
Moving into the 2000s, voters leaned heavily on gaudy numbers — which opened the door for guys like Allen Iverson and Steve Nash to snag MVPs during seasons where efficiency took a backseat.
However, as analytics took hold, the tide shifted again. Voters started rewarding impact metrics, team record, and versatility. As a result, efficiency and advanced stats began carrying more weight in MVP debates.
That’s why we saw players like Steph Curry, Giannis, and Jokic rise to the top — they put up monster numbers and made their teams elite.
Past NBA MVP Winners (2015–2025)
Recent MVP races have shown us one thing: box scores aren’t enough. If you’re not leading a top seed or dominating the headlines, you’re an afterthought.
Here are the last 10 NBA MVPs:
- 2015–16: Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors)
- 2016–17: Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City Thunder)
- 2017–18: James Harden (Houston Rockets)
- 2018–19: Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks)
- 2019–20: Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks)
- 2020–21: Nikola Jokic (Denver Nuggets)
- 2021–22: Nikola Jokic (Denver Nuggets) (Expect him to remain a top target across all 2026 NBA MVP Futures boards heading into opening night this year!)
- 2022–23: Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers)
- 2023–24: Nikola Jokic (Denver Nuggets)
- 2024–25: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City Thunder)
The trend? International players have dominated — and team record often seals the deal. Moreover, team success appears to carry even more influence than individual highlight reels.
Case in point, among the next wave of contenders in the 2026 NBA MVP Futures race, I think Luka Doncic continues to carry massive upside.
2026 NBA MVP Futures Odds
- Nikola Jokic +200
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander +280
- Luka Doncic +700
- Giannis Antetokounmpo +1000
- Anthony Edwards +1500
- Victor Wembanyama +1500
- Jalen Brunson +3500
- Cade Cunningham +3500
- Donovan Mitchell +4500
- Kevin Durant +4500
- Paolo Banchero +5000
- Stephen Curry +7000
- Joel Embiid +10000
- Anthony Davis +10000
- Trae Young +10000
- Jaylen Brown +10000
- Kawhi Leonard +15000
- Devin Booker +15000
- LeBron James +15000
- Ja Morant +15000
- Tyrese Maxey +20000
- Evan Mobley +20000
- LaMelo Ball +20000
- Karl-Anthony Towns +30000
- Zion Williamson +30000
- Odds provided by MyBookie
2026 NBA MVP Futures
When it comes to the 2026 NBA MVP Futures market, one name remains front and center: Nikola Jokic.
Nikola Jokic 2025-26 NBA MVP Future Betting Odds
A win this season would give Jokic four MVPs in six years — placing him in rare company alongside Kareem, Jordan, Wilt, LeBron, and Bill Russell. That’s a Hall-of-Fame row of legends, and Jokic is carving his name right in beside them.
However, despite posting career-best numbers last season (29.6 points, 12.7 boards, 10.2 assists, 1.8 steals, and a blistering 41.7% from deep), he came up short in the voting. His 29 first-place votes weren’t enough to top Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s 71.
Still, Jokic became just the third player in league history — joining Oscar Robertson and Russell Westbrook — to average a triple-double across a full season.
If Denver’s roster depth continues to improve, there’s no reason to think Jokic won’t be in the thick of the 2026 NBA MVP Futures race again.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 2025-26 NBA MVP Future Betting Odds
SGA delivered one of the greatest all-around seasons in NBA history. He was the regular season MVP, NBA Finals MVP, scoring champ, and leader in 20-, 30-, 40-, and 50-point games. That’s a résumé most players would dream of for their entire careers — Shai did it in one season.
Even so, there are question marks. As more fans and analysts tuned into the playoffs, Shai’s foul-drawing antics became a flashpoint. The league may very well tweak how it officiates him this season — and that shift could cut into his output.
Oklahoma City enters the season as title favorites, which keeps Shai firmly in the mix. Yet, voter fatigue and officiating adjustments present real headwinds.
Luka Doncic 2025-26 NBA MVP Future Betting Odds
Doncic continues to put up MVP-caliber numbers year in and year out. But there’s a catch — his supporting cast isn’t quite there. The Lakers, surprisingly, are preserving cap space this season and may treat this as a bridge year, which leaves Luka carrying the load.
That could actually help his case statistically. Then again, without wins to back up the box scores, he’ll struggle to stay at the top of the 2026 NBA MVP Futures board.
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Giannis was electric again last season, finishing third in MVP voting. But it wasn’t particularly close. All the first- and second-place votes went to Shai and Jokic. A new team — should a trade occur — might give him a jolt.
If he lands somewhere that lets him dominate on both ends with renewed purpose, watch out. Will you bet on Giannis with your 2026 NBA MVP futures bet? If not, someone else in this stacked field is bound to emerge as a better value play.
Anthony Edwards
Edwards is a postseason killer, no doubt. The question is whether he can translate that edge to the regular season. He tied for seventh in MVP voting last year, and while the leap feels inevitable, voters need to see it over 82 games — not just in May and June.
Victor Wembanyama
Wemby’s talent is generational. If the Spurs take a big step forward — as many expect — he’ll get serious MVP buzz. Staying healthy will be essential.
Furthermore, if he elevates San Antonio into playoff contention, it might be impossible for voters to ignore the 21-year-old phenom.
Jalen Brunson
Brunson has transformed the Knicks into a serious playoff team, but the MVP recognition hasn’t followed. Two fifth-place votes and a fourth-place finish in the last three seasons show just how tough it is to crack the top tier.
Unless New York becomes a 60-win juggernaut, he’s more likely a fringe contender.
Cade Cunningham
Cunningham had a coming-out party last year, snagging one fourth-place vote and nine fifth-place votes — tying for seventh overall. While the growth is clear, Detroit would need to skyrocket up the standings for him to truly challenge for MVP.
Donovan Mitchell 2026 NBA MVP Futures – Longshot
Mitchell continues to deliver elite scoring and leadership. The issue is the Cavs’ roster — too many mouths to feed and not enough wins to vault him into true MVP territory. Although he’ll likely have stretches of dominance, the votes may not follow.
Kevin Durant 2026 NBA MVP Futures – Longshot
Durant joins the Rockets as a much-needed scoring threat. Still, his best work will likely come in the playoffs — not over the grind of the regular season. Additionally, load management and a crowded Western Conference could dim his MVP spotlight.
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NBA Tweet Of The Day
.@shaiglalex wants to be one of the best to ever do it. 🙌 pic.twitter.com/lrhQRYgMTj
— theScore (@theScore) September 16, 2021
Wrap Up & Longshot Watch
In terms of value, Brunson or Cunningham at +3500 aren’t bad darts — especially if their teams take a leap. Meanwhile, fading aging stars like LeBron (+15000) or Kawhi (+15000) makes sense unless they pull off a miracle narrative run.
Ultimately, betting the 2026 NBA MVP Futures market is about identifying the perfect combo of performance, record, and storyline — before the rest of the betting public catches on.
NBA Futures Betting
Betting 2026 NBA MVP futures is one of the most exciting long plays in the game. It lets you back your favorite player for a full-season sweat with juicy plus-money payouts.
For example, a $300 bet on a player at +1500 odds returns $4,800 — that’s $4,500 in profit with your original wager returned back to sender.
Some More Cappers Picks NBA Futures Blog Posts
- 2026 NBA Finals Future Betting Odds
- 2025 – 2026 Eastern Conference Futures
- 2025 – 2026 Western Conference Futures
- 2025 – 2026 NBA Win Total Betting Odds (Over/Unders)
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