In the dead of summer, any talk of the NBA is done with a lot of speculation in mind. So, why not speculate on who will walk away with next year’s hardware? With odds from bet365 Sportsbook, let’s take a look at some of the contenders for major individual awards in the 2023/24 NBA seasons, as well as some of the smartest wagers that you can make at this time.
Most Valuable Player (MVP)
| Player | Odds | Player | Odds | Player | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nikola Jokic (DEN) | +475 | Giannis Antetokounmpo (MIL) | +550 | Luka Doncic (DAL) | +600 |
| Joel Embiid (PHI) | +650 | Jayson Tatum (BOS) | +850 | Kevin Durant (PHX) | +1300 |
| Stephen Curry (GSW) | +1400 | Lebron James (LAL) | +2500 | Pascal Siakam (TOR) | +6000 |
It’s really hard to argue against Nikola Jokic at this point for next year’s MVP award. There are many that believe he should have won his third consecutive NBA MVP in 2023, though the narrative is that Embiid was picked simply because voters have tired of voting for Jokic. Voter fatigue, for better or worse, is a real thing in modern pro sports.
If you want a value play, keep your eyes on Luka Doncic. With more time to build chemistry with Kyrie Irving, not to mention the fire of wanting to rebound from missing the playoffs, this could be the year Doncic captures the crown. He has all the tools to dominate on any given night and this could finally be the MVP season most have been expecting.
Doesn’t quite fit: Kevin Durant is one of the best players in the league, how could he not be considered? The last few years have been a battle for KD, without a doubt one of the game’s great superstars. Injuries and a strong supporting cast in Phoenix are the two biggest factors holding him back from being a true contender for his second MVP award.
Nikola Jokic to win 23/24 NBA MVP
Defensive Player of the Year
| Player | Odds | Player | Odds | Player | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jaren Jackson Jr. (MEM) | +550 | Evan Mobley (CLE) | +700 | Giannis Antetokounmpo (MIL) | +800 |
| Bam Adebayo (MIA) | +1000 | Anthony Davis (LAL) | +1200 | Brook Lopez (MIL) | +1600 |
| Draymond Green (GSW) | +1600 | Joel Embiid (PHI) | +1800 | OG Anunoby (TOR) | +2500 |
Having won the award in 2023, Jaren Jackson Jr. is the clear favourite to capture the award once again this upcoming season. He has all the tools needed to be a premier defender in the league for a long time to come. The Memphis standout is just 23 years old and plays a key part in what the Grizzlies are doing moving forward, especially on the defensive side of the ball.
That said, Evan Mobley is the name to watch. He was very good in his second year, even getting a First-Team All-Defense nod in the process. He even led the NBA in defensive win shares with 4.8, truly illustrating his value to the Cavs. He is super long yet still quick enough to guard on the perimeter.
He has the size to be a dominant force on the defensive end for the Cavs. After a pair of solid seasons in Cleveland and the kind of elite defensive tools that few possess, it could be the 22-year-old Mobley’s time to become the youngest DPOTY in league history.
Doesn’t quite fit: With all due respect to Draymond Green, who has won the award and finished runner-up twice, it feels like he’s seen his best days. He will still be an important component for the Warriors going forward but there remain questions about whether he can be the dominant defender he has been until recently. A third-place finish in 2021 might be the highest he’ll get again.
Evan Mobley to win 23/24 NBA Defensive Player of the Year
Most Improved Player
| Player | Odds | Player | Odds | Player | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mikal Bridges (BRK) | +175 | Cade Cunningham (DET) | +600 | Auston Reaves (LAL) | +850 |
| Tyrese Maxey (PHI) | +1000 | Jordan Poole (WSH) | +1000 | Alperen Sengun (HOU) | +1400 |
| Evan Mobley (CLE) | +1400 | Josh Giddey (OKC) | +1600 | Scottie Barnes (TOR) | +2000 |
While some players come into the NBA and take it by storm, it is a journey for others. This award is there to recognize those players who have made the biggest leaps and bounds in their game over the course of a season and is typically a precursor for bigger things.
Mikal Bridges had a strong case for the award last year after being dealt in the blockbuster trade that sent Kevin Durant to the Suns. In 27 games with the Nets, he averaged more than 26 points per game, and he could become even bigger in 2023-24.
Doesn’t quite fit: Jordan Poole got dealt to the Wizards during the offseason and many feel that he could be poised for a big year with more opportunity. He is going to be the guy in Washington, though they project to be one of the worst teams in the year. Poole could see his stat-line rise, but it remains to be seen if he can make “the leap” into true stardom.
Mikal Bridges to win 23/24 NBA Most Improved Player
Rookie of the Year
| Player | Odds | Player | Odds | Player | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Victor Wembanyama (SAS) | -160 | Scoot Henderson (POR) | +350 | Chet Holmgren (OKC) | +400 |
| Brandon Miller (CHA) | +1600 | Sasha Vezenkov (SAC) | +2000 | Amen Thompson (HOU) | +2500 |
| Cam Whitmore (HOU) | +2500 | Ausar Thompson (DET) | +3300 | Gradey Dick (TOR) | +4000 |
How can you talk about 2023-24 rookies any other way than by mentioning the first overall pick? The hype is through the roof for Victor Wembanyama, who some have called a better draft prospect than LeBron James. With lofty expectations like that, it is hard to go with anyone else as favourite for Rookie of the Year.
Don’t sleep on Scoot Henderson, however. With Damian Lillard likely on his way out of Portland, it will be Scoot’s show and he has the kind of rare explosiveness that can make him impossible to guard. Though there will be growing pains on a bad team in year one, Henderson could emerge as a superstar by year’s end.
Doesn’t quite fit: It is easy to understand why Chet Holmgren is third on the list of odds for Rookie of the Year. That said, he missed the entire 2022-23 season with a foot injury and big men traditionally have a tough time with leg and foot injuries. He has the kind of skill set that could really help him stand out but there is a nagging feeling that he may not be on the court enough to snag him the ROTY win.
Victor Wembanyama to win 23/24 NBA Rookie of the Year
Coach of the Year
| Player | Odds | Player | Odds | Player | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Erik Spoelstra (MIA) | +500 | Nick Nurse (PHI) | +600 | Michael Malone (DEN) | +600 |
| Joe Mazzulla (BOS) | +650 | Mark Daigneault (OKC) | +750 | Adrian Griffin (MIL) | +1200 |
| Frank Vogel (LAL) | +2500 | Gregg Popovich (SAS) | +2000 | Darko Rajakovic (TOR) | +5000 |
The best coaches are the ones that make the most of a less-than-ideal situation. During the 2022-23 season, there were several times in which the Miami Heat looked like they would flail and fall apart. Yet when the NBA Finals came around, there they were, competing for the franchise’s fourth NBA Championship.
With that in mind, Erik Spoelstra enters as the favourite for NBA Coach of the Year heading into 2023-24. What is even more incredible is that he hasn’t ever won the award, even with three titles and a season like the one he had a year ago. This may help him as he has quite an impressive resume.
Michael Malone might seem like an easy pick as well, especially coming off of the franchise’s first title in Denver. But with Jokic at the helm and one of the best rosters in the NBA, it might be hard to convince voters that it was more about Malone’s performance as a coach than a stacked roster that ran the table in the 2023 NBA Playoffs.
Doesn’t quite fit: Jamahl Mosley (+2200) and the Orlando Magic are certainly a topic for debate. They showed growth in the second half of the year and became a tough play for even the best in the East. But this is a young roster on a team that has been bad for as long as most can remember. With all due respect to Mosley, it would take miracle work to get the Magic to a high enough seed to earn him COTY recognition.
