NBA awards betting: Bettors love Joel Embiid for MVP, Mikal Bridges for DPOY

More and more bettors are backing Joel Embiid for NBA Most Valuable Player.

The Philadelphia 76ers star is the betting favorite for MVP at BetMGM. Embiid is now listed at +125, ahead of two former MVPs — Denver Nuggets big man Nikola Jokic (+275) and Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (+375).

Compared to Jokic, Antetokounmpo and others, Embiid has received the most bets and money for MVP so far this season. According to BetMGM, Embiid has received 20.3% of the bets and 25.3% of the money.

Embiid is averaging 29.6 points, 11.2 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game while shooting 49.5% from the field and 36.9% from 3-point range for the Sixers, who are currently 35-23 and in third place in the Eastern Conference at the all-star break. Embiid’s play has set the stage for the stretch run for Philadelphia, which will soon add James Harden to the mix following a trade with the Brooklyn Nets.

The presence of Harden should be a big boost for a Philadelphia team short on lead guards, but could he detract from Embiid’s MVP chances? That’s something to keep in mind for bettors moving forward.

Who else do bettors like for NBA MVP?

Behind Embiid, Jokic has received the second-most bets (14.3%) and third-most money (12.0%) at BetMGM. Steph Curry, who is currently listed at +1100, has received 14.0% of the bets and 19.3% of the money, trailing only Embiid.

Other players who have received a noteworthy level of action for MVP include Ja Morant (+1400), DeMar DeRozan (+2200), Antetokounmpo (+375), Devin Booker (+2200) and Kevin Durant (+6600).

Morant, who opened the year at +5000 and is now up to +1400, has received 8.5% of the bets and 5.4% of the money. DeRozan has received 7.6% of the bets and 5.0% of the money. Antetokounmpo has received 7.2% of the bets and 9.9% of the money. Booker has received 6.6% of the bets and 3.8% of the money. Durant has received 4.3% of the bets and 7.4% of the money.

Updated NBA MVP odds:

• Joel Embiid: +125

• Nikola Jokic: +275

• Giannis Antetokounmpo: +375

• Steph Curry: +1100

• Ja Morant: +1400

• Devin Booker: +2200

• DeMar DeRozan: +2200

• Luka Doncic: +4000

• Kevin Durant: +6600

• LeBron James: +15000

• Jimmy Butler: +20000

• James Harden: +25000

• Donovan Mitchell: +25000

• Trae Young: +50000

Bettors love Mikal Bridges for Defensive Player of the Year

Phoenix Suns wing Mikal Bridges has the fifth-best odds to win Defensive Player of the Year, but he’s a player that bettors have flocked toward.

According to BetMGM, Bridges, who has +1600 odds, has received 25.1% of the bets so far this season. That’s well ahead of both Antetokounmpo (+450) and Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert, the current betting favorite at +175.

Gobert, who has won the award three times, has received 24.6% of the money, more than any other player. Gobert’s ticket count, though, is 11.6%. That trails Bridges and Antetokounmpo, who is at 14.1%. Antetokounmpo has received 22.5% of the money, the second-most.

Draymond Green (+200) has received the fourth-most bets (9.1%) and money (11.6). Jaren Jackson (+700) is fifth with 8.8% of the bets and 7.5% of the money.

Here are the updated DPOY odds:

• Rudy Gobert: +175

• Draymond Green: +200

• Giannis Antetokounmpo: +450

• Jaren Jackson: +700

• Mikal Bridges: +1600

• Joel Embiid: +1800

• Evan Mobley: +3000

• Robert Williams: +4000

• Matisse Thybulle: +5000

• Jarrett Allen: +5000

• Bam Adebayo: +8000

What about Rookie of the Year?

Cleveland Cavaliers big man Evan Mobley, now -350 at BetMGM, is the betting favorite for Rookie of the Year.

Mobley has received slightly more money, but Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham is the more popular bet on the whole. Cunningham (+900) has received 44.9% of the bets and 33.6% of the money while Mobley has received 13.4% of the bets but 33.7% of the money.

At +850, Oklahoma City Thunder guard Josh Giddey has slightly better odds than Cunningham. Giddey has received 8.7% of the bets and 5.2% of the money. Scottie Barnes is tied with Cunningham at +900 and has received 4.9% of the bets and 7.0% of the money.

Rookie of the Year odds:

• Evan Mobley: -350

• Josh Giddey: +850

• Cade Cunningham: +900

• Scottie Barnes: +900

• Franz Wagner: +2000

• Ayo Dosunmu: +6600

• Chris Duarte: +8000

• Jalen Green: +10000

Ja Morant dominating most improved player betting

Ja Morant has made a big leap from Year 2 to Year 3 and could be honored with the NBA’s Most Improved Player award. Morant, the betting favorite at -400, has received 15.3% of the bets and a whopping 49.2% of the money at BetMGM.

Other options include Miles Bridges (11.8% of bets, 9.4% of money), Desmond Bane (10.8% of bets, 4.6% of money), Darius Garland (8.0% of bets, 3.9% of money) and Dejounte Murray (6.6% of bets, 5.4% of money).

Most Improved Player odds:

• Ja Morant: -400

• Miles Bridges: +650

• Darius Garland: +1100

• Dejounte Murray: +1500

• Anfernee Simons: +3000

• Desmond Bane: +5000

• Jarrett Allen: +10000

Tyler Herro big favorite for Sixth Man of the Year

Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro is up to -1000 in the Sixth Man of the Year odds and the betting percentages reflect that. Herro has received 26.5% of the bets at BetMGM but a whopping 71.2% of the money.

Cleveland veteran Kevin Love is second in betting at 10.8% of the bets and 10.6% of the money.

Updated Sixth Man of the Year odds:

• Tyler Herro: -1000

• Kelly Oubre: +1400

• Kevin Love: +2500

• Montrezl Harrell: +5000

• Jordan Clarkson: +6600

• Buddy Hield: +6600

• Jalen Brunson: +10000

• Jordan Poole: +10000