Who To Bet On For NBA Awards At The Season’s End

• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic are the only two players listed with odds to win the MVP
• Kenny Atkinson is favored to win Coach of the Year, not far ahead of JB Bickerstaff
• Draymond Green is the favorite to win Defensive Player of the Year and Dyson Daniels has long odds despite leading league in steals

NEW YORK – With the NBA season winding down to its end, there is some more clarity when it comes to potential award winners. The MVP race has been a topic of intense discussion throughout the season, but who are the leaders in the clubhouse for other awards?

NBA MVP Odds

• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (OKC) -5000
• Nikola Jokic (DEN) +1000

All season long, there has been debate between SGA and Jokic winning the MVP, so much so that no other player is listed with MVP odds on Bovada. However, it appears that Gilgeous-Alexander has all but locked up the award.

SGA has averaged the most points per game in the league, posting averages of 32.6 points, 6.4 assists, and 5 rebounds per game while leading the Thunder to a league-best 64-14 record.

Jokic’s numbers are arguably more gaudy, as he has averaged 30 points, 10.2 assists, and 12.8 rebounds per game while shooting 57.7% from the field and 41.5% from deep. However, the Nuggets are 47-32, which places them at fourth in the West, but only half a game ahead of the eighth seed.

The Nuggets have just three games remaining and OKC has four, so both players have a few games to improve their case, but it is mostly cemented at this point.

Throwing some money on Jokic at legal sports betting sites could pay off big if he manages to shift the narrative down the stretch, especially if the Nuggets win out.

NBA Coach of the Year Odds

• Kenny Atkinson (CLE) -300
• JB Bickerstaff (DET) +250
• Mark Daigneault (OKC) +1600
• JJ Redick (LAL) +8000

Kenny Atkinson leads the way for Coach of the Year odds at -300 after leading the Cavs to a 62-16 record, likely good enough for the one seed in the East barring something drastic.

JB Bickerstaff finds himself with the second-best odds to win Coach of the Year. The Pistons already clinched a spot in the playoffs for the first time since 2019 after winning just 14 games the season prior. Bickerstaff has a legitimate chance to win the award.

J.B. Bickerstaff has been named the @NBA‘s Eastern Conference Coach of the Month for February

Way to work coach 👏 pic.twitter.com/oRtHMakFey

— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) March 3, 2025

Mark Daigneault won Coach of the Year last season and led the Thunder to an even better record this season. However, voter fatigue likely will prevent Daigneault from repeating. Only one coach has ever won back-to-back Coach of the Year awards (Don Nelson, 1997-1998).

It ultimately comes down to Atkinson and Bickerstaff, depending on how voters see it. Bickerstaff gives a better payout, but Atkinson is likely the bet if players are looking to throw together a parlay.

NBA Defensive Player of the Year Odds

• Draymond Green (GSW) -400
• Evan Mobley (CLE) +450
• Luguentz Dort (OKC) +650
• Dyson Daniels (ATL) +3500

Draymond Green currently sits at the shortest odds to win the award, averaging 1 block and 1.4 steals per game. He won the award in the 2016-17 season and was named Defensive Player of the Month for March.

Evan Mobley has averaged 1.6 blocks and 0.8 steals per game throughout the season, being one of the better rim protectors in the league. His averages may take a slight hit playing alongside Jarrett Allen.

Dort has been a staple for OKC’s defense for a few years now. Dort has averaged 1.1 steals per game and 0.6 blocks.

Dyson Daniels leads the league in steals, with 3 per game. The next closest is Nikola Jokic at 1.8. If you are planning on betting on the DPOY, roll with Daniels at legal NBA betting sites for the potential of a big time pay day.

News tags: Atlanta Hawks | Cleveland Cavaliers | Denver Nuggets | Detroit Pistons | Draymond Green | Dyson Daniels | Evan Mobley | Golden State Warriors | Jarrett Allen | JB Bickerstaff | JJ Redick | Kenny Atkinson | Los Angeles Lakers | Luguentz Dort | Mark Daigneault | NBA | Nikola Jokic | Oklahoma City Thunder | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander