With the NBA season past the unofficial halfway point, the awards races are heating up, and BetMGM has provided key insights into the betting landscape for each major award. From MVP contenders to rising rookies and the league’s top bench performers, oddsmakers have identified clear favorites and major liabilities. Using analytics and performance trends, we break down each award race and how betting markets are shaping expectations.
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Regular Season MVP
Highest Ticket %: Nikola Jokic 16.2%
Highest Handle %: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 28.5%
Biggest Liability: Jayson Tatum
Odds Leader: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander -500
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (-500) Leading the Race
The MVP race has largely been a two-man battle between Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic (+320), but SGA has surged ahead as the clear favorite at -500 odds. He holds the highest handle percentage (28.5%) and continues to dominate for the Oklahoma City Thunder, who sit atop the Western Conference. His 32.5 PPG leads the NBA, and he’s shooting an elite 52.3% from the field, making him one of the most efficient high-volume scorers in the league.
Despite having the most bets placed (16.2% ticket share), the Denver Nuggets superstar remains behind in the odds despite averaging 29.7 PPG, 12.1 RPG, and 10.2 APG and leading the NBA with an astonishing 25 triple doubles. The biggest liability in this race is Jayson Tatum (+3000), whose odds have fluctuated throughout the year. Despite leading the Boston Celtics in scoring (26.8 PPG), rebounding (8.7 RPG), and assists (5.7), Tatum remains a long shot because SGA and Joker are having such phenomenal campaigns.
Rookie of the Year
Highest Ticket %: Zach Edey 14.5%
Highest Handle %: Zach Edey 22.7%
Biggest Liability: Bronny James
Odds Leader: Stephon Castle +130
Stephon Castle (+130) Leading, but Zach Edey Holds Market Share
The Rookie of the Year battle has been a rollercoaster, with Stephon Castle (+130) of the San Antonio Spurs emerging as the current frontrunner. Castle’s 12.8 PPG and 3.0 RPG have been solid, but Zach Edey (+1200) remains the betting favorite among the public, holding the highest ticket percentage (14.5%) and handle percentage (22.7%).
Edey’s dominance in rebounding (7.7 RPG) for the 36-19 Memphis Grizzlies, where he ranks second among rookies and defense, has made him a legitimate contender. Still, his limited offensive production (9.3 PPG) has kept him from pulling ahead in the odds. The biggest liability in this race is Bronny James, despite minimal on-court impact, playing in just 17 games and averaging 4.4 minutes per game. His name value, being LeBron James’s son alone, attracted betting attention early on. The Los Angeles Lakers quasi-NBA player, who has spent most of the year in the G League, has no shot of winning the award.
Most Improved Player of the Year
Highest Ticket %: Jalen Williams 8.9%
Highest Handle %: Norman Powell 17.1%
Biggest Liability: Jalen Williams
Odds Leader: Cade Cunningham and Norman Powell +100
Cade Cunningham (+100) Continues to Deliver
Cade Cunningham was leading the Most Improved Player oddsboard at -125 before dropping to +100, but is still having a career year. The Detroit Pistons’ star guard has improved across the board, averaging 25.4 PPG, 6.3 RPG, and 9.4 APG, ranking third in the league in assists. His ability to take control of Detroit’s offense has made him the favorite, but Jalen Williams (+1000) remains a major betting factor.
Williams, who has the highest ticket share (8.9%) and biggest liability, has improved significantly for the Oklahoma City Thunder, averaging 21.0 PPG, 5.5 RPG, and 5.1 APG. Norman Powell (+100), despite a lower ticket share, has the highest handle (17.1%) and evened up with Cunningham on the oddsboard. The former Toronto Raptor has bumped his scoring average from 13.9 PPG last year to a career-best 24.2 PPG with the Los Angeles Clippers in 2024-25. He has emerged as real competition for Cunningham.
Sixth Man of the Year
Highest Ticket %: Payton Pritchard 14.6%
Highest Handle %: Payton Pritchard 27.4%
Biggest Liability: Payton Pritchard
Odds Leader: Payton Pritchard -160
Payton Pritchard (-160) is the Overwhelming Favorite
Boston’s Payton Pritchard has taken control of the Sixth Man of the Year race, leading in highest ticket percentage (14.6%), handle percentage (27.4%), and liability. His ability to provide a scoring and playmaking boost off the bench has made him a crucial piece for the Celtics, averaging 14.1 PPG and 3.5 APG.
The competition for Sixth Man remains open, with players like De’Andre Hunter (+450), who leads all bench players, averaging 18.5 PPG, providing excellent second-unit scoring contributions for the Cleveland Cavaliers. Malik Beasley has emerged as a contender thanks to a career-best 3.9 triples per game.
Coach of the Year
Highest Ticket %: Mike Budenholzer 14.0%
Highest Handle %: Kenny Atkinson 31.0%
Biggest Liability: Kenny Atkinson
Odds Leader: Kenny Atkinson -700
Kenny Atkinson (-700) Leading the Way
The Coach of the Year race has become a one-man show, with Cleveland Cavaliers’ Kenny Atkinson dominating the odds at -700. Cleveland sits atop the NBA (45-10 record), and Atkinson has transformed the team into an elite two-way unit.
He holds the highest handle percentage (31.0%) and is the biggest liability in the market. The only other coach with significant betting action is Phoenix’s Mike Budenholzer (14.0% ticket share), but Atkinson remains the clear front-runner. Much of Budenholzer’s backing came early in the season before the Phoenix Suns stumbled to a 26-29 record, where they currently stand out of even a play-in spot.
As the NBA season reaches its final stretch, award betting markets have largely solidified, with SGA, Castle, Cunningham, Pritchard, and Atkinson leading their respective categories. While betting trends indicate potential movement in races like Rookie of the Year and Most Improved Player, the odds suggest these players are the safest bets. Bettors looking for value may find opportunities in long-shot plays, but as it stands, the favorites are well-positioned to take home the hardware.
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