Will 2020-21 be the season Anthony Davis takes the league MVP? (Photo by Brian Rothmüller / Icon Sportswire)
- With the 2020-21 NBA season kicking off Tuesday night, it’s time to share some tips on player prizes for this season
- Which players are the best bets to win awards during the 72-game shortened season?
- Below is the selection for MVP, ROY, Most Improved, Sixth Man and Defensive Player of the Year
With the NBA season starting, it’s time to scour the board for futures bets that you are welcome to look back on.
While we could take the safe (and boring) route of wagering money on Giannis Antetokounmpo for yet another MVP and DPOY winning campaign, we’ve rounded up some of the best bets across the board that can get you some bang for your buck.
Selection and chances of winning the NBA Player Award 2020-21
Odds of winning MVP Anthony Davis (LAL) +1000 ROY Killian Hayes (DET) +950 Improved Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (OKC) +1200 DPOY Bam Adebayo (MIA) +950 Sixth Man of the Year Caris LeVert (BKN) + 1200
All DraftKings and FanDuel quotas from December 21st
AD for MVP
Anthony Davis apparently has it all right now. His first NBA championship just two months ago, a brand new five-year and $ 190 million extension, and a star in the league’s marquee alongside LeBron James.
Only one thing is missing for the 27-year-old superstar: the award as the most valuable player in the league.
He is currently the fourth favorite in the NBA MVP ratings behind Antetokounmpo, Doncic and Curry. The perfect storm could be brewing for AD to include the award on his résumé.
Davis looked sharp back in the preseason, and numbers seem to be the Lakers’ main option for most nights – at least at the start of the season when James steps into action after the brief off-season.
If he can get a slight year-over-year increase at averages of 26.1 PPG, 9.3 RPG and 50% FG, he should be among the top contenders for the league right there.
More than anything, MVP is narrative at the association and voters may have Gianni’s fatigue with his disappointments over the past two postseason. While Curry could have the Warriors back as rivals in the west and Doncic may post monster lines in Dallas, it will be difficult for voters to say no to Brow if Davis is the best player on the best team in the league.
Killian Hayes directs the show in Detroit
LaMelo Ball is likely to soak up all of the media coverage and headlines this year, but the rookie point guard of the team that cut his brother LiAngelo is my pick for ROY.
Killian Hayes’ preseason games have shown how he can win offensively in this league: with strength, rhythm, craft and brilliant passing pic.twitter.com/2QPKiv71ri
– Jackson Frank (@jackfrank_jjf) December 14, 2020
In a Pistons team rebuild, Hayes will be the starting PG, with a supportive head coach in Dwane Casey and Derrick Rose mentoring him off the bench. Delon Wright’s game is also much better suited to off-ball games, making Hayes the Floor General.
While his shooting still has a lot to do, his size will make him an imminent threat to the game – and his pass, honed in Europe, is already impressive. With Blake Griffin staying sane (hopefully), he has an elite partner in pick and roll and should play more than 28 minutes a night.
With the Rookie of the Year odds currently up towards Ball and Obi Toppin in New York, Hayes offers a great value at +950 and possibly the most touches of any rook in the league this year.
SGA in OKC explodierbereit
Sam Presti has collected 56 draft picks over the past two off-seasons, but the real gem of the Thunder rebuild is her Canadian guard. With Chris Paul, who is now a Phoenix Sun, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander faces a monstrous season when he takes on OKC.
He’s likely to have a massive usage rate, and the 22-year-old should increase his scoring average above the 20-point plateau per game as Darius Bazley is arguably the second top scorer.
If he can keep his percentages near the 47-34-80 slash line with the increased workload and focus of opposing defenders, SGA makes a great bet at +1200 to win MIP honors.
2021 NBA Championship Odds Tracker
Bam A-DPOY-Me?
Bam Adebayo, who was known to hardcore fans as a rising defensive force in the first few seasons, caught the national consciousness last season with his block against the Celtics in the postseason.
Everything that makes Adebayo’s game impressive was on display – the shear strength, anticipation and instinct, as well as the athletic ability to reject Tatum. The former Kentucky Wildcat should only be stronger as a rim protector in the coming season.
He’s likely to see key minutes for Miami all season and having been in the top ten on both defensive and blocks last season bodes well for his DPOY case.
The advanced stats also like the 23-year-old, who ranks tenth on Defensive Box Plus / Minus – which measures the number of defense points a player contributed per 100 possessions.
While the three favorites ahead of him in Davis (+240), Gobert (+300) and Antetokounmpo (+340) have much shorter chances, Bam has the chance to take a leap and become the best defensive player in the league this season.
Caris LeVert could be straw that stirs net drinks
Nothing is guaranteed at Brooklyn Nets 2020-21. Will Kevin Duran be severely affected by an Achilles tendon? How will Steve Nash act as first-time head coach? Will Kyrie Irving End Midseason To Follow A Prophecy Around The World?
On a team considered the most fascinating both on and off the pitch, the only guarantee we’ll have is that Caris LeVert will be a microwave shooter and playmaker off the bench.
LeVert is expected to lead the second unit for Brooklyn and can get hot quickly – and we know from Lou Williams’ track record that the goal is a straightforward path to winning 6MOY.
During his run in the bubble, he showed that he could go offensively near an all-star level, and with KD / Kyrie taking up most of the defensive game plan, LeVert could find his niche in his 26-year season .
When the nets gel and look like one of the best teams in the league, the extra attention can only help his case and make him a great bet at +1200 odds.
Mitch Robson
NBA Golf NCAAF NCAAB Leitender NBA-Editor
Senior NBA Editor
Mitch graduated from Ryerson University’s Sport Media program in June 2018 and has been with SBD since 2019. He has worked in broadcast and digital for Score, Sportsnet, TSN & CBC and has performed play-by-play for basketball at all levels including NCAA, Pan Am Games & U Sports.
Mitch graduated from Ryerson University’s Sport Media program in June 2018 and has been with SBD since 2019. He has worked in broadcast and digital for Score, Sportsnet, TSN & CBC and has performed play-by-play for basketball at all levels including NCAA, Pan Am Games & U Sports.
