DeMar DeRozan drops in the 2022 NBA MVP race originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago
With about a month remaining until the 2021-22 NBA regular season comes to a close, time is ticking for the league’s best players to assemble their MVP cases.
Nikola Jokic, Joel Embiid and Giannis Antetokounmpo have all jostled for the top spot in recent months, but DeMar DeRozan and Ja Morant have also inserted themselves in the conversation.
Jokic won the MVP last season after a sensational season with the Denver Nuggets. But who will it be this season?
Here is a look at the favorites to win the honor:
Who is the favorite to win the NBA MVP?
After ending as a finalist last season, Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid is still at the top of the favorites for MVP.
Embiid leads all players as of March 8 after a 43-point, 14-rebound night, sitting at -115 to win the award, according to our partner, PointsBet.
Jokic sits second, while Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, who entered the season as the favorite, is currently third.
Here are the players with the highest odds to win the MVP:
Joel Embiid -115
Nikola Jokic +175
Giannis Antetokounmpo +600
Ja Morant +2000
Luka Doncic +2800
DeMar DeRozan +3300
Stephen Curry +5000
Devin Booker +8000
Kevin Durant +20000
LeBron James +30000
James Harden +50000
Jayson Tatum +50000
You can find all of the odds for MVP here.
Who are the most recent winners of the MVP?
As previously mentioned, Jokic won the award last season, while Antetokounmpo won it the two years prior.
Here’s a look at some of the most recent winners of the MVP:
2021: Nikola Jokic
2020: Giannis Antetokounmpo
2019: Giannis Antetokounmpo
2018: James Harden
2017: Russell Westbrook
2016: Steph Curry
2015: Steph Curry
2014: Kevin Durant
2013: LeBron James
2012: LeBron James
Who has won the MVP the most in NBA history?
Since the award was created in 1955, there have been a number of multi-time winners of the MVP.
Kareem-Abdul Jabbar has won it the most times: three with the Milwaukee Bucks and three with the Los Angeles Lakers, for a total of six.
Both Michael Jordan and Bill Russell have won the award five times. Wilt Chamberlain and LeBron James each have taken home the trophy four times in their careers.
Three players have been awarded the MVP three times — Moses Malone, Larry Bird and Magic Johnson. There are a total of six players who have won the award twice, which includes Antetokounmpo, Curry, Tim Duncan, Steve Nash, Bob Pettit and Karl Malone.
Editor’s note: All odds are provided by our partner, PointsBet. PointsBet is our Official Sports Betting Partner and we may receive compensation if you place a bet on PointsBet for the first time after clicking our links.
