Wembanyama opens as MVP favorite ahead of Gilgeous-Alexander and Dončić
DraftKings has Victor Wembanyama as the early +205 favorite for the 2026-27 NBA MVP award. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the two-time reigning MVP, is next at +380, while Luka Dončić is +475 and Nikola Jokić is +650. Wembanyama reached the Finals last season, and Dončić led the league in scoring at 33.5 points per game.
DraftKings lists Wembanyama at +205, ahead of Gilgeous-Alexander (+380), Dončić (+475) and Jokić (+650). Wembanyama’s Spurs reached last season’s Finals before losing to New York in five games. He is also positioned as a likely repeat Defensive Player of the Year, a combination only Jordan, Olajuwon and Antetokounmpo have achieved in the same season.
Gilgeous-Alexander has won the past two MVP awards while Oklahoma City posted the league’s best record each year. Dončić paced the NBA at 33.5 points per game and has never placed higher than third in MVP voting. Jokić, a three-time winner, has finished first or second in each of the last six seasons.
Early MVP odds may shape fan conversation and media narratives around the NBA season, potentially elevating Wembanyama’s profile and increasing scrutiny on Gilgeous-Alexander, Dončić and Jokić. Bettors and fantasy players could adjust expectations, while casual fans may tune in to track whether the favorites meet projections. Such odds can also influence endorsements and discourse, though they do not determine outcomes and may shift as the season unfolds.