The NBA All-Star Game is both entertaining and interesting. It is an event where you can truly say the best players in the world are competing. So, choosing the MVP has more significance than it does for other All-Star events.
The nature of NBA All-Star roster-building is such that it consistently features the biggest stars in the game. With so much talent, it can be hard to forecast the MVP as all of these players are posting numbers on a nightly basis.
Here’s a look at the latest All-Star Game MVP odds.
2022 NBA All-Star Game MVP Odds
- Giannis Antetokounmpo +425
- Joel Embiid +600
- LeBron James +600
- Ja Morant +650
- Stephen Curry +900
- Luka Doncic +1000
- DeMar DeRozan +1100
- Nikola Jokic +2000
- Jayson Tatum +2000
- Devin Booker +2000
- Trae Young +2200
- Jimmy Butler +3000
- Darius Garland +3000
- LaMelo Ball +4000
- Chris Paul +4000
- Darius Garland +5000
- Zach LaVine +5000
- Andrew Wiggins +6600
- Fred VanVleet +8000
- Khris Middleton +8000
- Karl-Anthony Towns +8000
- Rudy Gobert +10000
- Dejounte Murray +10000
- Jarrett Allen +10000
2022 NBA All-Star Game MVP odds are via BetMGM as of Sunday, February 20.
Should LeBron Be the NBA All-Star Game MVP Favorite?
That said, the NBA certainly loves its narratives. And there would be nothing better than LeBron James winning the All-Star Game MVP in Cleveland, where he has made so many memories previously.
LeBron is certainly a big enough star and still playing at an elite enough level to win this award in any environment. But in this particular instance, someone is going to have to take it from him.
Which Players Should You Not Bet on to Win NBA All-Star Game MVP?
The NBA game is evolving, and the obvious result is the de-emphasis of the center position. Nikola Jokic is fantastically skilled and was the league’s regular-season MVP last season. But the last time a center was the MVP of the All-Star Game was back in 2009 when Shaquille O’Neal shared the award with Kobe Bryant.
Guys like Jokic and Karl-Anthony Towns are elite, but centers generally don’t have the ball in their hands enough or provide enough sizzle with their steak to win NBA All-Star Game MVP. Utah’s Rudy Gobert is known for his defensive presence and that is never going to be enough to win this award. There is a good season he is at the bottom of the odds list above.
Looking at this game, two centers might have a “chance” in Joel Embiid and Jarret Allen. Embiid is the favorite to win NBA MVP this season and considered one of the top five players in the game. But it is still going to be tough for him to beat out the other top contenders. As for Allen, he is a massive longshot even though he is going to have local support.
First-Time All-Stars Unlikely to Win MVP
I know I was touting LeBron earlier, but the NBA All-Star Game MVP is hardly a lifetime achievement award. That said, it generally goes to players on a Hall of Fame track, and it feels a little too early to say this year’s first-time All-Stars are there just yet.
We have seven new All-Stars this season Ja Morant, Dejounte Murray, Fred VanVleet, Andrew Wiggins, LaMelo Ball, Jarrett Allen, and Darius Garland. The latter two are Cavaliers so they get a bump for that, but if you are playing the Cleveland angle, it is hard to not have it lead you back to LeBron.
From this group, we have two starters from the Western Conference in Morant and Wiggins. Wiggins was a somewhat controversial choice as he is having a “nice season” but has never really lived up to his draft position.
Morant is one of the most exciting players in the NBA and his Grizzlies have been a great story this season. At +800 there is great value with Morant, and I can definitely see him making his mark on the game.
Top NBA All-Star Game MVP Contenders After LeBron
Steph Curry +900
Curry is making his 8th appearance in the All-Star game but has never won the award. As a starter he will have plenty of opportunities to put up numbers and similar to Morant, he is very likely to do something spectacular. It just won’t be a thunderous dunk.
I can definitely see a scenario where he is bombing away from deep, and deeper, piling up points on the way to winning the thing.
Luka Doncic +1000
Doncic has been the best player in the NBA in February. In 8 games he has averages of 36ppg, 11rpg, and 9apg.
Obviously, other All-Stars are putting up great numbers too. But I think you have to like Doncic because of his ability to get numbers for himself and others.
If you had to predict that one player on the floor would post a triple-double, Doncic would be it. And if he can, that will make him tough to beat even though there is not a significant narrative angle with him. He is going to have lots of opportunities in the future though and that can be a factor too.
LeBron James is definitely the best bet to win 2022 NBA All-Star Game MVP. But there are other fun and valuable options to back as well.
