Forget about contending for the Defensive Player of the Year this season after missing out on the award multiple times in his career. Anthony Davis is putting up some impressive performances in the early games of the 2024-25 NBA season and is showing some massive strides for the Lakers, and he is definitely rocking everyone’s world as he has finally breached the MVP conversations.
Nobody has had a better start in the season than Davis. He has been cooking up big numbers with impressive pace – posting big numbers night in and night out, smashing centers like they were glass in the first weeks of the season. It cannot be denied that his performance is likely going to continue as long as he stays healthy for the season.
The Davis MVP Train has Arrived
It is hard to argue that Davis has been really been one of the best players in the NBA. He has already ascended to an All-Star status back in his time with New Orleans, but with the Lakers – he’s won his first championship in 2020, and has been a consistent candidate for the DPOY more than many fans can remember. Of course, he did not win any single one of those campaigns despite being a three-time NBA blocks leader and was named three times to the All-Defensive First Team and twice on the second team.
At this point, the nine-time All-Star is not just making another case for the DPOY this time around – he is actually generating a lot of impressive performances enough for the league to ring up his name in the MVP conversations. So far, he is building off an impressive run coming from his spectacular run in the 2023-24 season.
In that run, Davis played the most games of his career at 76 – with the 2017-18 season with the Pelicans being the last time that he played one less game. He is starting to be productive in more games – and the Lakers are reaping the benefit of having him on the lineup night in and night out.
What are the Odds for Davis to win the MVP?
Of course, one has to consider the odds before placing wagers. Well, it is no longer surprising that Davis has found himself on the top 10 of the MVP odds list rather than his teammate LeBron James, which says a lot about how he is expected to come up with bigger runs and hopefully put up a stunning campaign that will be worthy of a highly exciting MVP finish.
NBA 2024-25 MVP Odds (Updated as of November 25, 2024)
Rank | Player/Team | Best Odds to Win |
1 | Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets | +220 |
2 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder | +250 |
3 | Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics | +550 |
4 | Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks | +650 |
5 | Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves | +900 |
6 | Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers | +1700 |
7 | Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers | +3000 |
8 | Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors | +3500 |
9 | Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks | +3500 |
10 | Kevin Durant, Phoenix Suns | +6000 |
Davis is way behind in the odds race, but the KIA NBA MVP Ladder says otherwise, where the Lakers big man is sitting at the top on the latest update. Still, these two factors do not actually guarantee a winning chance for Davis. At the end of the season, it falls down to the media voters to see who is worthy to come up with a win in the said award. But if you are feeling a bit cocky and confident, make sure to check out GambleSpot’s Parlay and Odds Calculator to see your potential winnings when you bet on Davis to win on the MVP and the DPOY.
How Can Davis Win the MVP?
Well, the season is still young, and it cannot be denied that Davis still has a lot of games to build his case for the MVP, but so does the other candidates. With that said, there are a few key points that can be seen as an important factor for Davis to win the MVP or at least make a strong point for himself by the end of the day.
Post the Monster Stat Lines
Last season, Davis played 76 games and averaged 24.7 points, 12.6 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 2.3 blocks. He was impressive for the Lakers, but he didn’t get into any MVP conversations and finished short of the DPOY. This season? Davis is posting a career-high 30.2 points, 10.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 2.1 blocks per game. So far, this consistent level of play has kept Davis’ name noisy around the block, and he has dropped 20+ points in the first 10 games of the season, including five 30-point performances – even becoming the first player to breach 100 points in just three games. If Davis keeps this up, it is easy to expect that he will find his way to the MVP soon.
Lead the Lakers to the Top of the West
Well, extraordinary performances don’t mean a thing if you’re out of the playoffs. That being said, the Los Angeles Lakers are barely in the 6-10th place in the West, and a win or a loss could make a difference. This just means that Davis has to put up incredible performances and keep on scoring at a high volume if he is going to help lift the Lakers to the top of the West. Considering how competitive the Western Conference is right now, having the Lakers return to the 1st seed for the first time since 2020 is a good thing for Davis’ MVP campaign. As of the time of writing, the Lakers are the fourth seed in a very rugged and tough Western Conference with a 10-6 record.
Stay Healthy for the Season
The monster stat lines and the Lakers’ winning record would not matter at all if Davis cannot stay healthy. So far, his 76-game season in 2023-24 says a lot about how he can actually make an impact for the team. However, injuries isn’t going to be predictable, and it is hard to argue that a player like Davis – who has a wide history of injuries – can actually play his cards well to avoid that. He’s already missed a few games with that recurring foot injury and narrowly avoided another game missed when Jakob Poeltl poked his eye in their previous game. Joel Embiid had an incredible season in 2023-24, but was out for most of the season that it negated his case for MVP – and Davis should be wise to avoid the same.
Can Davis Finish with the MVP this Season?
Anthony Davis has built a strong start for the MVP. However, there are 82 games in the season, and one can say that the Lakers center has to find a way to stay consistent on that end and come up with more elite performances if he is going to be able to win the MVP or at least make a strong and convincing case now more than ever.
Don’t let up on the betting! Keep in mind that you can always rely on Gamble AI to help you make some promising betting decisions should you find yourself in a stalemate or if you need to see the latest odds!
Make sure to visit GambleSpot and stay updated on the latest happenings in the NBA and the rest of the sports world! Check out our content to find the hottest new, blogs, betting guides, tournament previews, game analyses, and many more! You can make use of these to come up with a smart betting move and find your way to some handsome winnings in your massive sports wagers today!
December 5th, 2024
Tatum Time: Is Boston's Prime Star Forward a Favorite to Win the MVP?December 4th, 2024
Are the Detroit Lions Primed for a Championship? Odds and Winning Bets DiscussionDecember 3rd, 2024
Winning it All: Why the Washington Capitals are a Good Pick for Your BetsDecember 2nd, 2024
All the Way: Should You Bet the Buffalo Bills to Win it All?November 29th, 2024
Clash of the Titans: MLS Conference Finals Betting GuideNovember 28th, 2024
Is SUPERVIVE a Potential Competitive Esports Title?November 27th, 2024
Hedge Betting: Why is it Essential for a Fun Sports Betting Experience?November 26th, 2024
Best of Over and Unders: Betting on OKC's Jalen WilliamsNovember 25th, 2024
Why Should You Bet on Anthony Davis to Win the 2024-25 MVPNovember 22nd, 2024
Can Lamar Jackson Repeat as the NFL MVP This Season?