Sign In Get the App $ $

NBA Finals MVP Odds: Picks, Best Bets for Bucks vs. Suns 2021

Matt Schmitto Thu 7/8 7:48am PT
NBA Finals MVP Odds
(Imagn)

The Phoenix Suns will take on the Milwaukee Bucks for the NBA title. With Giannis Antetokounmpo’s status in question, the Suns are 6-point favorites Tuesday night, according to Suns vs. Bucks Game 1 odds. However, there’s a more intriguing way to wager than betting against the spread or series moneyline prices: bet on 2021 NBA Finals MVP odds and pick who will win the award when the confetti is falling.

NBA Finals MVP Odds

The 2021 NBA Finals matchup is particularly interesting for bettors who are looking at futures odds for the Bill Russell award. If you’re an avid NBA fan, you can probably guess who the favorites are, but in this series in particular, there may be more value on role players than usual.

Milwaukee Bucks Odds

NBA Finals MVP odds courtesy of BetMGM Sportsbook, accurate as of Tuesday, July 6, 2021.

Phoenix Suns Odds

Picking the 2021 NBA Finals MVP

One reason betting on the NBA Finals MVP is so interesting this year is because the best player, Antetokounmpo, is listed as doubtful ahead of Game 1, and his status for the series is in question.

Despite the concerns, Antetokoumpo sits behind only Chris Paul and Devin Booker in odds to win NBA Finals MVP. That does make sense, since, if the Bucks do win, it’ll likely the be a product of the Greek Freak playing meaningful minutes. But I’m not convinced the Bucks are drawing dead without him, which means Bucks’ role players might deserve my attention.

Additionally, it’s not as if the Suns’ two best players haven’t had injury concerns of their own during the 2021 NBA Playoffs. Paul missed time with a nagging shoulder injury. Booker is now playing with a face mask after breaking his nose against the Clippers. There’s not too much to worry about with Booker, but Paul has missed playoff games before becoming a Sun because his body couldn’t hold up.

So if it’s not Paul, Booker, or Antetokounmpo who wins NBA Finals MVP, who will?

NBA Finals MVP Best Bets

Khris Middleton, Bucks (+700)

When Giannis has been out, Middleton has been the Bucks go-to man. Middleton scored a game-high 32 points against the Hawks in Game 6. Before that, scored 26 while racking up 13 points and 8 rebounds in Game 5.

Even with Antetokounmpo, Middleton has shown the ability to put up big numbers. Against the Nets in Game 6, he led the Bucks with 38 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, plus five assists. And then in Game 7, scored 24 points while grabbing another 10 boards and dishing 6 assists.

That’s one of the reasons why I like this bet: tickets on Middleton to win Finals MVP are live whether Antetokoumpo is active or not.

DeAndre Ayton, Suns (+2500)

At 25-1, I don’t hate betting on a dark horse like Suns big man DeAndre Ayton, who has been a force down low for Phoenix. In the Clippers series alone Ayton had performances with 17 and 22 rebounds. He’s managed to score 20+ points in six of 16 games this postseason, so there’s reason to believe his ceiling is enough to win the award.

Other Finals MVP Bets

Jrue Holiday, Bucks (+1600)

Jrue Holiday has been a pivotal piece to the Milwaukee Bucks’ 2021 puzzle. He steps up on both sides of the court, scoring and facilitating baskets when the ball is in his hands, and putting pressure on opponents’ best scorers when the ball is in theirs.

Holiday averaged 22 ppg. in the Eastern Conference Finals, scoring 25 and 27 with Giannis out in Games 5 and 6. In fact, the 6-foot-3 point guard averaged a double-double against the Hawks while recording 10 assists per game.

•