With the way the Oklahoma City Thunder have looked this season, it’s no surprise that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is once again playing at an elite level. Best known as SGA, the elite talent has been tremendous for the reigning NBA Finals champs. Fans are showing him the respect that he fully deserves. With that said, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is a small favorite to win 2026 NBA MVP. Will he be able to get the job done?
That’s what a lot of people think is going to be the case, as SGA is averaging more than 32 points and six assists per game. Whenever he takes the floor, he has what it takes to put a ton of points on the board. In addition to his great shooting, Gilgeous-Alexander is also a fantastic passer. After winning NBA MVP last season, he’s hoping to do so once again this year as well.
| NBA MVP odds |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| SGA to win | +125 | +125 | +125 |
| Jokic to win | +225 | +225 | +225 |
| Doncic to win | +650 | +650 | +650 |
| Cunningham to win | +1000 | +1000 | +1000 |
“I dreamt about it as a kid, but as a kid, it’s a fake dream,” SGA said after winning NBA MVP last season. “But as the days go on and you realize that you get closer to your dream, it’s hard to not freak out. It’s hard to not be a 6-year-old kid again. And I think that’s what’s allowed me to achieve it. I tried to just not focus on it and just worry about what’s gotten to this place.”
Soon enough, we’ll see if SGA will be able to come out on top or not. According to the best betting sites, he holds +125 NBA betting odds to be named the MVP once again. It will be interesting to see if he’ll be able to pull that off or not. From our chair, we think he certainly has what it takes, but we’re going in a different direction for our pick this time around.
Call it a hunch, but Nikola Jokic is our pick to win the NBA MVP this season. Jokic is once again looking like an elite talent in the same way that SGA is too. The debate continues as to who is the better player between the two, but we’re giving Jokic the slight edge here. Jokic is one of the best players of his generation, as the big man is a force near the glass and with his outside shooting too.
“I’m going to go with Nikola Jokić,” former NBA champ Danny Green recently said on who his MVP pick would be. “He had an unbelievable year last year, but they didn’t want to give him his fourth one. This year he comes back on a tear and makes the league give him his fourth MVP. Denver has a really good squad this year, and I feel like they’re going to be one of those teams at the top.”
Looking to get in on the betting action too? Now is our time to remind you that there’s no better time than now to check the NBA odds and the NBA betting sites here at Sports Betting Sites. On top of that, the big-time sportsbooks, including Bovada and BetOnline, are always offering up fantastic promo codes and promotions for you to check out.
As for the action back on the hardwood, Jokic has been given +225 odds to win the NBA MVP award. This season thus far, he’s averaging 29.8 points, 12.4 rebounds and 10.8 assists per game. That fact that he’s averaging a triple-double right now is out of his world and it’s something that has Nuggets fans quite excited. If Jokic keeps playing at this level, he’ll be a no-brainer for the MVP award.
While the focus for a lot of people is on the NBA MVP race, don’t forget that the Thunder are overwhelming favorites to win the NBA Finals again. Through 26 games this year, the Thunder are 24-2, which is wild. So, in 26 games, they’ve only lost twice and dominated the majority of their games to start the new season? Yup, that’s exactly what we’re seeing out of them.
SGA is playing great, but he’s not the only one. Everyone is also seeing Chet Holmgren play at an incredible level as well. Those two form quite the partnership and it’s something that Oklahoma City fans have been quite excited about. If they keep playing well, it’s going to be tough for any team to take them down once the postseason gets here next spring.
The Nuggets are a team that plenty of people think could give the Thunder a run for their money. In order for that to happen, Jokic would have to keep being at his best. There’s still plenty of time left in the regular season, with more teams hoping to bring OKC down from their perch. For now, Oklahoma City is the top contender, as they’re hoping to go back-to-back. Last year, the Thunder won the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history.
In need of more betting info? Be sure to check our betting guides for any questions you might have about all sports wagers moving forward.
About the Author
Braulio Perez has been writing about sports professionally since graduating from Washington State in 2011. A fan of all major leagues in the USA, he’s also a supporter of the English Premier League and international soccer.
Read Braulio's ProfileAsk Braulio about this guide: