Yahoo Sports NBA contributing writer Tom Haberstroh and NBA writer Dan Devine discuss the Lakers superstar’s surprisingly low odds to win his 5th Most Valuable Player award – and why it might not be such a crazy thought that he wins it, based on his play down the stretch of the regular season. Hear the full conversation on “The Big Number” and subscribe on , , or wherever you listen.
Video Transcript
Lebron James right now isn’t on Bet MGM’s MVP odd board.
He’s not even listed.
Other sports books have him listed very long shot MVP odds.
One I just saw has him plus 50,000 to win MVP this season.
That’s a pretty big number.
I don’t, I don’t know much about gambling, but I do know that that’s a pretty big number.
I will say LeBron James.
You know, given the fact that he just caught huge headlines for being the first player ever to have 50,000 points in his NBA career, which I have noted is more than Dwyane Wade and Tracy McGrady’s careers combined.
It is amazing what LeBron James is doing, and I will say, uh, I think that plus 50,000 is probably underrating his chances because of this fact.
He has on his remaining schedule, LeBron James has at Oklahoma City on April 6th at Oklahoma City April 8th.
Also later this season, he’s playing at Boston.
If LeBron James and Luca and the Lakers sweep that, beating OKC twice in their building and beating the Boston Celtics in their building, I think the MVP chatter is gonna get at a fever pitch.
I think even if he does sweep those games, beating the Best teams in the NBA in their building, I think you’re going to see LeBron James get into the top 3 in MVP chatter.
Um, and right now he’s, he’s off the board.
Well, first off, my first question is, do you think that they pegged the odds to the point total?
They were like 50,000.
That sounds like a good round number.
Let’s see, yeah, that’s fine.
That’s the odds for him to win MVP.
Um, so maybe, maybe as he continues to progress, they’ll even get worse.
The Lakers right now, they enter, as we’re talking, they’re the 2nd seed in the Western Conference.
If that continues, and you’re talking about best player on the #2 seed in the West and also very famous best player, there’s a case, that’s a case that doesn’t have to get laughed out of the room.
