2. Kevin Durant to win MVP (+550)
Irving’s absence provides Kevin Durant with the perfect opportunity to stake his claim as the MVP favorite for this season. Voters for the award love a good narrative, and Durant willing the Nets to the No. 1 or 2 seed in a much-improved Eastern Conference without the superstar he teamed up with to sign with Brooklyn a few years ago would be gold.
Having said that, Durant will have numerous competitors for the award.
Luka Doncic, the odds-on favorite to win the MVP, per WynnBET, will make a serious push if Dallas finishes in the top half of the West. The same can be said for Steph Curry and his Warriors. You also can’t rule out the likes of Giannis, LeBron James, Nikola Jokic, and even Joel Embiid if he manages to say healthy.
Still, though, we love Durant’s chances. Had he not missed extended time with a hamstring injury last season, the award was his to lose.
There’s no reason to think that won’t be the case this year, and he got off to a roaring start in Tuesday’s opener, posting 32 points, 11 rebounds and four assists on 13-of-25 shooting (3-of-7 on threes) in a losing effort.
At +550 odds (bet $100 to win $550), Nets fans should be all over this.