First TD Bets — Wild Card Monday Slate
Alex Christenson
We are almost at the midway point of the NBA season, with the trade deadline looming just two weeks away. Now is the perfect time to start discussing MVP, Rookie of the Year and the rest of the individual NBA honors.
Make sure to head over to FTN Fantasy for insight on all our favorite picks. Our NBA staff has predictions for MVP and every other end-of-year award below. Here are my thoughts on each of the NBA end-of-season awards.
All odds from BetMGM.
NBA Awards Favorites and Best Bets
NBA MVP
Favorite: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (OKC) -350
My Pick: Gilgeous-Alexander
It’s simply his time. After two consecutive seasons with first-team All-NBA accolades, Gilgeous-Alexander has the Thunder just one game behind the Cavaliers for the best record in the NBA. This is despite the extended absences for forward Chet Holmgren and limited availability for center Isaiah Hartenstein. Gilgeous-Alexander is posting career per-game highs in points (31.5), blocks (1.1) and steals (2.1), while close to career-bests in FG percentage (53.2%) and 3P percentage (35%).
NBA Rookie of the Year
Favorite: Alex Sarr (WAS) +325
My Pick: Stephon Castle (SA) +240
Sarr has exceeded expectations in his rookie season, posting 11.6 PPG, 6.1 RPG and 1.6 BPG. His 39.9% FG accuracy and free-throw struggles (64.3%), leave the door open for another option. Enter San Antonio rookie Stephon Castle, who has the Spurs knocking on the door of an actual playoff spot. Castle will always get maximum exposure playing alongside Victor Wembanyama and is averaging 14.1 points during the month of January. With the Wizards residing in the basement of the Eastern Conference, Castle’s part of a Spurs playoff run could quickly vault him past Sarr. I don’t expect Castle to remain at +240 much longer.
NBA Defensive Player of the Year
Favorite: Victor Wembanyama (SA) -600
My Pick: Wembanyama
This one is even easier than SGA’s MVP lead, since Nikola Jokić always lurks in the shadows. Wembanyama has dominated the league from a defensive standpoint, averaging 4.0 blocks per game and 1.1 steals per game. He appears to be a lock to break the all-time per-game record of 3.5 BPG, held by Utah’s Mark Eaton. I am just thrilled that we will not be adding to Rudy Gobert’s resume of four DPY awards.
NBA Sixth Man of the Year
Favorite: Payton Pritchard (BOS) -190
My Pick: De’Andre Hunter (ATL) +425
Pritchard started the year on absolute fire, putting a stranglehold on this award, but don’t give up on De’Andre Hunter, who has embraced his role coming off the bench for the Atlanta Hawks. Hunter is averaging career-bests with 19.4 PPG and a blistering 42.5% from 3P range. He is the third-leading scorer on a Hawks team solidly in the playoff standings.
Most Improved Player
Favorite: Cade Cunningham (DET) -130
My Pick: Cunningham
Cunningham has been brilliant all season, posting career-highs across the board in all major categories. The Pistons have their most wins of any season since the 2018-2019 campaign, and Cunningham has led the way all year.
NBA Clutch Player of the Year
Favorite: Nikola Jokić (DEN) +100
My Pick: Anthony Edwards (MIN) +1400
The third season of the NBA Clutch Player of the Year Award sees Nikola Jokić as the strong favorite (+100), but with over half-a-season left, I’m pivoting to the dynamic Anthony Edwards Jokić is a favorite for any award, but Edwards has started to take the Timberwolves season on his shoulder, averaging 30.7 PPG and 46.5% from 3P range during the month of January. Late-game heroics come easy for the dynamic 23-year-old shooting guard, which puts his +1400 value as a very enticing opportunity.
NBA Coach of the Year
Favorite: Kenny Atkinson (CLE) -500
My Pick: Atkinson
The architect of the Cavaliers’ brilliant season, Atkinson is the deserving winner for a Cleveland team that hold the NBA’s best record at an astounding 36-6.
