The odds to win the NBA’s regular-season MVP have tightened in recent weeks, with the top two betting favorites -- Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Denver’s Nikola Jokic -- at risk of not qualifying for the award due to a new NBA rule.
Both past MVP winners are in danger of being ineligible this season due to an NBA rule that prohibits players who miss more than 17 games from qualifying for postseason awards.
Gilgeous-Alexander was ruled out for Wednesday’s game against the Detroit Pistons as he continues to work his way back from an abdominal strain that has sidelined him since Feb. 3. It will be his 11th missed game this season, and he’ll need to play in at least 16 of the remaining 22 regular-season games to be eligible for a second consecutive MVP award.
Jokic, who has already missed 16 games this season, will be ineligible if he sits out two more.
A straw MVP poll of 100 media members conducted last week by ESPN indicated Gilgeous-Alexander is the clear top choice, if he qualifies.