Kawhi Klaws His Way into Top 4 in 2019 NBA MVP Odds

• Kawhi Leonard is climbing up the NBA MVP odds board
• He’s now in the top four in the race for the 2019 NBA MVP award this season
• Is there value in making a Kawhi for MVP wager?

Don’t look now, but there’s a Raptor that’s yet to hit full stride surging towards the top of the latest odds for NBA MVP.

This board is stacked: it features the past seven MVP winners, who have combined to take the trophy home nine times since the 2008-09 season.

But it’s likely we could be witnessing a fourth straight first-timer step to the podium.

Is that going to be the Klaw? Let’s break this down. Oh, and don’t forget to check out our 2019 NBA MVP odds tracker, with some unique insight you won’t find anywhere else.

NBA 2018-19 MVP Odds

Is Leonard a Good Value Bet to Win MVP?

Kawhi is following the traditional MVP formula: play hard on both ends of the floor, be the undisputed go-to guy in the clutch, and be the best player on the best team in the league.

Kawhi Leonard handles and sinks the fall-away J!#WeTheNorth 63#FearTheDeer 63

📺: @NBATV pic.twitter.com/YSnbtVfnvk

— NBA (@NBA) December 10, 2018

The Raptors are leading the NBA with a 23-9 record, and Leonard is averaging 26.3 points, 8.4 rebounds and better than three assists per game, while shooting 49.1% from the field and 38.1% from beyond the arc. Glad he’s lightened up in his new digs. Just kidding.

Reporter – “Merry Christmas. Can you talk about your favorite Christmas moment?”

Kawhi Leonard – “Not right now.”#Clippers #Raptors pic.twitter.com/2tAlyg7e72

— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) December 12, 2018

Perhaps most impressive is his offensive repertoire, particularly his ability to beat his man in isolation at will, with a bevy of pull-up jumpers and strong forays to the tin.

He’s doing this while working his way back from a serious thigh injury that limited him to nine games with the Spurs a year ago. Toronto is playing it safe, already resting him five times this year.  

Most other years, Kawhi would be an overwhelming favorite. There’s just one dude who’s rightfully leading the pack.

The Greek Freak is Setting a Torrid Pace

Sometimes numbers don’t tell the whole story.

And then there’s Giannis freaking Antetokounmpo, who’s putting together a statistical cake that hasn’t ever been baked, while doing things that bend the basketball mind.

Giannis one dribble from halfcourt & slam from just inside the FT line pic.twitter.com/crFixuoeYK

— CJ Fogler account may or may not be notable (@cjzero) December 8, 2018

Antetokounmpo is averaging 26.8 points, 13.1 rebounds and 6.0 assists a game, looking to become just the fifth player in NBA history to average at least 27-12-5 in a season, joining Wilt, Kareem, Oscar and Elgin. He also has a shot at being the first ever 27-13-6 guy. 

Through 27 games, Antetokounmpo is shooting a blistering 77% at the rim this season, on better than 11 attempts per game. That ties for the league lead. He’s statistically on pace to be the best interior scorer in NBA history.

He’s getting this done without a jump shot, as he’s shooting just 14% from beyond the arc. 

Credit Mike Budenholzer for dotting the court with three-point shooting, and letting Giannis go to work. 

Oh my, Giannis with a thundering dunk. pic.twitter.com/MDkXeUEtAX

— Jackson Frank (@jackfrank_jjf) December 18, 2018

If winning MVP was somehow tied to the way we change our interpretation of how basketball is played, then the Freak would be a lock.

Finding the Best Bet

If you’re thinking Anthony Davis, he’ll be hard pressed to just to get his Pelicans into the playoffs. Meanwhile, voter fatigue diminishes LeBron’s usual 27-7-7 campaign, and Steph and KD will negate each other’s brilliance yet again as Warriors’ teammates.

In this case, the favorite matches the eye test: Giannis is the current best bet. But, grabbing Leonard now is a great value, especially if the Raptors can hold down the top spot in the NBA.