Would you look at that! We’re already midway through February of the NBA season. The trade deadline has passed, All-Star Weekend is around the corner and each team is getting ready to hit the home stretch of the 2022-23 regular season.
What stands at the end of all the above is the NBA Honors, which are usually awarded during the postseason. While a lot of the season has passed us by, it’s now crunch time and those players who want some hardware but might be a step or two behind the leader of the pack could really put in their last bid over the next month and a half.
So, today we check on three players with non-favorite odds for their respective award categories who might be worth betting on.
Norman Powell - Sixth Man of the Year
Norman Powell has some stiff competition for Sixth Man of the Year. His +450 odds currently trail Tyrese Maxey’s (+250) and Malcolm Brogdon’s (-150) at the top of the race as the two latter have legitimate cases to win the Award if the season ended today. But so does Powell, who’s recovered nicely from a very slow start to the season.
His stats by month:
October: 10.9 points per game on 37.7 FG% and 22.6 3P%
November: 16.7 points per game on 49.7 FG% and 45.3 3P%
December: 16.8 points per game on 54.8 FG% and 40.9 3P%
January: 18.5 points per game on 49.5 FG% and 47.8 3P%
February: 21.3 points per game on 50.0 FG% and 37.1 3P%
He and the Clippers must run through the tape as the regular season winds down. If they can do so, it wouldn’t be crazy for Powell to win 6MOY.
Jalen Brunson - Most Improved Player
If you think either Shai Gilgeous-Alexander or Lauri Markannen — the MIP leaders in odds (+125) are locks for the award — then maybe this section isn’t for you. But if you’re like me, who thinks the New York media and the fact that the Knicks could end up making the playoffs while the Thunder and Jazz don’t, then you might want to consider betting on Jalen Brunson (+350) to earn his first Most Improved Player Award.
Brunson’s year-to-year leap has been just as impressive as anyone else’s and he isn’t showing signs of slowing down. In fact, he’s heating up. Brunson is averaging 32.5 points per game this month and has multiple 40-point outings. Should he keep this up after the All-Star Break, he’s going to have action.
Giannis Antetokounmpo - Most Valuable Player
Giannis Antetokounmpo is the best player in basketball, and if that was ever a debate, he’s ended that in recent weeks. How do 37.2 points, 13.4 rebounds and 5.8 assists sound over the Bucks’ 11-game win streak?
Giannis is a (Greek) freak and truly is unique. He hasn’t won an MVP in a few years now, so voters might not be hesitant to show him love. Why not place a bet on him now while his odds (+700) are the third-shortest?
