NBA Betting: Kevin Durant Slight All-Star MVP Favorite Over LeBron James
by Bovada Sportsbook Staff | Feb. 14, 2014
Oklahoma City superstar Kevin Durant has never won the NBA’s MVP Award, but he is now the betting favorite to do so at Bovada over Miami’s LeBron James, a four-time winner. Durant versus LeBron is clearly the Bird versus Magic rivalry of the current NBA era and it could carry over to Sunday night’s All-Star Game in New Orleans. And just like Durant is the regular-season MVP favorite, he is also the 3/1 All-Star MVP favorite. James is a close second at 7/2.
Join Bovada, make your first deposit and instantly receive a 50% Free Bet Bonus up to $250.
Durant has appeared on a mission all season and leads the NBA in scoring by a wide margin at 31.2 points per game. He won the 2012 All-Star MVP in Orlando when the Western Conference beat the East 152-149. Durant played nearly 38 minutes in that competitive game and led the West with 36 points. He has scored at least 30 points in the past three All-Star Games. The Western Conference has won three straight as well. The West has never won four in a row.
James is a two-time All-Star Game MVP, most recently in 2008 when the game was last in New Orleans and the East won 134-128. LeBron had 27 points, nine assists and eight rebounds in nearly recording a triple-double – he did have one in the 2011 game.
The third-favorite might surprise people: the Pelicans’ Anthony Davis at 17/2. He originally wasn’t chosen to be an All-Star but is an injury replacement for injured Laker Kobe Bryant. Davis is also scheduled to play in the Rising Stars Challenge Game on All-Star Weekend.
While Davis is certainly a deserving All-Star, he is ahead of such established players as Carmelo Anthony (10/1), Blake Griffin (12/1), Kevin Love (14/1) and others because MVP voters tend to reward players from the hometown teams if they play well. The last player to win the ASG MVP Award in his own gym was Bryant in 2011.
Saturday night’s festivities are highlighted by the Three-Point Contest and Dunk Contest. The favored Dunker of the Night is Indiana’s Paul George at 2/1. He’s one of three competing in the All-Star Game and the Dunk Contest along with Washington’s John Wall (9/2) and Portland’s Damian Lillard (5/1). Keep an eye on Sacramento rookie Ben McLemore (5/1). He has said he may try a 720 dunk, which would be unprecedented in this contest.
Golden State sharpshooter Stephen Curry set the NBA record for made 3-pointers last season with 272, breaking future Hall of Famer Ray Allen’s mark of 269 set in 2005-06. Curry leads the league by a wide margin this season, as well as in attempts, and he is the 2/1 favorite to win the Three-Point Contest in his third try. Cleveland’s Kyrie Irving won it last year and is 11/2 to repeat. Timberwolves big man Kevin Love, a surprise winner of this contest in 2012, is 4/1.
