Cade Cunningham, Nikola Jokic Surge in NBA MVP Odds Amidst Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Injury Update

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's odds of winning a second-straight NBA MVP award have taken a hit due to his recent abdominal injury, while Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham and Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic have surged in the MVP race with strong recent play.

Why it matters

The NBA MVP award is one of the league's most prestigious individual honors, and the race this season has become increasingly competitive as top players like Gilgeous-Alexander, Cunningham, and Jokic vie for the trophy. Gilgeous-Alexander's injury could open the door for his rivals to overtake him in the standings and the MVP race.

The details

Gilgeous-Alexander, who was the -340 favorite at DraftKings Sportsbook a few weeks ago, has seen his odds drop to -145 after missing time with an abdominal strain. Meanwhile, Cunningham has moved from +1400 to +500 thanks to a dominant February in which he's averaged 27.3 points, 9.6 assists, and 5.6 rebounds per game. Jokic has also made a push, averaging a near triple-double (23.1/13.7/9.6) since returning from injury, though the Nuggets have struggled to a 3-5 record in that span.

• Gilgeous-Alexander has been out of the Thunder lineup since Feb. 4 with an abdominal strain.
• Cunningham has been on a tear in February, averaging 27.3 points, 9.6 assists and 5.6 rebounds per game.

What’s next

Gilgeous-Alexander is expected to miss at least another week as he recovers from his abdominal strain, giving Cunningham and Jokic more time to make their case for the MVP award.