The NBA regular season MVP is aiming for a rare double achievement at the Finals this year. Oklahoma City and Indiana are set to battle in the NBA Finals after both teams took a measured approach through their playoff runs.
The prestigious Larry O’Brien Trophy and the Bill Russell Finals MVP Award are both at stake. The big question is whether league MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will complete a clean sweep of MVP honors. Here are the DraftKings Sportsbook odds as of June 1st for the 2025 NBA Finals MVP:
– Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: -600 (bet $10 to win $11.67 total)
– Tyrese Haliburton: +700 (bet $10 to win $80 total)
– Pascal Siakam: +1600 (up to $170 total)
– Jalen Williams: +3000 (bet $10 to win $310 total)
– Chet Holmgren: +7500 (bet $10 to win $760 total)
– Myles Turner: +20,000 (bet $10 to win $2,010 total)
SGA is the clear favorite to bring home the Finals MVP, not only because he is the league MVP but also because his team, the Thunder, are favorites to win the championship at -700 odds. Historically, only one player—Jerry West in 1969—has won the Finals MVP while playing for the losing team.
In NBA history, only 10 players have won both the regular season MVP and Finals MVP in their careers, including legends like LeBron James, Tim Duncan, Shaquille O’Neal, Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Moses Malone, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Michael Jordan leads with the most combined MVP achievements, followed by LeBron James and Larry Bird.
This year, SGA has the chance to make history by becoming the first player ever to win the regular season MVP, Western Conference Finals MVP, and NBA Finals MVP in a single season. The Earvin “Magic” Johnson Trophy for West Finals MVP and the Larry Bird Trophy for East Finals MVP have only existed for four years, meaning past stars like Jordan and Abdul-Jabbar did not have the chance to earn these specific honors.
Nikola Jokić came close to this feat in 2023, winning both the Western Conference Finals MVP and Finals MVP, but Joel Embiid was the regular season MVP that year. On the other hand, Pascal Siakam won the Eastern Conference Finals MVP, meaning if the Pacers manage an upset or perform like Jerry West, they also have a shot at winning two MVP awards in the same season.
Fan Take: This story highlights a thrilling moment in basketball where a player like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander could etch his name in history with an unprecedented triple MVP achievement. For fans, this adds a compelling narrative to the Finals, emphasizing the rise of new stars and the evolving competitive landscape of the NBA.
