NBA MVP Odds: Where Is Trae Young in this Year's MVP Race?

Could Trae Young be a dark horse candidate to win NBA MVP?

The 2023-2024 NBA Season begins tonight with two big games. 

The defending NBA Champion Denver Nuggets start their path to a repeat title in a Western Conference Finals rematch with the Los Angeles Lakers and then the new-look Phoenix Suns are going to square off with the Golden State Warriors. It is a great double-header to start the NBA season and there are going to be multiple MVP candidates playing tonight. 

Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (+275) is the MVP front-runner to begin the season over at Caesar's Sportsbook. Jokic is trying to win his third MVP trophy in four years and after winning the title last season, most around the NBA consider him to be the best basketball player in the world.

Following Jokic are Giannis Antetokounmpo (+500), Luka Doncic (+600), Jayson Tatum (+600), and last year's winner Joel Embiid (+1100). 

Where does Trae Young fit in in this MVP race? 

Young comes in at 13th in the MVP odds at +3000, tied with Lakers forward Anthony Davis and Cavs guard Donovan Mitchell. 

Can Trae Young win the NBA MVP this season? / Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Young is coming into this season looking to lead the Hawks to a top seed in the Eastern Conference and is one of the favorites to lead the NBA in assists. When talking with the media yesterday, Young talked about the things that he is doing to improve his game coming into the season, namely shooting: 

"If you look at my percentages every year, they have gotten better and not in points per game or assists per game necessarily but my percentages, except last year. For me, it is just getting back to what I do and shooting the ball with confidence. I was taking more mid-range shots last year and I was really focused on that, that was a big focus of mine but after seeing what CP did and taking his team to the finals and all. This summer it was focusing a lot more on getting back to shooting threes and getting back to myself. I think we'll jump my percentages up and all that and I am not really focused on that. I know I am going to be a lot better than I was last year and that is saying a lot. I am just trying to do that."

"𝗜'𝗺 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗜 𝗱𝗼."

Expect @TheTraeYoung to show off his range this season 👀 pic.twitter.com/NgKBXu93mU

— Bally Sports: Hawks (@HawksOnBally) October 23, 2023

The only other Hawk to be listed in the MVP odds on Caesar is Dejounte Murray at +12500. 

Atlanta opens their regular season tomorrow night against the Charlotte Hornets. Tip-off is set for 7:00 p.m.

Be sure to tune into AllHawks.com for the latest coverage

Follow Jackson on Twitter: @jacksoncaudell

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