The Key Candidates To Win The NBA Finals MVP Award This Year

The NBA Finals MVP award recognizes the standout performer in the biggest seven-game post-season series yearly. Typically a member of the newly crowned NBA Champions receives the accolade for being the strongest factor behind their success.

The final for 2023/24 looks set to feature the Dallas Mavericks and the Boston Celtics as the respective winners of the Western and Eastern Conferences. With that in mind, we will look at the leading stars from each that will make up the frontrunners to secure the individual prize as well as a championship ring.

Boston’s Key Duo

The Celtics’ franchise has been spearheaded by the key duo of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown for several years and in 2024 their offensive threat could finally result in tangible success.

Tatum is predicted to have the edge when it comes to being the standout star in the finals across all major sportsbooks. For example, bet365 offers him as the +100 favorite to be the face of a potential Boston championship success.

The bookmaker offers a wide range of markets on the finals this year as well as a range of bonus offers for new customers to the site.

Active playoff scoring leaders:

LeBron James: 8162
Kevin Durant: 4985
Stephen Curry: 3966
James Harden: 3764
Klay Thompson: 3032
Chris Paul: 2981
Kawhi Leonard: 2958
Russell Westbrook: 2883
JAYSON TATUM: 2574
Jimmy Butler: 2534
Paul George: 2416

Tatum is only 26 years old 🤯 pic.twitter.com/rf6t1VzhxO

— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) May 27, 2024

Brown’s chances are predicted to be much lesser than his fellow superstar teammate, although he is still firmly within the frontrunners at +400.
Tatum has averaged 26 points and 5.8 assists across the post-season so far, while Brown has managed an inferior 24.7 points and 2.7 assists, so it is tough to predict the tide turning in the biggest matchup of all.

Tatum plays more minutes and takes more shots than Brown per game meaning it will take some incredibly efficient shooting performances from the latter if he is to emerge as Boston’s leading performer in the finals.

Dallas’ Incredible Backcourt

Dallas similarly to the Celtics has two superstars of their own. The Mavericks post-season run to the finals has seen some dub the pair of Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving as the greatest NBA backcourt history.

LUKA DONCIC TONIGHT:
33 PTS – 7 REB – 5 AST – 5 STL

KYRIE IRVING TONIGHT:
33 PTS – 3 REB – 4 AST – 60% FG

🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/qfezPIwe9K

— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) May 27, 2024

If the franchises’ winning form continues then one of the elite guards could claim the final MVP award. Doncic is unsurprisingly the favorite regarding the Dallas ranks as he has been by far the most prolific scorer in the post-season with an average of 28 points per game.
At odds of +200 to be the latest finals MVP winner, Doncic only narrowly trails Tatum in the market, and the difference between them could simply be the Celtics’ position as favorites to win the series.

Irving rounds out the top four candidates in the odds at +1400. He would have to hope that Dallas wins yet another series as underdogs and that he could overshadow Doncic – the Slovenian who always seems to produce his greatest form under the highest pressure.

Ultimately, four genuinely elite NBA stars make up the realistic candidates for the finals MVP award. Whether the championship goes to Dallas or Boston, the individual accolade is destined to go into the hands of one of the league’s biggest names.

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