Devin Booker has put together a fantastic NBA season. After dropping 49 points against the Dever Nuggets, the Phoenix Suns just locked up the number 1 seed in the Western Conference. Booker is looking to win his first NBA Championship this season while collecting an NBA MVP award in the process.
Why will Devin Booker win the 2021-22 NBA MVP award?
5 of the last 7 winners of the NBA MVP award have been the leading scorer from the team with the best record in the NBA. This season that player is Devin Booker.
So far this season Booker is averaging 26.3 points per game and the Suns have a record of 60-14. That record is now locked in as the best record for the season.
Who are the players that fit this statistic?
Stephen Curry 2014-15 (23.6 ppg)
Stephen Curry 2015-16 (30.1 ppg)
James Harden 2017-18 (30.4 ppg)
Giannis Antetokounmpo 2018-19 (27.2 ppg)
Giannis Antetokounmpo 2019-20 (29.5 ppg)
These are the 5 winners that Booker looks to join. They all lead their 1st place teams in scoring and won the MVP award. We have two multiple winners (Curry, Antetokounmpo) and James Harden.
Who are the outlier players for this statistic
Russell Westbrook 2016-17 (31.6)
Nikola Jokic 2020-21 (26.4)
Looking at the former outliers, you can see the envision who could steal this award from Booker. One player that seems like an obvious choice is LeBron James who leads the league in scoring. Unfortunately, LeBron’s Lakers are on the outside looking in on the playoffs and that heavily hurts his MVP odds. Because of that fact, Joel Embiid and Giannis Antetokounmpo are stronger candidates that have a better mix of points and team record.
Vegas Insider currently has the 2021-22 NBA odds as followed
- Joel Embiid (Philadelphia) -160
- Nikola Jokic (Denver) +135
- Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee) +800
- Devin Booker (Phoenix) +3000
- Luka Doncic (Dallas) +3000
- Ja Morant (Memphis) +5000
- DeMar DeRozan (Chicago) +10000
- Kevin Durant (Brooklyn) +15000
- Jayson Tatum (Boston) +20000
- Steph Curry (Golden State) +20000
In sumary, time will tell if Devin Booker can make this stat become “6 of the last 8 winners of the NBA MVP award have been the leading scorer from the team with the best record in the NBA.”
