Best NBA Player Betting Props To Make

We’re about one-third of the way into the COVID-affected NBA season and it’s been one surprise after another. But things are finally starting to shake out, which is great for making long-term props bets on the year. Here are our four favorite prop picks to earn you some cash!

Is there finally enough order in the NBA to figure out the best NBA player betting props to make for the remainder of the season?

We believe so. That's because the NBA pecking order for 2021 is finally taking shape, which makes for the perfect time to drop a prop bet. In particular, we have player props that are most deserving of your hard-earned money. Here's which and why plus our free NBA wagering advice:

NBA MVP Winner

It's currently a dead heat between five NBA stars for the league's highest individual honor. Here's how online bookies are currently pegging the MVP race:

Player
LeBron James	+225	+350
Nikola Jokic	+500	+600
Joel Embiid	+500	+550
Kevin Durant	+700	+700
Luka Donicic	+800	+550

James is the betting front-runner, but we're not buying him. Look, we don't doubt that James is the best player in the NBA (still), but he's been that for about 12 years running now. Despite that, he hasn't claimed an MVP title since 2013.

Simply put, his all-time greatness has become ordinary to the media members that vote on the award. Him putting up another 30-point triple-double — at the age of 36, no less — is almost discounted because, well, he's LeBron and he's supposed to do that.

You see, the NBA MVP is really about the latest and greatest narrative the media is latching onto. Typically, that goes to a first-time MVP contender willing their team to elite status. Among the current candidates, Embiid fits that mold best.

Embiid's season average of 29.3 points and 10.7 points is absolutely bonkers, more so when you consider that's with an average playing time of under 32 minutes a game. Matter of fact, Embiid's efficiency rating is right on par with Giannis Antetokounmpo's each of the past two seasons when the "Greek Freak" took home the MVP.

Helping Embiid's MVP case is that Philly is currently topping in the Eastern Conference standings. If the Sixers can hold down that spot the rest of the way, or slip to second at worst, then Embiid is in the MVP driver's seat.

Betting pick to make: Joel Embiid (+500)

NBA Rookie Of The Year Winner

At most betting sites, Charlotte's LaMelo Ball is the gambling front-runner for this honor, however, trailing right behind him is Tyrese Haliburton of Sacramento. After the two standouts, there's a huge drop-off in award candidates.

Ball and Haliburton's stat lines up this point are eerily reminiscent. LaMelo is averaging 13.8 points, six assists, and 5.9 rebounds per game. As for Haliburton, his season averages are 11.9 points, 5.4 assists, and 3.7 boards. Where Haliburton is outpacing Ball is in shooting, an area where he has a field-goal advantage of 49 percent to 44 percent.

Akin to what we said about the MVP, we feel the media narrative will keep Ball ahead in the race. He entered with all the hype in the world and thus far, has lived up to the billing — on the team that Michael Jordan just so happens to own. Haliburton has been a great surprise, but playing with the constantly overlooked Kings franchise won't do him any favors in the voting process.

Betting pick to make: LaMelo Ball

NBA Defensive Player Of The Year

Anthony Davis, Rudy Gobert, or Antetokounmpo — take your pick between these three for the DPOY title. Bookies are mostly in agreement on the trio as the current betting favorites (in the order we listed them, too).

Giannis won the award last season, while Gobert won the previous two seasons straight. Davis has never earned the honor, though many believe he was robbed by Antetokounmpo last time out.

What hurts Davis in this race is his so-so rebounding. He's grabbing just 8.6 boards a game — well under the averages of Antetokounmpo (11.2) and Gobert (13.5). However, Davis certainly makes up for it with the defensive versatility to guard forwards and guards, something Gobert lacks.

But here's what the award's real difference-maker will be: team defensive success. The Lakers currently rank best in the league in defensive efficiency, whereas the Bucks have fallen in the middle of the pack. Davis, being the anchor of LA's defense, will get the much-deserved credit for the team's defensive prowess, earning him the hardware in the process.

Betting pick to make: Anthony Davis

NBA Sixth Man Of The Year

Of all the NBA individual trophies, this award is perhaps being run away with most. It would take a complete meltdown from Jordan Clarkson the rest of the season to relinquish this honor.

Clarkson is averaging 17.5 points a game — a career-best in his seventh NBA season. Better yet, his spark off the bench has gotten Utah out to the best record league-wide at 19-5. Both Clarkson and the Jazz are the biggest surprises of the young NBA season this far.

If there's one bet to really hammer home, we'd say it's this one. Clarkson is playing like a man possessed in 2021, which evokes all the betting confidence of us.

Betting pick to make: Jordan Clarkson

Phew, that was a lot of information to pack into one article! If you're ready to bet — whether that's tailing or fading our advice — then feast your eyes on the table below. These are the top-rated online sportsbooks in our minds.

You can find in-depth reviews for each site in the table underneath, along with the current sign-up bonus being offered at each bookmaker. Those sign-up deals are unlocked after registering an account and depositing money into it — which takes minutes. As you can see below, the bonuses can net you free play into the thousand-dollar range!