2025 NBA Magic Johnson Trophy Odds and Predictions

Round two of the 2024-25 NBA Playoffs is underway. You can still bet on who will win the Eastern Conference or Western Conference, while two more rounds are between us and finding out who will win this year’s NBA Championship.

Before we get that far, though, you can bet on the 2024-25 NBA Western Conference Finals MVP odds. The Golden State Warriors just escaped round one on Sunday, officially giving us the field for the west.

Can they get out of round two and offer someone on their team a chance at the WCF MVP, or should we just look to the Oklahoma City Thunder? I’m here to find out, so join me as I look at the latest betting odds for this market and come to my final prediction.

When Will The Western Conference Finals Start?

The 2024-25 NBA Western Conference Finals are slated to begin on May 20th. Depending on how the NBA Playoffs materialize in round two, however, they could be pushed up to as early as May 18th. They are expected to wrap up by June 7th at the latest and June 1st at the earliest.

What Is The Name Of The Western Conference Finals MVP Trophy?

The Eastern Conference Finals MVP pays homage to Larry Bird, so it should shock nobody that the Western Conference Finals MVP trophy is named after the legendary Magic Johnson.

NBA Western Conference Finals MVP Odds

Check out the latest NBA Western Conference Finals MVP odds, courtesy of the best sports betting sites: 

SGA leads the way as the odds on favorite to win the 2024-25 NBA Western Conference Finals MVP award – to the shock of nobody. His Oklahoma City Thunder did drop game one of their second round series, but it’s likely that they still advance.

Assuming that’s the case, the top seed in all of basketball is a really good bet to take care of business in the WCF, which would make SGA the logical pick to claim this trophy.

That said, Anthony Edwards, Nikola Jokic, and even Stephen Curry have compelling arguments – and alluring NBA odds for this wager. I think the answer you’re looking for is staring you in the face, but all betting markets demand the turning over of stones.

I’ll walk through the top contenders en route to my winner prediction, but as always, I highly suggest utilizing the best handicappers out there to ensure you’re always getting maximum value and making the most informed bets possible.

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NBA Western Conference Finals MVP Favorites

The following NBA players are considered the odds-on favorites to win the Western Conference Finals MVP due to their odds, NBA Teams, and season to date:

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (-130)

SGA is the obvious pick. Even with his Oklahoma City Thunder down 1-0 in their second round series, they’re a great bet to reach the Western Conference Finals, and they continue to be the best bet to reach the NBA Finals out of the west as well.

During the regular season, SGA put up NBA MVP caliber production, averaging a career-high 32.7 points per game, while also grabbing 5.0 rebounds and dishing out 6.4 assists per contest.

OKC is a deep and balanced team that uses elite defense to boost their odds of winning, but they will still probably need their best player to show out in the WCF. All things considered, he is a steal at this -130 moneyline.

Anthony Edwards (+375)

I’m not sure I’d peg the Minnesota Timberwolves as the second best bet to win the WCF, but I understand the logic of them at least getting there. Minny faces the 7-seeded Golden State Warriors, after all, so advancing out of round two certainly isn’t unrealistic.

Golden State may be one of the best 7-seeds we have ever seen, however, while a first round upset of the Houston Rockets is enough to suggest they’re capable of derailing ANT and company.

Assuming they don’t, Edwards would be a compelling bet to go off in the WCF, and he is the rare player that could have a real shot at claiming the hardware even if his ‘Wolves didn’t win the series.

Edwards put up a career-high 27.6 points per game during the regular season, while he flashed his immense upside with a 43-point scoring outburst against the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round. His squad also easily dispatched the Lake Show in just five games, further proving they could have the goods to make a deep playoff run.

Nikola Jokic (+525)

I don’t know if there is a better value amongst the Western Conference Finals MVP contenders than Nikola Jokic. For a guy that put up a 42-22 stat line in a game one upset over the NBA Finals favorites – and one that can coast to a triple-double on a nightly basis – his price is kind of unbelievable.

Jokic continued to deliver MVP-level stats this past season, as he averaged a triple-double for the first time in his career with 29.6 points, 12.7 rebounds, and 10.2 assists per game.

His Denver Nuggets took a step backward when compared to OKC, but there is an argument for Jokic and co. to escape round two. OKC simply does not have anyone down low that can effectively stop him, so if the Denver supporting cast shows up, an upset – and a booked ticket to the WCF – isn’t that outlandish to hope for.

If that comes to fruition, the walking triple-double would be poised for a massive series. He’d either run into a Warriors team that has even less resistance on the interior, or he’d be looking at an epic face-off with Rudy Gobert down low.

Jokic would be a terrific bet to come out on top in either scenario, even if betting on the Nuggets in general feels troubling after they fired their head coach mere weeks ago.

Stephen Curry (+750)

The last WCF MVP contender to give a serious look is Stephen Curry. The ageless wonder keeps battling back father time, as he went off more than once in his first round series with the Houston Rockets, and remains equipped with the scoring ability to off-set any matchup.

Curry is capable of averaging north of 30 points per game throughout a series, and it’s fair to expect that’s precisely what he’d have to do to will his Golden State Warriors back to the NBA Finals. Even if he failed in that plight, however, Curry’s age and the fact that his team made it that far as an NBA Play-In Tournament representative may give him a shot at winning even in defeat.

I don’t hate Curry’s chances to have a terrific series and turn back the clock, necessarily, either. I just don’t feel like it’s a more likely scenario than some of the already mentioned guys balling out.

Best NBA Western Conference Finals MVP Betting Value

The following NBA players offer betting value based on their current odds:

Jimmy Butler (+2000)

Playoff Jimmy remains a thing. Jimmy Butler was a key piece to Golden State’s puzzle as they upset the Rockets in round one, as he dropped 25 points with seven rebounds and six assists in a game one win, and overcame a nasty hip bruise to deliver 20+ points in three other games.

Butler is going to make an impact on every series he’s in, as he offers solid playmaking, clutch scoring, and top shelf defense. It’s hard to envision him overtaking Curry entirely if the Warriors did somehow manage to win the Western Conference Finals, but this is the exact type of absurdity he’s grown accustomed to during postseason play.

Jimmy Butler has twice willed a less than elite Miami Heat team to the NBA Finals, and he’s never been able to go to war with the likes of Curry or Draymond Green. If the Dubs are in position to accomplish the impossible, Butler and his +2000 price tag could suddenly look amazing.

Jalen Williams (+4000)

To a lesser degree, I’d consider guys like Jalen Williams or even Chet Holmgren (+6000). Williams is the more reliable scorer between the two OKC teammates, of course, and if OKC is going to live up to expectations, it’s likely that he will need a good WCF series.

Williams was one of the NBA’s most improved players this year, jumping up to 21.6 points per game, while also improving as a playmaker. His ascension hasn’t stopped with the NBA playoffs arriving, as he nuked the Memphis Grizzlies in round one, topping 20+ points in every game.

It’s fair to say he did not bring his A-game in the first game of his round two series versus the Denver Nuggets, but Williams is a safe bet to bounce back. Should OKC rally and advance as everyone expects them to, he’d be a strong candidate to at least chip in quality production with a trip to the NBA Finals on the line.

While SGA is the logical pick if that path is the one these playoffs take, it’s always possible J Dub is the one called upon to elevate his game. If he answers the call, his +4000 odds could prove to be a steal.

Top NBA Western Conference Finals MVP Longshot 

There is honestly pretty good value across the board for this wager, but nobody offers a better price than Denver Nuggets star point guard Jamal Murray. He’s coming in at a staggering +10000m, largely because he shares the floor with Jokic, and because Denver isn’t expected to get to the NBA Finals.

If Denver does shock the world and get past the Thunder in round two, however, they’d suddenly be the favorites to fend off either Minnesota or Golden State. While Jokic would be my preferred bet to win the WCF MVP at that point, Murray undeniably has a path to get there – and his price tag would ultimately be the deal of the century.

Murray can be a volatile player in general and he isn’t going to make a massive impact defensively. However, much like we say Playoff Jimmy, there is something about Murray when his number is called with all of the marbles in play.

We saw Murray deliver at times in The Bubble, and of course he shined during Denver’s title run. He was back at it in round one, dropping 43 points in a key game five in a tough matchup with the Los Angeles Clippers.

That was the biggest reminder possible that Murray is capable of doing enough to win an award like this – but he’d probably need more than one effort like that to unseat Jokic.

NBA Western Conference Finals MVP Predictions

When people search for the best NBA picks online, they typically aren’t seeking value or upside – they want wins. I do think there’s merit in looking for value and trying to project unlikely scenarios, but it tends to be fairly cut and dry when it comes to betting on the NBA.

Most of the favorites for player awards win, and the top teams during the regular season usually square off to decide the champion. For my money, the NBA Finals is almost definitely going to include two of the Celtics, Cavs, and Thunder.

Something catastrophic would have to happen to prevent that, even though the prices and narratives from the west are indeed inviting. Regardless, SGA has been the best player all year long, and his Thunder have been the best team.

When all the chips are down, it is incredibly likely that OKC gets to the NBA Finals, and if/when they do, it will probably be due to their best player putting them on his back. I don’t know if they are a lock to win it all, but I think they’ll at least get there, and SGA will claim the Magic Johnson trophy in the process.

Bet: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (-135)

NBA Western Conference Finals MVP Winners

The following is a list of recent NBA Western Conference Finals MVP winners: