Russell Westbrook, now unquestionably The Man in Oklahoma City, is expected to have a monster 2016-17 campaign.
The oddsmakers have him favored to take home Most Valuable Player honors next season.
Russell Westbrook now the favorite to win the MVP this season at 2/1. Bovada says Steph Curry next at 4/1 and LBJ at 5/1. KD next at 12/1.
— Eddie Sefko (@ESefko) August 15, 2016
Westbrook, 27, has finished fourth in MVP voting the last two years.
Per The Oklahoman:
Bovada.lv has the Thunder All-Star as the (very) early betting favorite to win the 2016-17 NBA Most Valuable Player award. Westbrook is listed as the 2-to-1 favorite, with Stephen Curry (4/1), LeBron James (5/1) and Kevin Durant (12/1) the next closest.
With Durant off to Golden State, it’s no surprise that Westbrook is getting buzz as the frontrunner for the award. He averaged 23.5 points, 10.4 assists and 7.8 rebounds with Durant last season, so there’s expected to at least be an increase in his points per game based on the Thunder needing to compensate for the scoring punch lost, maybe even shades of Westbrook’s scoring title from 2014-15.
Westbrook’s all-around game (18 triple-doubles last season) coupled with him becoming the focal point of the Thunder offense projects for numbers that could make it his award to lose in the eyes of voters, especially if he’s able to elevate the Thunder to 50 or more wins and a playoff spot in the rugged Western Conference.
