NBA Finals MVP? Don’t Put All Your Eggs in Steph Curry’s Baskets

Following Steph Curry’s epic 43-point effort in Game 4 against the Celtics last Friday night that evened the NBA Finals at 2-2, the shooting star is now the heavy favorite to win his first Finals MVP award.

Weird, I know, but people tend to forget that Andre Igoudala won the award in 2015. Former Warrior Kevin Durant was named Finals MVP in both 2017 and 2018.

Curry currently is listed as -150, according to FanDuel, one of the best Michigan Online Casinos out there. He’s is the favorite because Golden State has home-court advantage in what is now a three-game series.

The Warriors are also -150 to win the series, and if that happens, Curry is a lock to win the award.

But here’s the kicker: Some pundits believe Curry will win the award even if the Celtics win the title.

That’s a risky proposition to put money on. Why? Because you know how many times that’s happened in NBA Finals history? Exactly once. In 1969 when Mr. NBA Logo himself, Jerry West, received the honor after the Lakers lost in seven games to the Celtics.

Hell, even LeBron James couldn’t take home the award as a consolation prize in 2015, when he averaged 35.8 points, 13.3 rebounds and 8.8 assists in Cleveland's six-game Finals loss to the Warriors.

Curry is averaging 34.3 ppg including a ridiculous 49 percent from downtown.

This series hasn’t quite gone entirely as expected, although it is back on track to go seven games (which I predicted from the start) – but only if each team holds serve at home, and that’s not a given.

Jason Tatum is the second choice for Finals MVP at +180, but the sleeper pick is Jaylen Brown at +700. Great odds there. Might be worth a small wager if you believe the Celtics can still pull this out and they might. Brown is averaging 22.3 ppg and could be clutch in the coming games, of which there will be at least two.

In the end, it’s probably still Curry and the Warriors – I just wouldn’t bet the farm on him or them at -150 each – celebrating on Sunday night but this series has provided surprises in Game 1 and Game 4. Could we be in store for another one? You make the call.