2025 NBA Finals MVP odds: Can Gilgeous-Alexander pull off MVP trifecta?
The NBA regular-season MVP will look to pull off the double dip in the Finals.
Oklahoma City and Indiana are set to face off in this year's NBA Finals, after each team somewhat breezed through their respective playoff matchups, with both going 12-4 so far in the postseason.
Now, the Larry O'Brien Trophy is on the line, as well as the Bill Russell Finals MVP award.
Will league MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander complete the MVP sweep? Let's check out the odds at DraftKings Sportsbook as of June 1.
2025 NBA Finals MVP
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: -600 (bet $10 to win $11.67 total)
Tyrese Haliburton: +700 (bet $10 to win $80 total)
Pascal Siakam: +1600 (bet $10 to win $170 total)
Jalen Williams: +3000 (bet $10 to win $310 total)
Chet Holmgren: +7500 (bet $10 to win $760 total)
Myles Turner: +20000 (bet $10 to win $2,010 total)
SGA is heavily favored to take home the hardware, not only because he is the league MVP, but because his Thunder are heavily favored to win the Finals, at -700.
Only once has a player won Finals MVP while playing on the losing team: the Lakers' Jerry West in 1969.
In NBA history, 10 players have won both regular-season MVP and Finals MVP. That list includes LeBron James (2012, 2013), Tim Duncan (2003), Shaquille O'Neal (2000), Hakeem Olajuwon (1994), Michael Jordan (1991, 1992, 1996, 1998), Magic Johnson (1987), Larry Bird (1984, 1986), Moses Malone (1983), Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1971) and Willis Reed (1970).
As noted, Jordan accomplished the feat four times, the most in league history, followed by James and Bird, who both did it twice.
However, SGA does have a chance to make some history this year. He could become the first player in NBA history to win regular-season MVP, Western Conference finals MVP and NBA Finals MVP.
The Earvin "Magic" Johnson Trophy (West finals MVP) and Larry Bird Trophy (East finals MVP) have only been in existence for four years, meaning the likes of Jordan, Abdul-Jabbar and others from the list above (everyone except James) never had a chance to win it during their playing days.
Nikola Jokić came closest to pulling it off in 2023, when he won Western Conference finals MVP and NBA Finals MVP. However, Joel Embiid won regular-season MVP that year.
As for other names on the oddsboard, Pascal Siakam was named Eastern Conference finals MVP, meaning he still has a chance to win two MVP awards in one season if his Pacers can pull off the upset — or, if he goes Jerry West-mode.
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New York Times
8 minutes ago
- New York Times
In shocking move, Hilary Knight was exposed to PWHL expansion. Why?
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If she were signed or drafted by Seattle, she would undoubtedly help grow the fan base and market swiftly, much like her star counterparts in soccer (Megan Rapinoe) and basketball (Sue Bird) have done. Not to mention, she would bring veteran leadership to the locker room, which would surely be an important intangible for a new club. Given that Seattle general manager Meghan Turner was the assistant GM in Boston for two years, she will know exactly what Knight brings to a team and locker room. Advertisement While leaving Knight unprotected is a shocking move, Marmer had a difficult choice to make, with only three initial protection slots. Neither Knight nor the team have commented on the decision. The locks in Boston had long been assumed to be Frankel and Keller. Frankel is one of the best goalies in the PWHL and was Boston's MVP on most nights over the first two seasons. Keller is the team's best, most experienced, defender. That left one protection slot for Knight, Müller and 2024 first-round pick Hannah Bilka. Both Bilka (24) and Müller (27) are younger than Knight and could reasonably be expected to play for the Fleet long-term. Without knowing Knight's plans for her pro career, it's hard to speculate what she'll do at the end of her three-year contract in 2026. She did announce the 2026 Milan Olympics will be her last, signaling that the end to her legendary career could be coming. Knight said she still plans to play in the PWHL after Milan, but for how long remains to be seen. Realistically, if Marmer were to protect Knight, she'd run the risk of losing all three players in short order – Müller and Bilka to expansion, and Knight to retirement. Protecting Müller — even if it likely means losing Knight — ensures the team keeps at least one of its core forwards for more than a few years. There's also the salary cap to consider. With Knight's contract — one of Boston's $80,000 minimum salaries — on the books, the team could have a hard time replacing Müller and Bilka in free agency. Especially while competing for free agents with expansion teams that will get to hand-pick the best players with the best contracts. If Knight were to be selected, Boston could have more money to try to sign a top free agent or two. The entry draft could help Boston too, with potential top-line players in the first few rounds, but it's not a particularly deep incoming class in 2025. If Boston is going to attempt to replace the offense and talent it's losing in expansion, it will likely need to come from free agency. Advertisement The best case scenario for Boston is that Knight isn't selected in expansion, and the Fleet keep her and Müller as an elite top-line combo. While unlikely, it's possible. Perhaps Seattle and Vancouver decide to draft younger rosters. Or they speak with Knight during the signing window and find she vehemently doesn't want to leave Boston. Maybe Knight's contract will be too much for the team to take on with other star players — like Alex Carpenter and Sarah Nurse — also available for selection. Still, for what she brings both on and off the ice, Knight sits at the top of the 'available players' list. And now, for another few days, we wait to see where she ends up.
NBC Sports
29 minutes ago
- NBC Sports
New York Knicks 2024-2025 fantasy basketball season recap: Karl-Anthony Towns shines in NYC debut
While the NBA Playoffs are in full swing, now is a good time to recap the fantasy basketball season for all 30 teams. In the following weeks, we will provide a recap for each team, starting with the team with the worst record and concluding with the NBA champion in June. Next up are the New York Knicks, who made significant changes after a second-round exit in last season's playoffs. The first move was to add another Villanova alum to the roster, acquiring Mikal Bridges from the Nets in exchange for a package that included five future first-round picks. Lead executive Leon Rose wasn't finished either, sending Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo to Minnesota in exchange for Karl-Anthony Towns. The Knicks would go on to record a second straight 50-win season, the first time they've done so since the mid-90s, and reach the conference finals for the first time since 2000. New York Knicks 2024-2025 Season Recap Record: 51-31 (3rd, East) Offensive Rating: 117.3 (5th) Defensive Rating: 113.3 (13th) Net Rating: 4.0 (8th) Pace: 97.64 (26th) 2025 NBA Draft Picks: 50 With the additions of Bridges and Towns, the Knicks boasted what was expected to be one of the best starting fives in the NBA. And that's how things played out for a while, but there was a shift during the latter stages of the regular season. After the All-Star break, New York's net rating of 0.3 ranked 18th in the NBA, due mainly to a sharp decrease in the team's offensive rating. Ranked second in that category before the break, the Knicks were 22nd in offensive rating after. Still, the Knicks managed to win 51 games and earn the 3-seed in the East, with Towns (third team) and Jalen Brunson (second team) earning All-NBA honors. After battling through a six-game series with Detroit and Boston, New York faced long-time nemesis Indiana in the Eastern Conference Finals. After shockingly blowing Game 1, the team's lack of depth and penchant for committing turnovers proved costly, as the Pacers won the series in six games. Rose and company now head into a critical offseason for the franchise, as the Knicks need to strengthen their bench, especially when considering the depth of the two teams in the NBA Finals. That said, with Boston due to be without Jayson Tatum for most of next season due to his ruptured Achilles tendon, the Knicks will likely be viewed as one of the preseason favorites in the East. Whether or not they make good on those expectations will depend on what the front office does this offseason. Fantasy Standout: Karl-Anthony Towns With the move from Minnesota to New York, many fantasy managers expected Towns' fantasy value to spike this season. With Mitchell Robinson unavailable due to offseason ankle surgery, KAT was the lone big in the Knicks' starting lineup, and he flourished offensively. Appearing in 72 games, he averaged 24.4 points, 12.8 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.0 steals, 0.7 blocks and 2.0 three-pointers in 35.0 minutes. In addition to recording a career-best rebounding average, Towns matched his previous high in steals (2021-22). That was also the last season in which Towns played at least 70 games. KAT did have to deal with a left knee injury down the stretch that lingered into the postseason, but availability was not an issue. Towns scored at least 30 points in 22 games, which included five games of 40 or more, led by a 46-point effort in a November 13 loss to the Bulls. Entering the season with a Yahoo! ADP of 19, KAT exceeded those expectations, providing top-10 value in eight- and nine-cat formats, and he was a top-5 player regarding total value. While there have been some early questions in the immediate aftermath of the Knicks' elimination from the playoffs, he had an outstanding debut season in the Big Apple. Towns should be a first-round pick in fantasy drafts in the fall. Fantasy Revelation: OG Anunoby While few questioned Anunoby's ability to be a quality asset for their fantasy teams, the consensus was that he would be a middle-round pick. He finished his first season with the Knicks ranked just outside the top-75 in per-game value and entered the 2024-25 campaign with a Yahoo! ADP of 80. Availability issues in the past impacted his draft position, with Anunoby exceeding 65 regular-season appearances once since the 2019-20 season. Not only did OG appear in 74 games, but this was also his most productive offensive season as a pro. Shooting 47.6 percent from the field and 81.0 percent from the foul line, Anunoby averaged 18.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.5 steals, 0.9 blocks and 2.3 three-pointers in 36.6 minutes. Recording a career-high scoring average, he was a top-40 player in nine-cat formats and sat just outside the top-50 in eight-cat formats. Anunoby had 32 games in which he scored at least 20 points, nearly triple his 2023-24 total (11), including a 40-point effort in New York's November 25 blowout of the Nuggets. OG has provided top-50 value in three of his last five seasons, but there were questions following the additions of Towns and Bridges. There should be no such concerns heading into drafts next fall. Fantasy Disappointment: Mikal Bridges Unfortunately for Bridges, the haul New York gave up to acquire him was something that would be cited throughout his first season with the Knicks. While his first full season with the Nets was not as productive as many fantasy managers anticipated, the feeling was that the slender wing would be able to provide top-50 value, or at least approach it. That would not be the case, as Bridges got off to a slow start and ultimately failed to crack the top-75 in eight- or nine-cat formats. Once again appearing in all 82 games, he averaged 17.6 points, 3.2 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 0.9 steals, 0.5 blocks and 2.0 three-pointers in 37.0 minutes, shooting 50 percent from the field and 81.4 percent from the foul line. Those aren't bad numbers by any stretch of the imagination, and Bridges being dependable from an availability standpoint raises his fantasy floor. That said, more was expected from the newest member of the Knicks' 'WingStop' trio. His average of 1.4 free throw attempts per game was the lowest for Bridges since his rookie season, and that was also the last time he shot as poorly from three as he did in 2024-25. Eligible for a contract extension this summer, Bridges' role with the Knicks is unlikely to change much if the front office does not make any significant moves. The hope is that he'll be more comfortable offensively, thus improving his fantasy value after it slipped in 2024-25. Fantasy Recaps/Look-Aheads Jalen Brunson Brunson's fantasy ranking illustrates the difference between actual player value and fantasy basketball value. No one in their right mind would say that Brunson's 2024-25 season was disappointing, given his numbers and achievements, which included a second-team All-NBA selection and starting in the All-Star Game for the first time. However, he had a Yahoo! ADP of 19, meaning that many fantasy managers projected him to be something close to a cornerstone for their rosters. Brunson finished with averages of 26.0 points, 2.9 rebounds, 7.3 assists, 0.9 steals and 2.3 three-pointers in 35.4 minutes, shooting 48.8 percent from the field and 82.1 percent from the foul line. Those numbers were good enough for top-50 value in eight- and nine-cat formats, with the Knicks captain appearing in 65 games. The most significant issue for fantasy managers was the unfortunate timing of his lone extended absence, with a right ankle injury sidelining Brunson for 15 games in March and April. There were moments during the postseason in which Brunson appeared to tweak his ankle, but he did not miss any time. While some may be hesitant to use a top-20 pick on Brunson again, especially if the Knicks don't make any significant moves in the offseason, he's worth the risk. Josh Hart With the addition of Bridges and Towns to the Knicks' starting lineup, Hart was the player many expected to take the most significant hit to his fantasy value. The rugged wing entered the season with a Yahoo! ADP of 116, a clear sign that fantasy managers did not expect much more than late-round value. Averaging a career-high 37.6 minutes per game during the regular season, Hart contributed 13.6 points, 9.6 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.1 three-pointers, shooting 52.5 percent from the field and 77.6 percent from the foul line. His nine triple-doubles broke a Knicks' single-season franchise record previously held by Walt 'Clyde' Frazier, and Hart finished as a third-round player in eight- and nine-cat formats. However, the lackluster perimeter shooting and turnovers proved problematic during the postseason, especially in the Eastern Conference Finals. Hart was replaced in the starting lineup by Mitchell Robinson ahead of Game 3 and would come off the bench in each of the final four contests. While Hart hit double digits in rebounds in three of those reserve appearances and recorded two double-doubles, his impact in that series was muted. Was the move to the bench a sign of what's to come in 2025-26? Regardless of the answer, Hart's draft position is unlikely to match his 2024-25 output, but coming off the bench will likely lower his fantasy ceiling. Mitchell Robinson After a second surgery on his right ankle last May, Robinson was not ready to begin the 2024-25 season. That factored into the Knicks' decision to get the Towns trade completed, as the team would have gone into training camp with Precious Achiuwa and rookie Ariel Hukporti as its healthy options at the center position. Robinson did not make his first appearance of the season until February 28 against the Grizzlies, surpassing 20 minutes twice in his first 14 outings. His impact as an offensive rebounder and defender gave the Knicks a welcome boost during the postseason. Still, his poor foul shooting made the 7-footer a target for intentional fouls, especially in the Boston series. While he was not much of a help to fantasy managers after returning from injury, providing top-150 value in nine-cat formats, it's easy to envision a scenario in which Robinson figures more prominently in the Knicks' rotation next season. He replaced Hart in the starting lineup for the final four games of the conference finals, giving New York a much-needed boost on the offensive glass and the defensive end of the floor. However, the limitations make Robinson a player best suited for rosters that can either absorb his poor foul shooting or punt that category outright. Miles McBride McBride was projected to be the Knicks' most valuable reserve this season, and that's how things played out. In 64 games, he averaged 9.5 points, 2.5 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.8 three-pointers in 24.9 minutes, with each of those numbers being career-highs. Deuce started 10 games, most occurring while the Knicks were without Brunson, before a groin injury sidelined him for eight games in late-March/early April. While he did exceed his Yahoo! ADP of 144 in nine-cat formats, there was the feeling that something was left on the table, through no fault of McBride's. really is almost unbelievable that Thibs played Deuce McBride alongside the other 4 starters (in place of Hart) for LESS THAN 50 minutes the ENTIRE season (playoffs and regular season combined) seems impossible. somehow it's true As the limitations of New York's starting lineup rose to the surface during the second half of the regular season, that did not result in McBride getting more time with the team's top four scorers. And that was before Brunson went down with his ankle injury. And when Thibodeau decided to change the starting lineup in the conference finals, he went with rebounding/defense (Robinson) to replace Josh Hart instead of McBride, who could have added more scoring. McBride is the lone rotation reserve under contract for next season, so his role is unlikely to change much. He'll remain a late-round option in standard leagues. Precious Achiuwa After hitting free agency following a solid run with the Knicks last season, Achiuwa inked a one-year deal with the team in late July. While it appeared that he could be in for a more prominent role due to Mitchell Robinson's offseason ankle surgery, things would not play out that way. The addition of Towns gave the Knicks a needed boost of talent at the center position, relegating Achiuwa to a reserve role on most nights. He made 10 starts, finishing the regular season with averages of 6.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.7 blocks in 20.5 minutes, shooting 50.2 percent from the field and 59.4 percent from the foul line. Along with fellow reserves Cameron Payne, Landry Shamet and Delon Wright, Achiuwa will be an unrestricted free agent this summer. While there will likely be a desire for a more prominent role somewhere, that may not be in the cards. Achiuwa returning to New York would mean another season in which he doesn't offer much beyond streaming value when one of the preferred big men isn't available to play. Restricted Free Agents: MarJon Beauchamp, Kevin McCullar Jr., Anton Watson Unrestricted Free Agents: Precious Achiuwa, Cameron Payne, Landry Shamet, Delon Wright Team Option: P.J. Tucker, Ariel Hukporti
Boston Globe
33 minutes ago
- Boston Globe
Shigeo Nagashima, ‘Mr. Baseball' of postwar Japan, dies at 89
More than any player of his generation, Mr. Nagashima symbolized a country that was feverishly rebuilding after World War II and gaining clout as an economic power. Visiting dignitaries sought his company. His good looks and charisma helped make him an attraction; he was considered Japan's most eligible bachelor until his wedding in 1965, which was broadcast nationally. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up The fact that he played for the Giants, who were owned by the Yomiuri media empire, amplified his exploits. He wore his success and celebrity so comfortably that he became known as 'Mr. Giants,' 'Mr. Baseball' or, sometimes, simply 'Mister.' Advertisement 'No matter what he did or where he went there was a photo of him -- attending a reception for the emperor, or coaching a Little League seminar, or appearing at the premiere of the latest Tom Cruise movie,' Robert Whiting, a longtime chronicler of Japanese baseball, wrote about Mr. Nagashima in The Japan Times in 2013. 'People joked that he was the real head of state.' Advertisement None of that celebrity would have been possible had he not excelled as a ballplayer. Along with his teammate Sadaharu Oh, Japan's home run king, Mr. Nagashima was the centerpiece of the country's most enduring sports dynasty. He hit 444 home runs, had a lifetime batting average of .305, won six batting titles, and five times led the league in RBIs. He was a five-time MVP and was chosen as the league's top third baseman in each of his 17 seasons. He was inducted into Japan's Baseball Hall of Fame in 1988. In his first season, 1958, he led the league in home runs and was second in stolen bases and batting average, earning him rookie of the year honors. One of Mr. Nagashima's trademarks was his work ethic, a trait that was particularly celebrated during Japan's postwar rise. Under the guidance of manager Tetsuharu Kawakami, Mr. Nagashima practiced from dawn to dusk, enduring an infamous 1,000-fungo drill that required him to field ground ball after ground ball. In the offseason, he trained in the mountains, running and swinging the bat to the point of exhaustion. He bought a house by the Tama River in Tokyo so he could run there, and he added a room to his home where he could practice swinging. By the early 1960s, word of his talents had reached the United States. Bill Veeck of the Chicago White Sox tried unsuccessfully to buy his contract, as did Walter O'Malley of the Los Angeles Dodgers, now home to Japanese superstar Shohei Ohtani. (Ohtani offered his condolences on Instagram, posting photos of himself with the aging icon.) Advertisement After ending his playing career in 1974 (his number, 3, was retired), Mr. Nagashima became the team's manager. He was far less successful in that role, at least initially. He pushed his players -- some of whom were his former teammates -- to work as hard as he did. 'Bashing the players this year cultivates spirit,' he told The Japan Times. In his first season, the Giants finished in last place for the first time. The next two years, they won the Central League pennant but lost the Japan Series. The Giants failed to win their division for the next three years, and Mr. Nagashima was let go in 1980. Shigeo Nagashima was born Feb. 20, 1936, in Sakura, in Chiba prefecture. His father, Toshi, was a municipal worker and his mother, Chiyo, was a homemaker. He grew up rooting for the Hanshin Tigers, the Giants' archrival. He took up baseball in elementary school, but because of wartime shortages, he made a ball from marbles and cloth and used a bamboo stick as a bat. After graduating from high school, he entered Rikkyo University, where he started at third base. Rikkyo, typically an also-ran, won three college tournaments. After graduating from Rikkyo, Mr. Nagashima signed a then-record 18 million yen (about $50,000 in 1958) contract with the Giants. As his star rose on the field, speculation about his marital status grew. In 1964, he met Akiko Nishimura, a hostess at the Tokyo Olympic Games who had studied in the United States and spoke fluent English. Their wedding was the most-watched television broadcast in Japan the following year. She died in 2007. Advertisement Their oldest child, Kazushige, played sparingly for the Giants when his father managed the club and now works in television. Their second son, Masaoki, is a former race car driver, and his daughter Mina is a newscaster. Baseball icon Joe DiMaggio joined Mr. Nagashima (left), Minoru Murayama, former manager of the Hanshin Tigers, and a group of young baseball hopefuls in Tokyo in 1983. The event was part of an international sports festival. Tsugufumi Matsumoto/ASSOCIATED PRESS After Mr. Nagashima's first stint as a manager, he worked as a television commentator. His affable style came with occasionally incomprehensible chatter. But his charisma made him an irresistible target when the Giants were looking for a new manager in 1993. Then 56, Mr. Nagashima debated whether to return to the dugout. 'My wife and I were looking forward to a quiet life playing golf, and it was hard to decide to throw myself back into the fight,' he told reporters. 'But I was raised as a Giant, and if I have the strength, I will do whatever it takes for the Giants.' Mellowed by age, he was easier on his players this time around. He also had the good fortune to manage Hideki Matsui, the team's cleanup hitter and one of the most fearsome sluggers of the 1990s. (Mr. Nagashima would later criticize Japanese players, including Matsui, who joined the New York Yankees in 2003.) The Giants won two Japan Series titles, in 1994 and 2000, during Mr. Nagashima's nine-year tenure. In his 15 years as a manager, his teams won 1,034 games, lost 889 and tied 59 times. The Giants made him a lifetime honorary manager. As he was preparing to manage the Japanese team at the Olympic Games in Athens in 2004, Mr. Nagashima, then 68, suffered a stroke that partly paralyzed the right side of his body. Though he was seen less in public in the years that followed, he was no less adored. In 2013, he and Matsui were given the People's Honor award by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Eight years later, they were torch bearers at the opening ceremony at the Tokyo Games. Matsui walked slowly, holding Mr. Nagashima, as his old teammate, Oh, held the Olympic torch. Advertisement This article originally appeared in
