Why Is Team LeBron Favored When It Hasn’t Been Drafted?

• The NBA All-Star Game will have teams picked just before it starts.
• This gives knowledgeable NBA betting fans a chance at big profits based on the draft.
• The sportsbooks have given Team LeBron an advantage over Team Giannis, sight unseen.

LAS VEGAS - The NBA has entered the All-Star Break, which means it's time for online sportsbooks to offer wagers on the 2023 NBA All-Star Game.

In a unique twist to the format, the teams will be drafted just before the game starts, with team captains LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo taking turns selecting players live.

This could affect the odds of the game in a significant manner. What this does, however, is create an opportunity for odds to shift dramatically as different players are selected.

NBA All-Star Game Odds

• Team Giannis +3.0 (-110)
• Team Lebron -3.0 (-110)

Intriguingly, in a vacuum, the NBA sportsbooks have given Team LeBron an advantage over Team Giannis.

This despite the fact that only Giannis, of the two players listed here, is a true MVP candidate right now.

2023 NBA All Star Game MVP Odds

• LeBron James (LAL) +550
• Giannis Antetokounmpo (MIL) +650
• Joel Embiid (PHI) +650
• Damian Lillard (POR) +750
• Kyrie Irving (DAL) +750
• Luka Doncic (DAL) +1000
• Jayson Tatum (BOS) +1000
• Donovan Mitchell (CLE) +1000
• Ja Morant (MEM) +1100

In a similar vein, LeBron has shorter odds than Giannis to win the All-Star Game MVP award, even though Giannis won it in 2021 and the last time LeBron won it was 2018, when he was still on the Cleveland Cavaliers.

NBA All-Star Game MVP Award Winners

1. 2022 – Steph Curry
2. 2021 – Giannis Antetokounmpo
3. 2020 – Kawhi Leonard
4. 2019 – Kevin Durant
5. 2018 – LeBron James
6. 2017 – Anthony Davis
7. 2016 – Russell Westbrook
8. 2015 – Russell Westbrook
9. 2014 – Kyrie Irving
10. 2013 – Chris Paul

So why do the online sportsbooks think that LeBron is suddenly going to explode in the All-Star Game?

Could this be related to his breaking of the NBA’s all-time scoring record this season? In doing so, LeBron has demonstrated that he still has the basketball skills to score 40 or 50 points whenever he wants, and he’s keenly aware of his place in history.

Still, it is odd that anyone would be ahead of Giannis. He’s currently scoring more points per game than LeBron in fewer minutes per game, with more rebounds and far better defense to boot.

The online sportsbooks sure seem to know something, but it’s unclear what that may be.