Tatum led the Celtics to the best record in the NBA during the regular season.

Apr 5, 2024; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) moves the ball up the court against Sacramento

Jayson Tatum, a five-time All-Star, has spearheaded the Boston Celtics to the top spot in the NBA standings this season. Heading into the initial playoff round, Tatum stands as the frontrunner to clinch the Eastern Conference Finals Most Valuable Player Award.

As per DraftKings Sportsbook, Tatum’s odds sit at +110, meaning a $100 wager would yield $110 in winnings. This translates to a 47.62% chance, by implied probability, for Tatum to secure the coveted Larry Bird Trophy.

His teammate Jaylen Brown follows closely as the second favorite with odds of +500, signaling a 16.67% likelihood of claiming the accolade.

Tatum has a history of claiming this accolade. Just two seasons ago, the Duke alum guided Boston to the NBA Finals by triumphing over the Heat in an intense seven-game Eastern Conference Finals. Tatum’s standout performance earned him the inaugural Larry Bird Trophy, highlighted by a stellar showing of 26 points, 10 rebounds, and 6 assists in Boston’s pivotal 100-96 victory over Miami in Game 7.

Throughout the regular season, Tatum maintained impressive stats, averaging 26.9 points and 8.1 rebounds per game while also achieving a career-high in assists.

Boston the betting favorite in the Eastern Conference

It’s expected that the standout player from the leading team would be heavily favored for the title of Eastern Conference Finals MVP. DraftKings indicates that Boston has surged to a -200 favorite in clinching the Eastern Conference title and advancing to the NBA Finals, reflecting an implied probability of 66.67%.

Boston stands among the exclusive pair of teams with odds lower than 12-to-1 for claiming the NBA Finals victory. According to DraftKings, the Celtics hold the favored position with odds of +145 to secure their 18th championship, potentially setting a new NBA record. Following closely behind is the second favorite, Denver, at +300, while the Los Angeles Clippers trail further with odds of +1200.