The Best NBA Players of the 2024/25 Season – With a Bettor’s POV
By Edcel Panganiban June 18, 2025 10:19
We just witnessed the most shocking season ever. New emerging kings, legends still putting up a good show, and for those of us with a sportsbook tab always open—plenty of betting drama we wont forget anytime soon. The 2024/25 NBA campaign gave us unexpected payout moments, MVP shifts, and prop-bet gems.
Today, we follow suit and do the unexpected. Instead of ranking the top 10 players, we’re breaking it down by who mattered most. Both on the courts and in the markets From rising stars to stat-sheet freaks, this is your inside look at the NBA’s best players this season.
As sports betting analyst Kate Richardson puts it, “Knowing who’s peaking at the right time isn’t just about fantasy, it’s a betting edge.”
So, let’s get to it.
Top Rookie: Stephon Castle (San Antonio Spurs)
Heading into the season, San Antonio’s Stephon Castle wasn’t a favorite candidate for the Rookie of the Year award. But bettors who took the huge risk on him are still grinning from ear to ear.
The Spurs’ explosive guard averaged 14.7 points, 4.1 assists, and 3.7 rebounds across 81 games. He topped the leaderboard of all rookies in total points and steals, giving San Antonio back-to-back ROTY winners following Wemby’s 2024 win..
Castle opened the season at around +700 odds to win Rookie of the Year but by April, he was an undisputed favorite, jumping from dark horse to frontrunner in a matter of months.
He beat out top picks like Zaccharie Risacher and Dalton Knecht, proving that consistency and two-way play still count for something in ROY voting—and in long-term betting tickets.
MVP Superstar: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City Thunder)
If you put your money on Shai this season, enjoy that payday because the MVP cooked.
SGA led the league in scoring with 32.7 points per game , and rounded out his brilliant stat record with 6.4 assists, 5 rebounds, and two steals per game. But it wasn’t just about the numbers. It was the way he did it. He burned defenses with four 50+ point games, and guided the Thunder to an NBA-best 68 wins.
At season start, Shai was sitting gold at +400 to +550 odds in most MVP books. By spring? He hit -2500 on some platforms, making him a virtual lock weeks before voting closed.
“The 2024-25 NBA Scoring Champion… Shai Gilgeous-Alexander!” — NBA Official Announcement
What made SGA so profitable was the nightly props, not just the futures. He smashed over odds regularly, and bettors who rode his 30+ or 40+ point performance markets cashed in nice.
Defensive Phenom: Victor Wembanyama (San Antonio Spurs)
Back to San Antonio. Wemby didn’t disappoint his believers in his sophomore season as he owned the paint all year.
The 7’4” French alien averaged a jaw-dropping 3.8 blocks and 10.7 rebounds, leading the NBA once again in defense. Getting into the lane was close to impossible, the attack stopped trying. If you tailed his blocks prop this season, you know wassup, You green green baby.
Wemby kicked off as a -180 favorite for Defensive Player of the Year and kept it that way through most of the season. Although a minor injury sidelined him later on in the year, his impact was unmatched.
“Maybe me or Victor Wembanyama.” — Evan Mobley on the NBA's future best player
What's more scary is that the Spurs main man is still developing offensively. Watch out cause once he starts hitting those jumpers, MVP props will be very tempting.
Triple-Double Titan: Nikola Jokić (Denver Nuggets)
What’s more automatic than a Jokić triple-double? Close to nothing..
Joker put up a 29.6 / 12.7 / 10.2 line, averaging a triple double for the entire season. This has only been done by Oscar Robertson and Westbrook before him, and Jokić did it shooting 57% from the floor.
He began the year as a favorite for MVP at around +380. While Shai edged him out, Jokić still had the second-best odds by season’s end and was a staple in same-game parlays and player prop bets.
“I think I’m playing the best basketball of my life… if that’s enough, great. If not, Shai deserves it.” — Jokic on his season performance
Ageless Icon: LeBron James (Los Angeles Lakers)
The real number is 40, and the King is still moving like he’s 23.
LeBron averaged 24.4 points, 8.2 assists, and 7.8 rebounds in his 22nd year, leading the Lakers to the 3rd seed in the West. He’s not dropping the crown anytime soon.
From a bettors perspective, LeBron remained reliable. Staking on his assists props became easy money on high-possession games. He helped LA cruise past preseason win total projections, making futures bettors smile to the bank.
“There are some nights you watch him, and he looks like the same guy you watched in 2003 on occasion. It’s impressive.”
— Dwayne Wade on LeBron's longevity
To be delivering on plays like this for 22 years in a row is just insane.
Every night, the Joker card always paid: 10+ assists? ✅ Over 9.5 rebounds? ✅ PRA over 45.5? ✅. Bettors know the deal.
If you are looking to spot these trends early and stay winning, take a look at this in-depth overview of one of the best NBA sportsbooks for live props.
What Bettors Should Take Away
The 2024/2025 NBA season defined the transition of generation as both emerging talents and season veterans made their presence felt. For bettors, keynote is to stay attuned to player performances and trends so as to capitalize on opportunities.
As we look ahead, leveraging insights from this season can inform smarter betting strategies. The season may be over, but the knowledge you’ve banked? That’s where next year’s wins start.
Who’s your bet on next for MVP?
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