Jalen Brunson leads the odds for Eastern Conference Finals MVP

The Eastern Conference was unpredictable during the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs thanks to three seven-game series and a surprise loss to the No. 2 seed Boston Celtics.

The fast-paced conference first round also changed FanDuel’s market for the 2025-26 NBA Eastern Conference Finals MVP. Celtics superstars like Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown were previously among the favorites for the media-voted award before their premature first-round firing.

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The wide open race in the East, combined with Boston’s elimination, means three players are in the running for the Larry Bird Award. New York Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson (+160) is the current favorite after averaging just over 26 points per game in the first round against Atlanta. Continuing a string of strong postseason performances, Brunson’s consistency and high usage give him considerable traction with the Knicks as the new conference favorites.

Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham trails Brunson slightly on the heels of a fantastic first round against Orlando. With Detroit trailing 3–1 in the series, Cunningham took over and averaged 36.3 points per game over the final three games of the series, helping the Pistons regain their confidence in the process. Cunningham now sits at +200, behind only Brunson in the Eastern Conference.

Donovan Mitchell (+600) of the Cleveland Cavaliers is third in the Eastern Conference Finals MVP voting. Although Cleveland outlasted Toronto in the first round, the Raptors made Mitchell work and held him to 23.1 points per game on 43 percent shooting after Mitchell put up 27.9 points on 48 percent shooting in the regular season. Cunningham and Mitchell will battle in the second round for a spot in the Eastern Conference Finals, and the winner will likely get a significant transfer boost in the process.

After a notable drop in odds, the secondary roster of contenders is still full of All-Stars capable of capturing a playoff run. Karl-Anthony Towns (+1200) played better defense for the Knicks while shutting down the Hawks. But Towns finished third in the Atlanta series behind Brunson and guard OG Anunoby, hurting Towns’ potential case for a series MVP award.

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Philadelphia 76ers big man Joel Embiid (+1700) must stay healthy and eliminate the No. 2 seed Knicks in the second round to reach the Eastern Conference Finals. But a healthy Embiid is still a force after averaging 29 points per game in four games against Boston.

Similar to Embiid’s candidacy, 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey (+3000) must first get past New York in the second round to earn serious ECF MVP consideration. But if Maxey’s stellar play against Boston is any indication, the high-scoring guard is capable of putting up points in bunches after averaging just under 27 points per game in the series.

Some other notable names to consider for Eastern Conference Finals MVP include Knicks two-way threat OG Anunoby (+3300), Cavaliers veteran guard James Harden (+3500) and Cleveland big man Evan Mobley (+5500).