2026 NBA Championship Betting
Although the NBA has its share of problems, including mediocre and flat TV ratings and the alienation of many fans who once loved the Association, some positive signs suggest that if the NBA can avoid getting in its own way with its political pandering, a new and improved era is possible. The days of the NBA revolving around the Los Angeles Lakers and a couple of other mega-market teams are thankfully over. So, too, have the formerly predictable playoffs become quite unpredictable. While the NBA is not yet as unpredictable as the NHL and MLB playoffs, it has made significant progress. The 2025 NBA Finals were the best example, with the Indiana Pacers winning the Eastern Conference championship. Indiana took the Oklahoma City Thunder to a full seven-game series in the final before losing the grand finale. The NBA playoffs have consistently provided fans with plenty of surprises, a trend that has become the norm over the past several years. And that parity is a positive development.
From a gambling perspective, the NBA has never been more appealing. Not only has the league found a new level of parity, but it has also never had more betting options. In particular, live in-game betting has drawn new gamblers to the NBA board. The future of NBA betting is quite promising and could be a sign that the Association is poised for a serious return to significant prominence.
Basketball Betting Lines
NBA Championship Betting Odds
| ODDS TO WIN NBA CHAMPIONSHIP 2025/26 |
| Atlanta Hawks +2824 |
Boston Celtics +4540 |
Brooklyn Nets +133930 |
| Charlotte Hornets +110532 |
Chicago Bulls +60550 |
Cleveland Cavaliers +757 |
| Dallas Mavericks +2723 |
Denver Nuggets +704 |
Detroit Pistons +4237 |
| Golden State Warriors +1835 |
Houston Rockets +857 |
Indiana Pacers +9083 |
| Los Angeles Clippers +1664 |
Los Angeles Lakers +1455 |
Memphis Grizzlies +13620 |
| Miami Heat +10089 |
Milwaukee Bucks +6758 |
Minnesota Timberwolves +1967 |
| New Orleans Pelicans +40223 |
New York Knicks +782 |
Oklahoma City Thunder +257 |
| Orlando Magic +2421 |
Philadelphia 76ers +3178 |
Phoenix Suns +32795 |
| Portland Trail Blazers +37841 |
Sacramento Kings +45410 |
San Antonio Spurs +4000 |
| Toronto Raptors +15133 |
Utah Jazz +85796 |
Washington Wizards +128716 |
*Odds as of Monday, August 11, 10:00 AM ET
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Gamblers tend to bet the future based on the past, and that is certainly the case in the preseason 2025-26 NBA future market. The defending NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder opened as the favorite to repeat as the 2026 champion, with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Denver Nuggets, New York Knicks, and Houston Rockets the next top choices. Surprisingly, the defending Eastern Conference champion Indiana Pacers are not receiving much love for the upcoming season, despite the outstanding coaching of Rick Carlisle. Gamblers did not like the loss of Myles Turner, which capped off a lackluster offseason by the Pacers.
The New York Knicks made the 2025 Eastern Conference Finals and had their best playoff run in a generation. Head coach Tom Thibodeau was rewarded for his outstanding performance by being fired. It was a classic Knicks being Knicks move. Yet there is still optimism among gamblers that New York will be capable of another strong run in the 2026 NBA Playoffs.
Certainly, the Cleveland Cavaliers will be a team to consider for the season ahead. Cleveland has put together a couple of strong regular seasons that were followed by playoff flops. Cleveland is bringing in Lonzo Ball and Larry Nance Jr to help push the team further come playoff time.
Meanwhile, in the West, the Denver Nuggets have the best player in basketball. Nikola Jokic powered the Nuggets to their only NBA championship in 2023. However, the Nuggets have been on a two-year bender since then, forcing a late-season coaching change. David Adelman was elevated from his assistant coaching position, and the team showed enough improvement for him to have the interim tag removed.
NBA Teams
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