NBA Championship Odds, Predictions & Picks 2026: Thunder Open Year as Favorites While Nuggets, Cavs Tied in Second

• The Thunder have a 33.3 percent implied chance to go back-to-back

• The Houston Rockets fell to +1700 after climbing to second following the Kevin Durant trade

• The Cleveland Cavaliers and Denver Nuggets are tied for second in odds

And just like that, the race to climb the 2026 NBA championship odds is on.

The Oklahoma City Thunder were crowned world champions in 2025 after their Game 7 victory over the Indiana Pacers. Oddsmakers heavily expect them to go back-to-back amid a league-wide injury crisis and potential reshuffling of the deck during the offseason, but how does every other team fall into place?

Here’s a complete overview of NBA championship 2026 odds.

2026 NBA Championship Odds

Find the latest odds in the table below, courtesy of FanDuel. Place your bets at FanDuel and claim your bonus: Bet $5, Get $300 in Bonus Bets if Your Bet Wins. For more info, read our expert FanDuel Sportsbook review.

Rest of the teams listed at +2700 odds or higher.

NBA Championship Predictions

There weren’t tons of marquee moves across the league during the offseason, though there were several exceptions. Kevin Durant is in Houston, while top contenders such as the Nuggets, Cavaliers, and Clippers retooled their rosters with new supporting casts for their core group of starters.

The Lakers and Warriors are also still in the mix despite having aging superstars, LeBron James and Stephen Curry, while the Celtics are expected to play most of, if not the entire season, without Jayson Tatum. 

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NBA Championship Winner Pick - My Pick

Denver Nuggets (+700) at FanDuel

The Nuggets took the Thunder to seven games in the second round of the NBA playoffs last year and got significantly better during the offseason. Cam Johnson is the ideal version of Michael Porter Jr. with elite sharpshooting and versatile defense, Hardaway Jr. can be a spark plug and knockdown shooter off the bench, and Bruce Brown won a title with Denver two years ago. This team is configured the right way and has the best player in the world running the show.

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How to Bet on the NBA Championship

While there are tons of ways to bet on the NBA with game lines, player props, and other markets, NBA Championship bets deal strictly with predictions on the NBA Finals.

This bet classifies as a “Futures” bet, which is simply an event that will be settled at a future date. NBA champion odds will be found either in their own subheading or the futures section of a sportsbook’s NBA tab.

Online sportsbooks will differ in their assessment of contending teams and provide different odds, so NBA bettors are encouraged to consult multiple sportsbooks before placing their bet.

How to Read NBA Championship Odds

Reading NBA championship odds are no different than reading traditional odds. All odds preceded by a + sign mean that a $100 bet will win the listed amount, and all odds preceded by a - sign will take the listed amount to win $100.

For example, a +550 team will pay $550 for a $100 wager if they win the NBA championship. A -165 favorite will pay $100 on a $165 wager.

The only key difference between futures odds and game lines is that usually, all or nearly all of the options will have positive odds. As the season and playoffs progress and teams are eliminated, the odds for all available candidates will shorten.

Where to Bet on the NBA Championship Winner

Every NBA betting site should come with NBA championship odds. However, as mentioned above, the odds and general experience will vary depending on the sportsbook.

FanDuel is the American leader in sports betting and has tons of NBA betting markets, including futures odds. New users of FanDuel can claim the welcome offer: Bet $5, Get $300 in Bonus Bets if Your Bet Wins.

bet365 typically has great odds and offers two welcome bonuses for new users: First Bet Safety Net worth up to $1,000 in bonus bets OR Bet $5, Get $150 in Bonus Bets Win or Lose. Use our promo code WSN365 during the sign-up process to be eligible for a bonus of your choice.

Another great option is BetMGM, leading the way in the ease of navigation and user experience. If you are new to BetMGM, use our promo code WSNSPORTS when signing up for an account and claim the following offer: Get Up to $1,500 in Bonus Bets*.

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NBA Championship Winner History (to 2000)

The Oklahoma City Thunder won the 2025 NBA Finals, meaning that for the first time in league history, seven different teams won seven straight Finals. The last repeat champion was the 2017-18 Golden State Warriors, which is a sharp change from the dynasties that ran the league.

Here’s a look at all of the NBA champions since 2000.