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NBA Championship Odds, Predictions & Picks 2025: Thunder Clear Favorites, Pacers in Last

  • The Thunder have implied 64% odds to win the NBA Finals

  • The Knicks are second in odds (+460)

  • The Timberwolves (+650) and Pacers (+700) are underdogs in the conference finals

82 regular season games and four playoff rounds are all in the spirit of determining the next NBA champion. Here’s how the sportsbooks see the race in NBA championship odds shaping up.

2025 NBA Championship Odds

Find the latest odds for the NBA Championship 2025 in the table below and place your bets at some of the best online sportsbooks available today!

NBA Championship Predictions

The Thunder are rightful favorites after they blew out the Nuggets in Game 7 of the conference semis. Their third-round matchup with the Timberwolves presents an interesting challenge since they split the season series 2-2, and Minnesota went to Game Six of the conference finals last year.

The Knicks beat the Pacers 2-1 in their regular-season series. They’ve been nearly impossible to close out in tight games but play a totally different style than Indy, which makes this an interesting tactical battle between Tom Thibodeau and Rick Carlisle.

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NBA Championship Winner - My Pick

Indiana Pacers (+700) at FanDuel

In a strange way, it’s more likely the Pacers win the Finals than the conference finals. They’ve shot the ball better than any team in the playoffs and will run their opponents to death, so if they prove that they can maintain their elite offensive efficiency for yet another round, they’d be a dangerous opponent for either Minnesota or OKC. Indy has looked the best of any team up to this point, is deep, and plays extraordinarily well in the clutch.

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NBA Championship Winner Predictions

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.

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 $200 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 recent strike of parity across the league has made it so that there hasn’t been a repeat champion since the Golden State Warriors in 2017-18. That’s a sharp change from the teams that perennially ruled the league, whether that be the Miami Heat, San Antonio Spurs, Los Angeles Lakers, or other teams.

Here’s a look at every NBA champion since 2000.

Season Winner Loser  Result
2024 Boston Celtics Dallas Mavericks Celtics - 5 games
2023 Denver Nuggets Miami Heat Nuggets - 5 games
2022 Golden State Warriors Boston Celtics Warriors - 6 games
2021 Milwaukee Bucks Phoenix Suns Bucks - 6 games
2020 Los Angeles Lakers Miami Heat Lakers - 6 games
2019 Toronto Raptors Golden State Warriors Raptors - 6 games
2018 Golden State Warriors Cleveland Cavaliers Warriors - 4 games
2017 Golden State Warriors Cleveland Cavaliers Warriors - 5 games
2016 Cleveland Cavaliers Golden State Warriors Cavaliers - 7 games
2015 Golden State Warriors Cleveland Cavaliers Warriors - 6 games
2014 San Antonio Spurs Miami Heat Spurs - 5 games
2013 Miami Heat San Antonio Spurs Heat - 7 games
2012 Miami Heat Oklahoma City Thunder Heat - 5 games
2011 Dallas Mavericks Miami Heat Mavericks - 6 games
2010 Los Angeles Lakers Boston Celtics Lakers - 7 games
2009 Los Angeles Lakers Orlando Magic Lakers - 5 games
2008 Boston Celtics Los Angeles Lakers Celtics - 6 games
2007 San Antonio Spurs Cleveland Cavaliers Spurs - 4 games
2006 Dallas Mavericks Miami Heat Heat - 6 games
2005 San Antonio Spurs Detroit Pistons Spurs - 7 games
2004 Detroit Pistons Los Angeles Lakers Pistons - 5 games
2003 San Antonio Spurs New Jersey Nets Spurs - 6 games
2002 Los Angeles Lakers New Jersey Nets Lakers - 4 games
2001 Los Angeles Lakers Philadelphia 76ers Lakers - 5 games
2000 Los Angeles Lakers Indiana Pacers Lakers - 6 games

NBA Championship FAQs

Who won the 2024 NBA Finals?

Which NBA teams have not won the Finals?


What is the Larry O’Brien Trophy?

Which team won the most NBA championships?

Who were the first NBA champions?

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Grant Mitchell

Grant Mitchell

Sports Betting Analyst & On-Air Host

Expertise:
NBA
NCAAB
NCAAF
NFL
Online Sports Betting
Grant is a sports and sports betting journalist who prides himself on delivering breaking news and insightful analyses of the industry. Grant graduated from Virginia Tech in 2021 and is feverishly pursuing his ambitions in the sports betting field. In his free time, Grant can be found passionately watching sports, doing a workout, or searching for adventure with his friends.
Email: [email protected]
Nationality: American
Education: Bachelor in Sports Media and Analytics
Favourite Sportsbook: Caesars Sportsbook
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Experience: 4 years
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