NBA Eastern Conference Odds 2026: Can the Knicks Finally Reclaim the Throne?
The NBA Eastern Conference Champion is a title awarded to the team that wins the Eastern Conference Finals, the third and penultimate round of the NBA Playoffs. It is played as a best-of-seven series between the two remaining Eastern Conference teams in the playoffs.
The winner advances to the NBA Finals to face the Western Conference Champion, a victory that directly impacts the overall NBA Championship odds. While tracking which franchise will win the series, many bettors also look closely at the NBA Eastern Conference Finals MVP odds to predict which standout player will take home the Larry Bird Trophy for their performance.
Let's jump into the latest odds for the NBA Eastern Conference Winner.
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NBA Eastern Conference Odds
The latest odds for the NBA Eastern Conference can be found in the table below. Check our curated list of the best NBA betting sites available on the market today, and snag some of the latest NBA promo codes and bonuses along the way.
| Team | Caesars Odds | BetMGM Odds | DraftKings Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York Knicks | -10000 | -10000 | -6000 |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | +2500 | +2200 | +2000 |
| Odds are accurate as of the time of publishing and are subject to change. | |||
NBA Eastern Conference Winner - My Pick
While the Boston Celtics and the surprising Detroit Pistons have dominated the regular season standings, navigating the Eastern Conference playoff bracket requires a different level of postseason pedigree. Here is my definitive pick on which battle-tested squad will survive the East's physical gauntlet and punch their ticket to the NBA Finals.
New York Knicks (-6000) at DraftKings Sportsbook
The New York Knicks are overwhelming favorites to capture the 2026 NBA Eastern Conference title. They have constructed a perfectly balanced, battle-tested roster that is currently steamrolling the competition. Anchored by the elite scoring and leadership of Jalen Brunson, the team's offense is firing on all cylinders, heavily bolstered by the unmatched chemistry of their "Villanova core" which seamlessly integrates two-way standout Mikal Bridges and the relentless energy of Josh Hart. When you combine that perimeter synergy with the lockdown wing defense of OG Anunoby and the versatile, floor-spacing size of Karl-Anthony Towns in the frontcourt, they possess virtually no exploitable weaknesses.
Currently holding a commanding 3-0 lead over the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Conference Finals while riding a historic 10-game playoff winning streak, New York's elite blend of offensive firepower, defensive grit, and high-pressure execution makes them the undeniable favorites to win the East and advance to their first NBA Finals since 1999.
NBA Eastern Conference Winner History
The East has been viewed as the lesser NBA conference for a long time, making it hard to pick a winner since LeBron James left the Cavaliers. Below are the previous ten winners of the NBA Eastern Conference.
| Year | NBA Eastern Conference Winner |
|---|---|
| 2024-25 | Indiana Pacers |
| 2023-24 | Boston Celtics |
| 2022-23 | Miami Heat |
| 2021-22 | Boston Celtics |
| 2020-21 | Milwaukee Bucks |
| 2019-20 | Miami Heat |
| 2018-19 | Toronto Raptors |
| 2017-18 | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| 2016-17 | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| 2015-16 | Cleveland Cavaliers |
NBA Eastern Conference Standings
Here are the final standings for the Eastern Conference from the 2025/2026 NBA regular season.
| Seed | Team | W | L | PCT | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Detroit Pistons | 60 | 22 | .732 | — |
| 2 | Boston Celtics | 56 | 26 | .683 | 4.0 |
| 3 | New York Knicks | 53 | 29 | .646 | 7.0 |
| 4 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 52 | 30 | .634 | 8.0 |
| 5 | Toronto Raptors | 46 | 36 | .561 | 14.0 |
| 6 | Atlanta Hawks | 46 | 36 | .561 | 14.0 |
| 7 | Philadelphia 76ers | 45 | 37 | .549 | 15.0 |
| 8 | Orlando Magic | 45 | 37 | .549 | 15.0 |
| 9 | Charlotte Hornets | 44 | 38 | .537 | 16.0 |
| 10 | Miami Heat | 43 | 39 | .524 | 17.0 |
| 11 | Milwaukee Bucks | 32 | 50 | .390 | 28.0 |
| 12 | Chicago Bulls | 31 | 51 | .378 | 29.0 |
| 13 | Brooklyn Nets | 20 | 62 | .244 | 40.0 |
| 14 | Indiana Pacers | 19 | 63 | .232 | 41.0 |
| 15 | Washington Wizards | 17 | 65 | .207 | 43.0 |
How to Bet on the NBA Eastern Conference Winner
Start by visiting BetMGM or your favorite sportsbook. Navigate to the NBA page, where there will be a tab labeled “Futures”. Simply scroll down until you see the “2025/26 NBA: Futures” section. You will find odds to win both conferences available there.
We always recommend spending time researching NBA future bets, especially for conference winners. Placing bets early can provide the best odds, but it also makes winning even harder. Spending some time doing your homework will increase your chances of winning and help build better betting habits.
How to Read NBA Eastern Conference Winner Odds
Reading the odds for the NBA Eastern Conference winner is a quick and straightforward process.
When reading odds from a sportsbook, you’ll see numbers with a (+) or (-) in front of them. The plus sign means that you will win the number after it when betting $100. If the number has a minus sign, you need to bet that amount to win $100.
Where to Bet on the NBA Eastern Conference Winner
We prefer to use BetMGM Sportsbook when betting on the NBA Eastern Conference winner. The Vegas-based gambling giant offers one of the best betting experiences in the industry, bringing Vegas-style betting straight to your phone, tablet, or computer. All new users who sign up with BetMGM bonus code WSNSPORTS can claim the following welcome offer: Get Up to $1,500 in Bonus Bets*.
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NBA Eastern Conference FAQ
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