With the offseason in full swing and rosters reshaping by the day, sportsbooks have already adjusted their 2026-27 NBA championship odds. The New York Knicks are fresh off their first title since 1973, but the big question now is whether they’re built to repeat.
In this betting preview, I’ll walk through the latest futures market, break down the top contenders, and share my best NBA Championship predictions.
2026-27 NBA Championship Odds
The following NBA Finals odds are courtesy of Lucky Rebel:
| TEAM | SERIES WINNER |
|---|---|
| Oklahoma City Thunder | +250 |
| San Antonio Spurs | +260 |
| Boston Celtics | +750 |
| New York Knicks | +800 |
| Miami Heat | +1700 |
| Minnesota Timberwolves | +2000 |
| Denver Nuggets | +2500 |
| Detroit Pistons | +2800 |
| Los Angeles Lakers | +2800 |
| Indiana Pacers | +3000 |
The Oklahoma City Thunder (+250) currently hold a slim edge over the San Antonio Spurs (+260) at top NBA betting sites. As of late June, the Thunder have a 28.6% implied probability of winning the 2026-27 NBA title, while the Spurs are just behind at 27.8%. In other words, they’re essentially co-favorites heading into the season.
After the Thunder and Spurs, there’s a steep drop-off to the Boston Celtics (+750), who have the third-best odds to win the championship. At +750, Boston carries an 11.8% implied probability of capturing its second Larry O’Brien Trophy since 2024.
Despite coming off a title run, the New York Knicks are priced fourth at +800. That number translates to an 11.1% implied probability, which isn’t exactly an optimistic assessment from oddsmakers. Meanwhile, Giannis Antetokounmpo’s move to Miami sparked a major shift in the Heat’s futures price, from +3000 to +1700, an increase in implied probability from 3.2% to 5.6%.
You can find up-to-date NBA Finals betting odds at Lucky Rebel by navigating to Sports > Basketball > NBA Futures > NBA Championship.
2026-27 NBA Championship Favorites
Before getting into my NBA Championship picks, let’s take a deep look into the top betting favorites for the 2026-27 season:
Oklahoma City Thunder (+250)
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- Head Coach: Mark Daigneault
- 2025-26 Record: 64-18
- NBA Titles: 2
- Key Players: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren, Jalen Williams
The Oklahoma City Thunder enter the 2026-27 season as the betting favorites to reclaim the Larry O’Brien Trophy, sitting at +250 odds. Mark Daigneault’s squad is coming off a dominant 2025-26 regular season, where they captured the league’s best record at 64-18, led the NBA in net rating (+11.1), and boasted the No. 1 ranked defense in the league.
SGA IS YOUR BACK-TO-BACK MVP 🌩️
31.1 PPG | 6.6 APG | 4.3 RPG
Another one for SGA 🏆🏆
(via @ShamsCharania) pic.twitter.com/WgzEiSP4gZ
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 17, 2026
Despite their regular-season dominance, the defending 2025 champions fell just short of a repeat, losing a grueling seven-game battle to Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference Finals. The Thunder weren’t at 100%, with Jalen Williams battling a strained left hamstring throughout the year.
“J-Dub” endured a brutal, injury-plagued campaign, limited to just 33 regular-season games due to severe, recurring hamstring issues. Because he was sidelined or severely limited during the postseason, playing starter minutes in only one game against the Spurs, the Thunder lacked their crucial secondary scoring punch and premier wing defense.
Heading into 2026-27, Williams is fully expected to be healthy and getting a third-team All-NBA caliber star back at 100% drastically elevating OKC’s ceiling. Furthermore, the Thunder are finally getting a wave of reinforcement. Redshirt rookies Nikola Topic and Thomas Sorber are cleared to debut after missing last year with ACL tears, and GM Sam Presti just bolstered the frontcourt by drafting 7-foot-3 big man Aday Mara.
Back-to-back NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander returns to OKC and is in the midst of his prime alongside Chet Holmgren. As long as that window is open, the Thunder will continue to be a major threat. If Williams stays healthy to flank SGA and Holmgren, the Thunder are arguably a tier above the rest of the West. Backing them at +250 is an NBA Championship bet worth considering on a highly motivated young core looking to avenge last year’s Conference Finals exit.
San Antonio Spurs (+260)
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- Head Coach: Mitch Johnson
- 2025-26 Record: 62-20
- NBA Titles: 5
- Key Players: Victor Wembanyama, De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, Devin Vassell
Fresh off an impressive run to the 2026 NBA Finals, the San Antonio Spurs open the NBA Championship 2026-27 betting odds right on the heels of the Thunder at +260.
Under the leadership of head coach Mitch Johnson, who seamlessly steered the ship following Gregg Popovich’s retirement, the Spurs authored a spectacular 62-20 regular season before battling past OKC in an epic seven-game Western Conference Finals showdown.
Ultimately, their title aspirations were cut short in a five-game Finals defeat to the physical New York Knicks. They were unable to overcome the Knicks’ superior depth and were ousted as -210 favorites.
There's reach… and then there's Wemby 👽 pic.twitter.com/xFm8jKSUmd
— NBA (@NBA) June 5, 2026
The key narrative for this upcoming season centers on structural adjustments. During the Finals, the Knicks’ heavy frontcourt managed to bruise and fatigue Victor Wembanyama down low. The Spurs didn’t have a reliable rotation in the front court to give Wembanyama a breather.
If they’re going to get over the hump, they need a player to take some of the load off him. The Spurs drafted forward Jayden Quaintance with the 20th pick to address that weakness and potentially a strong option off the bench. However, Quaintance is a raw player that requires time to develop, so don’t expect instant results.
Point guard De’Aaron Fox had a disappointing playoff, and trade rumors have been swirling lately. That being said, the Spurs remain committed to Fox and don’t have plans to swap him. While Fox wasn’t spectacular in the playoffs, it could be tough for them to find a huge upgrade in the backcourt.
In any event, the Spurs aren’t far off from tweaking their roster and winning multiple championships with Wembanyama as the centerpiece. They finished third in defensive efficiency and sixth in offensive efficiency in 2025-26. San Antonio is a player away from a championship, but their current roster likely puts them just short again.
Boston Celtics (+750)
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- Head Coach: Joe Mazzulla
- 2025-26 Record: 56-26
- NBA Titles: 18
- Key Players: Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Derrick White
Joe Mazzulla’s squad is coming off a 56-26 regular season campaign where they secured the number two seed in the Eastern Conference and boasted the league’s second-ranked offensive rating (120.8). However, their season ended in shocking heartbreak when they surrendered a 3-1 lead to the Philadelphia 76ers, bowing out in seven games during the opening round of the playoffs.
Jayson Tatum shaking his head at the Sixers fans 😂 pic.twitter.com/KTZXza2Yrp
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) April 27, 2026
The defining narrative of Boston’s 2025-26 season was the extended absence of superstar Jayson Tatum, who missed the first 62 games of the year while rehabilitating a torn Achilles tendon. In what many analysts deemed a “gap year” for the franchise, Jaylen Brown stepped up tremendously as the primary offensive engine, keeping Boston afloat alongside the elite perimeter playmaking and defensive intensity of Derrick White.
Tatum finally returned to the court in early March, but the lack of late-season cohesion and conditioning ultimately caught up to the Celtics when the postseason intensity ramped up.
Heading into the 2026-27 campaign, the value proposition at +750 lies entirely on a return to baseline health and structural continuity. With a full, unrestricted offseason for Tatum to regain his All-NBA form alongside Brown, Boston features one of the most potent dual-wing tandems in modern basketball history.
Expect Tatum to seamlessly be inserted back into their starting lineup. If he returns to top form, the Celtics possess the ability to outpace the East. Despite their problems, the Celtics were third in offensive efficiency and fifth in defensive efficiency last season.
Tatum’s presence should put them back on the top of the Eastern Conference, but there is still sizable competition to contend with in the West if they reach the NBA Finals.
New York Knicks (+800)
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- Head Coach: Mike Brown
- 2025-26 Record: 53-29
- NBA Titles: 3
- Key Players: Jalen Brunson, OG Anunoby, Karl-Anthony Towns
The defending champion New York Knicks enter the 2026-27 season with an incredibly disrespectful price tag, opening at +800 odds to repeat. Under the guidance of head coach Mike Brown, the Knicks navigated a competitive Eastern Conference with a 53-29 regular season record before turning into an absolute buzzsaw in the postseason.
Their physicality and never-quit attitude culminated in a five-game defeat of Wembanyama and the Spurs in the NBA Finals, securing the franchise’s third NBA title. The catalyst for the Knicks was the trio of Jalen Brunson, OG Anunoby, and Karl-Anthony Towns. They all played a significant role in the playoffs and contributed to winning the Larry O’Brien Trophy.
The largest comeback in NBA Finals history belongs to the New York Knicks 😱
29 points down. Game won. History made.
The New York Knicks pic.twitter.com/g3YB8N6SIg
— The Sports Geek (@TheSports_Geek) June 11, 2026
Brunson remains the undisputed heartbeat of the team, proving his elite playoff mettle by out-dueling some of the league’s best perimeter defenders. He finished the postseason with 28.4 points per game on 46.5% shooting from the field. Brunson also dished out 6.1 assists per game while playing tight defense as well. Look for Brunson to continue to be hungry this season.
Adding Towns and Anunoby over the last three years proved to be another deciding factor. Both are two-way players that offer the Knicks flexibility offensively and defensively. Anunoby, in particular, was one of the most clutch players in the NBA Finals. They don’t win without him on the floor.
The core returns to New York for another NBA title bid. The NBA Championship odds seem to view the Knicks’ 2026 championship run as a slight anomaly, heavily favoring the star power of OKC, San Antonio, and a healthy Boston squad instead.
If Tatum stays healthy, yes, it will be difficult, but Brunson and the Knicks should have a chip on their shoulders to prove it wasn’t a fluke.
NBA Championship 2026-27 Longshot Bets
There are two NBA Championship picks among the longshots that are worth considering before finalizing your card. Here, find my best selections that offer big value:
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The Timberwolves hold high value at +2000 odds to win the NBA Championship in 2027. It isn’t going to be simply with heavyweights in front of them in the West, but there’s enough value at this price to yield a flier on the Timberwolves.
They made waves in the offseason by adding LaMelo Ball to the fray to bolster their backcourt. The Timberwolves desperately needed an upgrade at guard and managed to swing a deal for one of the most prized free agents on the markets.
Does Ball make Minnesota a better team? I’d say so, but they don’t deserve to be ahead of the Spurs and Thunder. That being said, if the injury bug hits the Timberwolves, or they make more noise at the trade deadline, expect them to be in contention.
With Rudy Gobert, Anthony Edwards, and Jaden McDaniels, this is a balanced roster that should score in bunches. In 2025-26, the T-Wolves were eighth overall, scoring 116.8 points per game. The addition of Ball reinforces their offensive window even more. So, at +2000, Minnesota is one of the best NBA Championship betting picks.
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As an underdog futures bet, the Detroit Pistons are worth a look at +2800. They’re coming off a memorable regular season in which they went 60–22, leading the Eastern Conference and finishing with the third-best record in the NBA before falling to the Orlando Magic in the second round.
This is a team that mostly ran out of gas. If Detroit can add a reliable secondary scorer alongside Cade Cunningham, the postseason picture could look very different. One more high-level shot creator in the starting lineup would go a long way toward relieving pressure on Cunningham when defenses tighten up.
Drafting Stanford guard Ebuka Okorie at No. 17 was a strong first step in that direction. I’m high on Okorie’s game, and he should have a better rookie campaign than most expect. He projects as an immediate fit, providing needed backcourt depth and scoring pop. The Pistons also freed up cap space by moving Isaiah Stewart, positioning themselves to find a suitable replacement in free agency and further balance the roster.
With last season’s playoff experience under their belt, the Pistons should come back more battle-tested and mentally tough. At +2800, they profile as a live long shot and a legitimate inclusion among the best 2027 NBA Finals picks.
2026-27 NBA Championship Predictions and Betting Pick
I’m optimistic we’ll see a big response from the Thunder after they came up just short against the Spurs in the Western Conference Finals. Despite dealing with multiple injuries, they still managed to push the series to a competitive Game 7.
Along with Williams’ injury, Holmgren and Ajay Mitchell were also banged up. With a healthy roster, the Thunder likely finish off the Spurs in six. They’re expected to be at full strength heading into this season, and that’s the key. This is essentially the same core that won the 2024-25 title, and there’s every reason to believe they’ll be even better.
The Thunder were also one of the big winners of the NBA Draft. With two first-round picks, they landed Michigan center Aday Mara and guard Bennett Stirtz. Mara gives them another big body to throw at Wembanyama in the frontcourt, while Stirtz adds instant offense as a shooter off the bench.
Put it all together, and you should expect a rejuvenated Thunder squad ready to run the table. At +250, the Thunder are my early pick to win the NBA championship and my top betting play to bring home the Larry O’Brien Trophy.
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