In one of the most anticipated championship series in recent memory, the 2026 NBA Championship odds are live for the New York Knicks vs. San Antonio Spurs showdown. It’s a blockbuster matchup, with one franchise poised to make history on basketball’s biggest stage.
Below, I break down the latest series prices, analyze this marquee clash from a betting perspective, and share my NBA Finals predictions. Don’t forget to also check our free NBA Championship pick’em contest, where you can win a $100 gift card.
NBA Championship 2026 Betting Odds
The following NBA Finals odds are courtesy of Lucky Rebel:
| TEAM | SERIES WINNER |
|---|---|
| NY Knicks | +165 |
| San Antonio Spurs | -210 |
The San Antonio Spurs (-210) are heavy favorites to win the NBA Championship at top NBA Betting sites. According to the latest odds to win the NBA Championship, the Spurs have a 67.5% implied probability to defeat the New York Knicks (+165). The Spurs had long preseason odds of +6600, or a 1.5% implied probability of winning.
Oddsmakers and the betting public are leaning toward the Spurs after they knocked out the defending champion OKC Thunder in Game 7. Heavy money poured in on San Antonio as soon as they clinched the series, boosting confidence as they head into their first NBA Finals appearance since 2014.
The Knicks enter as underdogs, a label that could fuel them even more. New York fans don’t need any extra reason to get fired up: this is the franchise’s first trip to the Finals since losing to the Spurs in 1999. The city has been starving for a championship, and now the Knicks are just four wins away.
You can find up-to-date NBA Finals betting odds at Lucky Rebel by navigating to Sports > Basketball > NBA Series Prices > NBA Championship Winner.
New York Knicks (+165)
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- Head Coach: Mike Brown
- 2025-26 Record: 53-29
- NBA Titles: 2 (1970, 1973)
- Key Players: Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby
The New York Knicks entered the season with plenty of optimism, but they’ve clearly exceeded most pundits’ expectations. A year after being eliminated by the Indiana Pacers in the East Final, the Knicks dismantled the Cleveland Cavaliers to reach the NBA Finals.
New York rolled over Cleveland in a sweep that wrapped up on May 25, giving the Knicks extra time to rest and prepare. Impressively, all four wins over the Cavaliers came by double digits. Cleveland had been playing solid basketball before the Knicks blew them out in every game.
stayed locked in. we’re not done yet.
watch the full ECF feature now ➡️ https://t.co/XAzdojpuMb pic.twitter.com/Ljhf65XETL
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) May 30, 2026
It was the Knicks’ second straight sweep, coming on the heels of a dominant four-game takedown of the 76ers to punch their ticket to the East Final. Their last loss was back on April 23, when the Atlanta Hawks went up 2-1 in the series. Since then, New York has ripped off 11 straight wins. Their 11 double-digit victories in 14 games mark the first time in NBA history a team has done that before reaching the Finals.
Despite this run, bettors still aren’t fully buying in. Oddsmakers have made the Knicks sizable underdogs, to the point where you can argue they’re being disrespected. For a team as physical and defense-first as New York, it’s surprising their odds to win the NBA title aren’t shorter.
The Knicks finished the regular season in the top 5 in points allowed, giving up just 110.1 per game. They’ve been even better in the playoffs, ranking fourth in defensive efficiency in the NBA. New York has cranked up the intensity, leading the league this postseason with only 100.6 points conceded per game.
With OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges setting the tone in the starting lineup, the defense is active, physical, and relentless. The X-factors for the Knicks will likely be Mitchell Robinson and Josh Hart, whose energy and versatility could swing the series.
If Hart and Robinson can bother Wemby enough and counter his rebounding, the Knicks are in a good spot. Robinson is dealing with a broken pinkie but plans to play.
The Knicks are known for their defense, though the offense has been incredibly underrated. They’re first in the playoffs, averaging 119.9 points per game on 51.5% shooting.
Jalen Brunson is the best guard in this series, and that should matter a lot. He’s been outstanding in the playoffs, averaging 26.9 points per game on 48.6% shooting. The matchup with De’Aaron Fox will be a battle, but Brunson has the ability to take over the series.
Overall, the Knicks lead all playoff teams with a +19.3 point differential, yet they still appear undervalued in the NBA Championship odds.
San Antonio Spurs (-210)
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- Head Coach: Mitch Johnson
- 2025-26 Record: 62-20
- NBA Titles: 5 (1999, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2014)
- Key Players: Victor Wembanyama, De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, Devin Vassell
In 2022-23, the Spurs finished with the worst record in the Western Conference at 20-60. That miserable season ended up changing everything: it won them the Lottery and the right to draft Victor Wembanyama. From there, San Antonio began a climb that has now taken them all the way to the NBA Finals and chance at their first title without Gregg Popovich as the head coach.
After a modest step forward to 34-48 last season, the Spurs have broken through. They finished two games behind the Thunder in the regular season but then outlasted the defending champs in seven games to reach the Finals.
San Antonio is coming off two bruising series. They handled the Minnesota Timberwolves in six, then had to grind out back-to-back wins in Game 6 and Game 7 against Oklahoma City. That emotional win had to take a toll, and it wouldn’t be surprising if they start a bit sluggish against the Knicks in Game 1.
The challenge is that they’re running into a well-rested, physical Knicks team, exactly the kind of opponent that can punish a slow start. Even so, it’s hard to imagine Victor Wembanyama operating at anything less than 100%. He might want this championship more than anyone on the floor and is likely to come out aggressive from the opening tip.
Victor Wembanyama this postseason:
372 points
176 reboundsHe is the youngest player in NBA history to reach those totals over a single postseason (age as of today – 22 years, 146 days). pic.twitter.com/ZcCGYjqAb1
— OptaSTATS (@OptaSTATS) May 30, 2026
Statistically, the Spurs rank second in the postseason with a +10.2 point differential. That’s nearly 10 points shy of the Knicks’ mark, but San Antonio has faced the tougher road, including that series with the Thunder. Offensively, they rank third at 115.3 points per game, while defensively they sit sixth, allowing 105 points per game.
Wembanyama should control the paint defensively, but San Antonio does give up some size on the perimeter. His 7’4” frame and rare mobility let him cover ground everywhere, yet Devin Vassell and Julian Champagnie will still need to play big to bother Jalen Brunson and Mikal Bridges.
Ultimately, the Wembanyama factor gives the Spurs an edge and will make them the more popular side in NBA Championship markets. However, at -210, there’s still some hesitation at that hefty price.
2026 NBA Championship Predictions and Betting Pick
For my NBA Finals prediction, I’m backing the Knicks largely because of the value in the current market. At +165 to lift the Larry O’Brien Trophy, New York is getting far less respect than it deserves.
I’d feel more confident with a fully healthy Mitchell Robinson, but even with that concern, I still think the Knicks have better than the 37.7% implied probability. They also have extra rest heading into the Finals and a core, Brunson, Anunoby, and Towns, that has logged more playoff experience than San Antonio’s key pieces.
Towns’ ability to operate on the perimeter and pull Wembanyama away from the paint should open up the Knicks’ offense inside. On top of that, I expect the physicality of Anunoby and Mikal Bridges on the wings to be a major factor. Their length and toughness give New York a way to counter the advantage the Spurs enjoy with Wembanyama.
Everything considered, I see this as a difficult matchup for San Antonio. The Knicks are hard to game-plan for, and in their most recent meeting, they held the Spurs to just 89 points, San Antonio’s lowest offensive output since 2023. The Spurs should still be favored, but everything points toward a tight, competitive series.
In short, Knicks +165 stands out as my top NBA Championship bet.
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