The 2025-26 NBA championship odds predictably have Oklahoma City at the top after a dominant run last year. The rest of the league has retooled to try and take down the Thunder, but can they do it?
I’ll examine the NBA title odds for all favorites, a few contenders, and a couple of longshots, before sharing my NBA championship betting prediction!
2025-26 NBA Championship Odds
| TEAM | NBA CHAMPIONSHIP ODDS |
|---|---|
| Oklahoma City Thunder | +110 |
| Denver Nuggets | +650 |
| San Antonio Spurs | +1000 |
| Boston Celtics | +1600 |
| Houston Rockets | +1600 |
| Detroit Pistons | +1600 |
| New York Knicks | +2000 |
| Los Angeles Lakers | +2500 |
| Minnesota Timberwolves | +2800 |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | +3300 |
| Orlando Magic | +5000 |
The Oklahoma City Thunder (+110) haven’t moved from the top of the board at top NBA betting sites all season! They continue to have a 47.6% implied probability to go back-to-back, although one contender has closed the gap separately since January 7.
Denver (+650) has moved up from +900, and has dealt with the Nikola Jokić injury wonderfully. San Antonio (+1000) has dropped slightly from +950, but Boston (+1600) has jumped from +2000 two weeks ago.
There are a couple of longshots from the West, but one, the LA Lakers (+2500), intrigues me the most. The storied franchise could be in the mix if they make a big move ahead of the trade deadline on February 5, 2026!
You can find these NBA championship odds at Lucky Rebel by heading to Sports > Basketball > NBA Futures.
NBA Championship Favorites
I’ll tip off my analysis of the NBA championship odds by looking at the favorites, of course, the defending champs!
Oklahoma City Thunder (+110)
-
- Head Coach: Mark Daigneault
- 2024-25 Record: 68-14 (Won NBA title)
- NBA Titles: 2 (1 as Seattle Supersonics)
- Key Players: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren, Jalen Williams
The Thunder are 36-8 and seem to have righted the ship after a 6-6 stretch from December 13 to January 5. They’ve won six of their last seven, and finally managed to beat San Antonio, thrashing the Spurs 119-98 on January 13.
Thunder W ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/Zj925XOd0K
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) January 14, 2026
They’re fifth in offensive rating, and the Thunder have led the NBA in defensive rating for what seems like the last two seasons. They’re dealing with some injuries as Jalen Williams is out for a couple of weeks due to his hamstring. Isaiah Hartenstein still isn’t back from a calf injury.
But the Thunder still have reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who leads the NBA MVP odds and is an All-Star starter. They can also go out and make a big move, thanks to draft capital and youth that no other team has. I simply can’t put anyone ahead of the Thunder, and the NBA championship odds share my opinion!
NBA Title Contenders
Next, I’ll consider the contenders that could push themselves into the top tier, if they can stay healthy.
Denver Nuggets (+650)
-
- Head Coach: David Adelman
- 2024-25 Record: 50-32 (Lost Western Conference Semifinals)
- NBA Titles: 1
- Key Players: Nikola Jokić, Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon, Cam Johnson
The 29-15 Nuggets were thought to be in trouble when Nikola Jokić went down with a knee injury on December 29. The three-time MVP still isn’t back, and neither is Jonas Valančiūnas. But Denver is 7-5 without Jokić, and that is a massive win!
I don’t understand how Jamal Murray doesn’t get better media attention
Dude is just pure ethical buckets 🪣 🎯
pic.twitter.com/ovGYwnHscn— Nuggets Lead (@NuggetsLead) January 21, 2026
Jamal Murray has been lights out, averaging 29.6 points in eight January games, along with 9.1 assists. He’s doing his best to keep the Thunder afloat until Jokic returns. But with his injury history, I worry that Murray can’t continue this workload, especially with Cam Johnson still out.
Still, the fact that the Nuggets are this high in the NBA title odds is very encouraging, and they’ll be much better when Jokić (who is still an All-Star starter) is back.
San Antonio Spurs (+1000)
- Head Coach: Mitch Johnson
- 2024-25 Record: 34-48 (Missed Playoffs)
- NBA Titles: 5
- Key Players: Victor Wembanyama, De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle
The Spurs have been up and down as they sit at 30-14, but All-Star starter Victor Wembanyama is staying on the floor, although he has given NBA fans some nervous moments.
Victor Wembanyama made this dunk look easy. 🤯 pic.twitter.com/5VJnugFN0y
— NBA on NBC and Peacock (@NBAonNBC) January 21, 2026
But the Spurs are much more than “Wemby”, which is the key to their NBA championship betting odds. Julian Champagnie has given the offense a boost, averaging 14.7 points, along with 8.4 rebounds, in January. Any given night, Stephon Castle or De’Aaron Fox can lead the team in scoring. Like the Thunder, the Spurs can also go out at the trade deadline and make a move with their draft capital and some younger players they can package.
Wembanyama is the star and the one who makes the Spurs championship contenders. However, he has a solid supporting cast that could get even better!
Boston Celtics (+1600)
-
- Head Coach: Joe Mazzulla
- 2024-25 Record: 61-21 (Lost in Conference Semifinals)
- NBA Titles: 18
- Key Players: Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, Payton Pritchard
I’m putting the Celtics ahead of Detroit (they need another scorer for the playoffs) and Houston (the offense looks stagnant if Kevin Durant isn’t scoring). Boston, at 26-15, might be the surprise of the season, along with Phoenix.
AS HE SHOULD BE 👏🏾
Congrats, JB pic.twitter.com/iQ4k6worfp
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) January 19, 2026
Jaylen Brown is an All-Star starter and a darkhorse NBA MVP candidate, averaging 29.8 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 4.7 assists. He also often guards the best wing player on the opposition. The Celtics could also, somehow, get Jayson Tatum back this season after tearing his Achilles in the Eastern Conference finals.
This depends on getting back Tatum, but I’m also taking the Celtics in this spot because of the championship pedigree. This team knows what it takes to get to a Finals (two in the last four full seasons), and win as they did in 2024. For those reasons, I’m keeping an eye on Boston’s NBA championship odds!
NBA Title Betting Longshot
Finally, I’ll analyze one longshot that will need a few breaks (and a big trade) to compete with the top teams, but there is betting value there!
Los Angeles Lakers (+2500)
- Head Coach: J.J. Redick
- 2024-25 Record: 50-32 (Lost in First Round)
- NBA Titles: 18
- Key Players: Luka Dončić, LeBron James, Austin Reaves
The Lakers are awful defensively. I mean, they’re distressingly bad, ranking 25th in defensive rating. Luka Dončić and LeBron James have been in and out of the lineup. Austin Reaves is still out with a calf injury. Yet, the Lakers are 26-16.
Battled for it. pic.twitter.com/TFEvxG1Eak
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) January 21, 2026
Dončić is an All-Star starter, leading the league with 33.5 points a game, and he’s third in assists with 8.7. James isn’t an All-Star starter for the first time in his 23-year career, but all things considered, he’s playing well.
If the Lakers can get some help on defense, despite not having a lot to trade, these NBA title odds will look like a bargain. After getting Dončić from Dallas, I’ll never count the Lakers out of doing something crazy.
NBA Championship Betting Pick and Prediction
I’m sticking with the Oklahoma City Thunder as my NBA championship betting prediction, as long as they’re at plus odds. They’re still +110, which I think is excellent value for a team that has proven they can win. Even in a series against San Antonio, I’d put my money on the Thunder. At this point, I find it difficult to come up with a reason to take anyone other than OKC, especially at this price!
I’d keep an eye on Boston in the East. But I’m still backing OKC as long as they stay on the plus side of the 2026 NBA title odds!
Where to Bet on the 2025-26 NBA Finals?
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