For the first time since 2008, the Boston Celtics are the reigning NBA champions. Oddsmakers are of the opinion that now that the Celtics have taken up residence in the NBA penthouse, they are intent on remaining in the league’s high rent district.
It’s Boston that is set as the +325 favorite to repeat as NBA champions following the 2024-25 season. The Oklahoma City Thunder are given the nod as the second betting choice and the top contender among Western Conference clubs at odds of +550.
| NBA Championship Odds |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston Celtics | +325 | +315 | +320 |
| Oklahoma City Thunder | +550 | +600 | +650 |
| New York Knicks | +750 | +750 | +750 |
| Philadelphia 76ers | +800 | +800 | +800 |
| Denver Nuggets | +900 | +1000 | +1000 |
| Dallas Mavericks | +1000 | +1100 | +1100 |
| Minnesota Timberwolves | +1000 | +1100 | +1000 |
| Milwaukee Bucks | +1400 | +1400 | +1400 |
| Los Angeles Lakers | +2200 | +2800 | +2800 |
| Phoenix Suns | +2500 | +2500 | +2500 |
Two other Eastern Conference clubs are next in the betting lines to win the NBA Finals next spring. They are the New York Knicks (+750) and Philadelphia 76ers (+800). The Denver Nuggets (+900) are the only other team being given odds shorter than +1000 to win the title.
When it comes time to make your NBA picks, you will find that everything you need to know about NBA betting is right here at Vegas Betting. Whether you’re looking to place a wager on the NBA playoff odds, or if you are looking ahead to make a play with a futures bet on the outcome of the NBA finals, Vegas Betting is an all-inclusive site ready to provide you with every tidbit of information that will make you an informed NBA bettor.
There was a time not so long ago when it was commonplace for NBA teams to repeat as champions, as the NBA betting sites are projecting the Celtics to be doing this season. However, in recent years, it’s been vive le difference when it comes to the NBA Finals.
The last seven seasons have seen seven different teams crowned as NBA champions. There hasn’t been a repeat champion since the Golden State Warriors won in 2016-17 and again in 2017-18.
Can the Celtics buck this trend and do it again? Let’s look at the top contenders for the 2024-25 NBA championship.
Between them, Boston stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown have 100+ NBA playoff games under their belts. That’s a lot of experience.
Boston will be missing Kristaps Porzingis to start out the season. How might that impact the seeding of the Celtics in the highly-competitive East were they to get off to slow start?
In Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the Thunder have arguably the NBA’s best player. And the Thunder are significantly fortified around their young superstar.
The combination of Isaiah Hartenstein and Chuck Holmgren gives them two dominant bigs and Alex Caruso is to defense what Gilgeous-Alexander is to offense.
Like all teams in the Big Apple, the Knicks don’t mind going out and getting what they think will put them over the top. They went 20-3 last season after adding OG Anunoby.
This season, they are bringing in two more big-time pieces in Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns. Added to Jalen Brunson, could it bring the Knicks their first title since 1973?
When center Joel Embiid is healthy, the Sixers are a force, as good as any team in the NBA. The thing is, he’s never shown the ability to stay healthy.
Embiid has never played more than 68 games in an NBA season. He was limited to 39 games last season.
NBA champions in 2023-24, the Nuggets seem further away from the title at this juncture. While perennial NBA MVP contender Nikola Jokic is always a threat, guard Jamal Murray’s game has slipped.
The Nuggets are going to miss the presence of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. And bringing in Russell Westbrook hasn’t helped any team win in a long time.
There are any number of NBA prop bets that you can wager on regarding the upcoming season. For instance, Bovada is offering betting lines on an exact NBA Finals matchup play. A Celtics vs Thunder final matchup is set as the +900 favorite in this betting market. A Celtics over the Thunder is the +1500 chalk in Bovada’s exact NBA Finals outcome prop.
At Betonline, the Eastern Conference is set as the -120 chalk to produce the 2024-25 champion. The Atlantic Division is given +125 favorite’s odds to be the division of the title winner. That’s not surprising, considering that the Celtics, Knicks and 76ers all reside in the Atlantic Division.
More than any other North American team sport, the NBA is a player driven entity. An in Gilgeous-Alexander, the Thunder have the player who can tip those scales.
On the surface, it’s logical to tip your cap to the experience of the Celtics in their bid to retain what they’ve earned. That was also the thinking in the spring of 2018, when the experienced and reigning champion Warriors were tangling with an upstart bunch of Toronto Raptors. Kawhi Leonard put the Raptors on his back and willed them to a title. Gilgeous-Alexander will do likewise for the Thunder next spring.
