The Oklahoma City Thunder, led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and seeded first, are the frontrunners to secure the Western Conference title and ultimately win the NBA Championship as the playoffs begin. Following the Thunder in the Western Conference are teams like the Los Angeles Lakers, Golden State Warriors, LA Clippers, Denver Nuggets, and Minnesota Timberwolves, all considered to have stronger odds than the second-seeded Houston Rockets, who are only favored over the Memphis Grizzlies.
In the Eastern Conference, the Boston Celtics are heavily favored to win the conference and hold the second-best odds to win the NBA title. If they succeed, it would mark their 19th championship in franchise history and their second consecutive title. The Cleveland Cavaliers and New York Knicks are seen as the next most likely teams to represent the East in the NBA Finals. The Indiana Pacers, Milwaukee Bucks, Detroit Pistons, Orlando Magic, and Miami Heat are considered less likely contenders, with odds of 80-1 or longer.
Early favorites for the Finals MVP award include Gilgeous-Alexander, Jayson Tatum, and Donovan Mitchell. Players like Jaylen Brown, Stephen Curry, Nikola Jokic, and Luka Dončić are also in contention, considered to be in the next tier of likely MVP candidates. A comprehensive list of MVP candidate odds is provided below.
Odds are current as of the time of writing. For the most up-to-date and detailed odds, please refer to ESPN BET.
NBA Championship and Conference Championship Odds
| Team | Championship | Conference | Series |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma City Thunder | +180 | -145 | -4000 |
| Boston Celtics | +190 | -155 | -6000 |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | +575 | +190 | -2500 |
| Los Angeles Lakers | 13-1 | +600 | -200 |
| Golden State Warriors | 15-1 | +700 | -175 |
| LA Clippers | 25-1 | 11-1 | -120 |
| New York Knicks | 30-1 | 10-1 | -400 |
| Denver Nuggets | 33-1 | 11-1 | +100 |
| Minnesota Timberwolves | 40-1 | 17-1 | +160 |
| Houston Rockets | 80-1 | 25-1 | +150 |
| Indiana Pacers | 80-1 | 28-1 | -165 |
| Milwaukee Bucks | 100-1 | 33-1 | +140 |
| Detroit Pistons | 250-1 | 80-1 | +290 |
| Memphis Grizzlies | 300-1 | 75-1 | 13-1 |
| Orlando Magic | 750-1 | 200-1 | 18-1 |
| Miami Heat | 1000-1 | 200-1 | 10-1 |
NBA Finals MVP Favorites
The NBA Finals MVP Award is given to the player considered the most valuable to their team during the NBA Finals.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Thunder: +188
Jayson Tatum, Celtics: +275
Donovan Mitchell, Cavaliers: +700
Jaylen Brown, Celtics: 16-1
Stephen Curry, Warriors: 20-1
Nikola Jokic, Nuggets: 22-1
Luka Dončić, Mavericks: 28-1
Darius Garland, Cavaliers: 33-1
Evan Mobley, Cavaliers: 33-1
Jalen Williams, Thunder: 40-1
Jimmy Butler, Heat: 40-1
Kawhi Leonard, Clippers: 40-1
Kristaps Porzingis, Celtics: 40-1
LeBron James, Lakers: 50-1
Anthony Edwards, Timberwolves: 60-1
Chet Holmgren, Thunder: 66-1
Derrick White, Celtics: 66-1
Jalen Brunson, Knicks: 66-1
Karl-Anthony Towns, Knicks: 75-1
James Harden, Clippers: 125-1
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks: 150-1
Jrue Holiday, Celtics: 150-1
Tyrese Haliburton, Pacers: 150-1
Jamal Murray, Nuggets: 200-1
Pascal Siakam, Pacers: 200-1
Alperen Sengun, Rockets: 250-1
Draymond Green, Warriors: 250-1
Ja Morant, Grizzlies: 250-1
Jarrett Allen, Cavaliers: 250-1
Jaren Jackson Jr., Grizzlies: 300-1
Amen Thompson, Rockets: 500-1
Jalen Green, Rockets: 500-1
