NBA Championship Odds (2025-26)

The following post features NBA Championship Odds (2025-26).

As the 2025-26 NBA season approaches, sportsbooks have released NBA Championship Odds, highlighting the favorites and dark horses vying for the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy.

Read: NBA Coach of the Year Odds

Related: NBA Most Improved Player Odds

With the NBA Championship race on the horizon, bettors and fans can see which teams are built to sustain excellence and stand out as the league’s top contenders this season.

So, how is the NBA Championship race shaping up for 2025-26? Here’s what you need to know.

Overview

Last season, the Oklahoma City Thunder achieved a historic franchise milestone, defeating the Indiana Pacers in a dramatic seven-game series to claim the 2025 NBA Championship. The Thunder’s title run was built upon their season-long dominance, which included a league-best 68-14 regular season record and an explosive, two-way identity. Guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander delivered an iconic performance, averaging 30.3 points, 5.6 assists, and 4.6 rebounds in the Finals, earning the Bill Russell Finals MVP Award. His spectacular season resulted in him becoming just the fourth player in NBA history to win the regular season MVP, the scoring title, and the Finals MVP in the same campaign.

NBA Championship

The NBA Championship is decided through a four-round, elimination-style tournament featuring 16 teams. At the end of the regular season, the top six teams in each conference (East and West) automatically advance to the playoffs. Teams ranked seventh through tenth then compete in a Play-In Tournament to determine the final seventh and eighth seeds in each conference. All four rounds—the First Round, Conference Semifinals, Conference Finals, and the NBA Finals—are contested as a best-of-seven series, requiring a team to win four games to advance. In every series, the team with the better regular season record earns home-court advantage, hosting games 1, 2, 5, and 7 (if necessary) in the series’ current 2-2-1-1-1 format.

NBA Championship Odds (2025-26)

Below is a table displaying the odds for the NBA Championship. All odds were sourced on Oct 18, 2025. Click here for the very latest odds (via OddsChecker).

Team Spotlights

Oklahoma City Thunder (+200)

The reigning champions are the undisputed favorites, having secured the title with the league’s youngest core, which is now one year wiser and locked into long-term contracts. Their case is built on unprecedented team-wide defense and the continued dominance of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The +200 odds assume the Thunder will maintain their top-of-the-league regular season performance, leveraging their continuity, depth, and MVP-level superstar to repeat as champions and solidify a potential dynasty.

Cleveland Cavaliers (+650)

The Cavaliers finished last season with the best record in the Eastern Conference, powered by a Defensive Player of the Year campaign from Evan Mobley and the scoring punch of Donovan Mitchell. The +650 odds reflect a belief that their young core has the balance, defense, and continuity to finally break through the Conference Finals barrier. With key roster additions bolstering playmaking and depth, the bet is on the Cavaliers translating their regular-season dominance into deep playoff success, especially with key Eastern rivals dealing with major injuries.

Denver Nuggets (+700)

The Nuggets, led by three-time MVP Nikola Jokic, remain a perennial threat whose odds are slightly longer than expected due to past depth issues. The +700 value is tied to a significantly retooled roster that swapped out inconsistent starters for high-IQ, ‘3 & D’ veterans like Cameron Johnson and the return of Bruce Brown. This focus on surrounding Jokic with improved depth and reliable defense makes Denver a statistically dominant and historically proven force, offering superb value for a team with championship DNA.

New York Knicks (+1200)

The Knicks cemented themselves as an elite Eastern contender last season, reaching the Conference Finals behind the relentless efforts of Jalen Brunson and a suffocating defense. The +1200 odds are based on the team’s continuity, their physical style of play, and the health of their key All-Stars. With the Eastern Conference now wide open due to significant injuries to top rivals, the betting proposition is that New York’s elite defense and Brunson’s high-level shot creation are enough to secure a top seed and punch their ticket to the Finals.

Los Angeles Clippers (+1700)

The Clippers offer classic “contender value” as they continue to possess a roster built around perennial All-Stars who, when healthy, have the talent to win it all. The +1700 odds acknowledge their injury risk but highlight their immense potential. The bet here is on a healthy season from their established core, complemented by the veteran experience of new additions like Chris Paul. If their stars can maintain the durability to play 70+ games, the Clippers have the high-end talent and two-way capability to emerge from the loaded Western Conference.

MVP Award Winners (2015-Present)

The table below highlights every NBA Championship winner since 2015.

Conclusion

In conclusion, while the reigning champion Oklahoma City Thunder are the clear favorites, you will find excellent betting opportunities with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Denver Nuggets, New York Knicks, and Los Angeles Clippers, who all offer strong returns and possess the championship-caliber talent capable of winning the Larry O’Brien Trophy.