2025-26 NBA Finals Odds & Championship Predictions: Thunder Favored, Durant Impact, Dark Horse

With the offseason officially underway, there’s no better time to begin investigating 2025-26 NBA Finals odds. Unsurprisingly, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Co. are atop the betting board, and the runner-up Indiana Pacers aren’t far behind. Still, there are some sneaky bets to consider beyond the obvious contenders. Let’s break down 2025-26 NBA Finals odds, courtesy of Caesars Sportsbook and DraftKings Sportsbook.

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2025-26 NBA Finals Odds: Oklahoma City Thunder Favored To Repeat

Will Thunder Return To NBA Finals?

After accruing a 68-14 record in the regular season, Oklahoma City is certainly deserving of this price point. By converting Caesars Sportsbook’s +225 odds to implied probability, the Thunder have a 30.1% implied probability of claiming the Larry O’Brien trophy next June. According to Sports Odds History, OKC has the shortest preseason championship price tag since the 2018-19 Warriors (-168).

With the talented core of SGA, Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren, and Lu Dort, all of whom are at least two years away from unrestricted free agency, and a healthy Nikola Topic, Mark Daigneault’s bunch is primed for another deep postseason run.

Nevertheless, are these odds worth investing in over a 12-month span? With the offseason on tap, I’d advocate for wagering on teams that possess a high enough ceiling that isn’t quite baked into the betting market. OKC is unlikely to see these odds shorten come the start of the 2025-26 campaign. If anything, bettors may find a better price a few months into the campaign.

Kevin Durant Trade Shifts Rockets Odds

A few spots further down the board, the Rockets are set at +800, thanks to the acquisition of 15-time All-Star Kevin Durant. Even at 36 years old, he manufactured 26.6 points per game and shot 43.0% from behind the arc last season. Durant, Alperen Şengün, Fred VanVleet, Amen Thompson, and Jabari Smith Jr. are rightfully viewed as a title threat despite Houston’s first-round exit in the 2025 NBA playoffs, with Durant and VanVleet providing championship experience.

Celtics’ Outlook & Jayson Tatum’s Status

Although Boston (+1200) showcases one of the league’s pristine coaches in Joe Mazzulla, last year’s NBA Finals MVP, and the reigning sixth man of the year, there are a multitude of unknowns. For one, six-time All-Star Jayson Tatum is expected to miss most, if not all, of next season with a torn Achilles. Will Tatum reach the level of his pre-injury stardom again?

As a result, Boston could opt to move from one or more of Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis, and Derrick White. Remember that the Celtics’ payroll this season was above the salary cap, making them a luxury-tax team for a third consecutive campaign. They will endure a “repeater tax” penalty for going over the cap threshold in three out of four seasons.

Bet On Magic Among NBA Finals Odds?

When look-ahead odds were released for next season’s NBA champion, Orlando was lined at +4500. After trading Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Cole Anthony, four unprotected first-round picks, and a pick swap to the Grizzlies for star guard Desmond Bane, the Magic shrunk to +3000.

Per the board above, their best odds are currently +2200 at DraftKings, tied for the third-best odds of any Eastern Conference team to win the title.

Orlando has punched its playoff ticket in each of the last two seasons before falling in the first round to Boston and Cleveland, respectively. The organization has put all its chips on the table for the trio of Bane, Paolo Banchero, and Franz Wagner, vying to contend in a much weaker East.

Considering Banchero, Wagner, and Jalen Suggs played fewer than 100 minutes together, this team arguably has a higher ceiling than the market has adjusted for. Combine Orlando’s elite defense with Bane, a career 41.0% 3-point marksman who tallied 5.4 assists per contest over the last two years, and the Magic are intriguing contenders within 2025-26 NBA Finals odds.

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Post
Eli Hershkovich is a content editor for Catena Media. He’s been gambling for over a decade. His goal is to provide you with data and market insight to help lead you to winning bets. Eli specializes in college basketball, NFL, MLB, and the sports gambling landscape. He's most well-known for his futures bets on the hardwood. Three seasons ago, he cashed his 50-1 UConn ticket. He still hasn’t forgiven Virginia (and the refs) for ruining his 100-1 Texas Tech futures in the 2019 NCAA Tournament.

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