The offseason is finally in the books, and teams are getting ready for training camp and the 2022-23 season. But before we get too excited about that, let’s look at the latest NBA championship odds.
The Association has been one of the most unpredictable leagues, with a lot of player movement in the offseason. The offseason has left the NBA championship odds up, but some certainty is beginning to form.
The Boston Celtics have the best odds of winning the NBA Finals, but it is not a significant difference between most contenders. The Top 5 teams are priced between +500 and +800 at most major outlets.
The NBA season is finally upon us, and there is no clear favorite.
Top 5 2022/2023 NBA Championship Favorites and Future Odds
It’s never too early to start speculating on the future of your favorite sports teams. Most sportsbooks predict these five teams are the favorites to win the 2023 NBA Championship.
Boston Celtics (+500 to +550)
Boston has been on a tear this off-season. They’ve acquired Kyrie Irving, and Gordon Hayward then traded for the 3rd overall pick in the draft, Jayson Tatum. They also have several other assets that could be used to trade for even more star power. With the likely departure of Lebron James and Kobe Bryant, Boston will have a legitimate chance to win it all next.
With Kyrie Irving leaving the Celtics, many people wonder whether Jayson Tatum, Brown, and Smart can lead the team to a championship. However, with the addition of Kevin Durant, it seems like the Celtics will have an even better chance at winning a championship.
The Robert Williams era begins in Boston. The rookie will replace Smart as the team’s Defensive Player of the Year candidate. With Smart out for a month, Boston will be the clear favorite to win yet another championship.
With Kyrie Irving, Jaylen Brown, and Jayson Tatum all looking like potential superstars in the NBA, Boston’s future is looking brighter than ever. With the trade deadline a few weeks away, rumors are swirling that Boston may want to part ways with some of their big names to clear up salary space and build for the future. In this case, if they decide not to trade away.
Golden State Warriors (+600 to +700)
The Warriors are the defending champs and started the offseason as favorites to repeat. That’s because the four-ring core and Big 3 of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green are back.
The Golden State Warriors are the NBA’s team of the decade. They’ve made six out of the past 8 Finals and won four titles. They have a core trio in Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, and Klay Thompson, that have been together since 2013.
The Washington Wizards have enjoyed a lot of success in recent years. The team has made the playoffs for four consecutive seasons, winning one playoff series each year. This span of success has resulted in some young stars getting well-deserved rings — both Porter and Payton have won two rings with the team, while Wiggins and Jordan Poole were the key players that helped them get the rings.
Milwaukee Bucks (+600 to +750)
All-Star Khris Middleton has been sidelined with a hamstring injury for the beginning of the Bucks’ playoff run. But back-to-back NBA MVP and 2021 Finals MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo still managed to push the Boston Celtics.
The Bucks are one of the most interesting teams in the league. With Antetokounmpo, arguably the best player in the NBA, they have a legitimate chance at winning it all. The key to their success will be whether or not their core players stay healthy. Middleton is coming back from injury, and so is Jrue Holiday.
Los Angeles Clippers (+650 to +750)
The Clippers were wrought by injuries last season but still contended for the play-in on the backs of gutsy performances from their band of versatile swingmen and a simply stellar coaching effort from Doc Rivers.
It’s been a long time coming, but the Wizards finally have their point guard of the future. The team traded for John Wall, and their season has been a game-changer.
The Clippers are finally positioned to be a dominant force in the NBA. With all their All-World talent returning, they can’t get much better than they are. Coming off of an injury-ridden season and with a healthy team, the sky is the limit for this team.
Brooklyn Nets (+700 to +800)
Kevin Durant was a great player for the Golden State Warriors, but he quit on them and decided to play with his BFF LeBron James in Brooklyn. This move makes the team much worse, and it will be interesting to see how they do this season.
As the Brooklyn Nets head into their 2022-2023 season, they are looking to improve their lackluster performance from the previous year. A healthy team could go a long way in bridging the talent gap between them and the top contenders in the Eastern Conference. With Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant joining a talented young core of Ben Simmons and D’Angelo Russell, this Nets squad looks like one to watch.
The predicted dark horses in this basketball championship tournament include;
- Philadelphia 76ers
- Miami Heat
- Los Angeles Lakers
- Denver Nuggets
Conclusion
There are many strategies to consider when making an NBA futures bet on which team will win the championship. A team with home-court advantage pays to get them at a better price. A general rule of thumb is to only bet on teams from the Western Conference if you are looking for value.
More importantly, the All-Star break is a time for people to appreciate the best players in the league. But betting which team will win in the postseason is difficult. The All-Star break can be misleading because when it comes down to it, anything can happen in the playoffs.