NBA power rankings: Which teams have the best odds to win 2024-25 championship?
With the NBA All-Star starters revealed, the end of the regular season has started peeking its head out from over the horizon.
Soon, it will be All-Star weekend. Next thing you know, the play-in tournament will be through, and before you know it, the conference championships will be over. Then, in the blink of an eye, we'll have someone parading through the streets of their city with the championship trophy after far too many drinks.
The question, of course, is who will that superstar be? Will it be Donovan Mitchell after leading the Cleveland Cavaliers to one of the best records in the NBA, proving that Ohio doesn't need LeBron James to win a title? Will it be Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder? Could Nikola Jokic or Giannis Antetokounmpo win their second titles?
Nobody knows, but if anyone has a good idea, it's oddsmakers in Las Vegas, whose lines reflect which teams have the best chance of hoisting the Larry O'Brien trophy when all is said and done.
Here is every team in the league, ranked by their title odds. All odds via BetMGM (through Sunday).
2024-25 NBA Championship odds
Favorites
- T-1) Boston Celtics: +240
- T-1) Oklahoma City Thunder: +240
- 3) Cleveland Cavaliers: +700
- 4) Denver Nuggets: +1200
- 5) New York Knicks: +1300
- 6) Dallas Mavericks: +2000
- 7) Milwaukee Bucks: +2500
Among these teams, the Denver Nuggets are a pretty solid pick for their odds. Sure, they don't have a clear path to the NBA Finals, but they have the best player on the planet and a proven track record of success in the postseason.
Dark horses
- 8) Memphis Grizzlies: +2800
- T-9) Houston Rockets: +4000
- T-9) Los Angeles Clippers: +4000
- T-9) Los Angeles Lakers: +4000
- T-9) Minnesota Timberwolves: +4000
- T-9) Phoenix Suns: +4000
- T-14) Golden State Warriors: +5000
- T-14) Orlando Magic: +5000
- 16) Philadelphia 76ers: +6600
The Los Angeles Clippers are in the thick of the playoff race in the Western Conference even with Kawhi Leonard playing only seven games. If he can return to any form resembling his past playoff prowess, the Clippers could be a dangerous foe in the playoffs.
Underdogs
- T-17) Indiana Pacers: +10000
- T-17) Sacramento Kings: +10000
- 19) Miami Heat: +12500
- 20) Atlanta Hawks: +15000
- 21) San Antonio Spurs: +25000
- 22) Detroit Pistons: +75000
The Indiana Pacers are a year removed from an Eastern Conference Finals appearance, and while they are not performing at the same level they were a year ago, they are still in the thick of the playoff race. Although this still doesn't appear to be a team that can win a championship – with the Pacers lacking one or two game-changing talents – Indiana devastated numerous teams' hopes a season ago. Perhaps they could do the same in 2025.
Longshots
- T-23) Brooklyn Nets: +100000
- T-23) Charlotte Hornets: +100000
- T-23) Chicago Bulls: +100000
- T-23) Toronto Raptors: +100000
- T-23) Washington Wizards: +100000
- T-23) New Orleans Pelicans: +100000
- T-23) Portland Trail Blazers: +100000
- T-23) Utah Jazz: +100000
Don't do it! Don't bet on any of these teams. When the Detroit Pistons have better odds than your squad, you best leave your money in your pocket.
If you absolutely had to though, for the fate of the universe or something, then the Chicago Bulls might be the best bet. Yes, it's likely that they deal away stars like Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic before the trade deadline, but there's still a chance they retain all of their talent. Their stars are expensive after all.
Of course, the Bulls haven't been able to make an impact in the Eastern Conference even with their stars, but they still currently sit in 10th-place. If the postseason were to start today, at least they'd be in the play-in tournament. Can't say the same for the other teams on this list.