2025 NBA Finals Betting Odds
As the NBA regular season winds down, attention will soon shift to the NBA Playoffs and which teams will emerge to…
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The journey to determine who will play for the NBA’s biggest prize is a long one.
In this article, we break down everything you need to know about betting on NBA Finals futures odds, along with the top teams that have the best chance to bring home the hardware this June.
Note: Odds were correct at the time of writing.
How is the Winner Decided?
NBA fans likely know how the league crowns its champion, but if you’re new to the sport and looking to bet on a team to hoist the Larry O’Brien Trophy, here’s a quick crash course on how the NBA Finals winner is determined.
The NBA Playoffs is a 16-team tournament featuring the top eight teams from the Western and Eastern Conferences. First-round matchups in each conference are seeded as follows:
- No. 1 seed vs. No. 8 seed
- No. 4 seed vs. No. 5 seed
- No. 3 seed vs. No. 6 seed
- No. 2 seed vs. No. 7 seed
Each playoff series follows a Best-of-7 format, with the first team to win four games advancing to the next round while the losing team begins their offseason.
In the semifinals, the winner of the No. 1 vs. No. 8 matchup faces the No. 4 vs. No. 5 winner, while the No. 3 vs. No. 6 winner takes on the No. 2 vs. No. 7 winner.
Semifinal winners move on to the Conference Finals, where the last two teams in each conference battle for a spot in the NBA Finals.
The NBA Finals follows the same Best-of-7 format, with the first team to win four games crowned NBA Champions.
NBA Finals Betting Odds
Oklahoma City Thunder – The Favorite (+185) at BetMGM
As of March 14, 2025, the Oklahoma City Thunder are the betting favorites to win the 2025 NBA Finals across most sportsbooks.
The Thunder finished last season with the best record in the Western Conference and have carried that momentum into this season.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has elevated his game from star to superstar and is the frontrunner to win the NBA MVP Award.
Sam Presti’s patient approach to roster building and draft pick accumulation has created a team with no clear weaknesses.
OKC has reached the NBA Finals only once since relocating from Seattle, but they have all the pieces in place to return this season.
Boston Celtics – The Defending Champs (+230) at DraftKings
The Celtics did just about everything right last season on their way to winning their first NBA championship since 2008.
Heading into this season, they were understandably listed as the preseason favorites (+300) to repeat as champions.
This season has been a bit unusual for Boston, as they’ve often appeared to be coasting through the regular season.
Many expect them to flip the switch when the playoffs begin and make another run at the NBA Finals. Despite some inconsistent stretches, the Celtics still hold the second shortest odds to win the title.
There are plenty of reasons to back the Celtics to repeat. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown remain one of the league’s top duos, while key role players like Payton Pritchard, Derrick White, Jrue Holiday, and Kristaps Porzingis give Boston one of the deepest rosters in the NBA.
Winning back-to-back titles is no easy task. The last team to accomplish the feat was the Warriors in 2018. However, if any team is built to do it this year, it’s this Celtics squad.
At the time of writing, the best odds for Boston to win the 2025 NBA Finals are at DraftKings, where a $100 bet would return $230 if the Celtics repeat.
Cleveland Cavaliers – The Surprising Contender (+550) at Caesars
The Cavs were once regular contenders to win the NBA Finals, but that changed when LeBron James left for LA and Kyrie Irving’s brief stint of controversy followed.
Those championship aspirations quickly disappeared along with them.
After missing the playoffs for four straight years, Cleveland has made the postseason in each of the last two seasons, both times finishing fourth in the Eastern Conference. However, this season feels different.
The hiring of former Nets head coach and Warriors assistant coach Kenny Atkinson has transformed the Cavs from a middle-of-the-pack team into a legitimate threat to Boston’s Eastern Conference reign.
As of this writing, Cleveland holds the best record in basketball, yet sportsbooks have been slow to price them alongside the Thunder and Celtics. That hesitation could provide strong betting value for those who believe the Cavs can make a deep playoff run.
If you’re looking to back Cleveland to win their second NBA title in franchise history, FanDuel Sportsbook is offering the best odds at +550, meaning a $100 bet would return $550 if the Cavs go all the way.
Los Angeles Lakers – ‘Luka’-ing Dangerous (+1700) at FanDuel
Before February 2, 2025, the Lakers’ odds to win the NBA Finals were sitting at +2500.
Then Mavericks GM Nico Harrison made one of the most shocking trades in NBA history, sending Luka Doncic to the Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis.
Since the move, Luka has thrived in the Lakers’ offense and is enjoying playing alongside his childhood idol, LeBron James. Meanwhile, Davis played just one game for Dallas before suffering another injury.
Since that blockbuster trade, the Lakers surged up the Western Conference standings, but have since dropped down since LeBron James’ injury.
As of this writing, they hold the No. 4 seed, and few teams in the West appear capable of matching up with them in a Best-of-7 series.
The Lakers will always attract heavy betting action due to their nationwide popularity, but there is still solid value on them in the futures market.
At FanDuel, a $100 bet on the Lakers to win the title would return $1,700 if Luka and LeBron deliver another championship to Los Angeles.
The Sleepers
Unlike some other sports, the NBA Finals are typically won by one of the favorites heading into the postseason.
However, with no true superteam currently dominating the league, the door is open for an under-the-radar team to make a surprise championship run.
Just last season, the Mavericks shocked the basketball world by coming out of the Western Conference despite long odds.
This season, two potential sleepers could follow that blueprint, the 2023 NBA Champion Denver Nuggets and Spike Lee’s beloved New York Knicks.
Both teams have the talent and depth to get hot at the right time, and FanDuel Sportsbook is offering outstanding betting odds on each of them to win the 2025 NBA Finals.
| Team | Conference | Betting Odds |
| Nuggets | Western | +1600 |
| Warriors | Western | +2500 |
The Longshots
Courtesy of FanDuel, here’s a quick snapshot of some notable longshots heading into the 2025 NBA Playoffs.
These options should be viewed as lotto tickets rather than serious contenders, as their long odds reflect the uphill battle they would face to win the NBA Finals.
| Team | Conference | Betting Odds |
| Knicks | Eastern | +3000 |
| Grizzlies | Western | +6500 |
| Bucks | Eastern | +8500 |
| T’Wolves | Western | +8500 |
| Clippers | Western | +8500 |
NBA Finals Previous Winners
When betting on the NBA Finals, it’s worth noting that Game 7s have been a rarity in recent years. The 2016 Cavs are the only team in the last decade to win the Finals in seven games.
Five of the last 10 NBA champions clinched the title in six games, while three others needed just five games to secure the ring.
This trend could provide value when betting on the exact series outcome or series total games market.
| Year | Team |
| 2024 | Celtics def. Mavs (4-1) |
| 2023 | Nuggets def. Heat (4-1) |
| 2022 | Warriors def. Celtics (4-2) |
| 2021 | Bucks def. Suns (4-2) |
| 2020 | Lakers def. Heat (4-2) |
| 2019 | Raptors def. Warriors (4-2) |
| 2018 | Warriors def. Cavs (4-0) |
| 2017 | Warriors def. Cavs (4-1) |
| 2016 | Cavs def. Warriors (4-3) |
| 2015 | Warriors def. Cavs (4-2) |
How to Bet On NBA Finals Futures Odds
To bet on NBA Finals Futures Odds, follow these steps:
- Go to your preferred sportsbook and log into your account.
- Select the ‘NBA Odds’ tab option in the betting menu.
- Go to the ‘Player Futures’ drop-down menu.
- Click on ‘NBA Finals’, or something comparable
- Choose your bet and place it in the bet-slip window.
