The 2024-25 NBA Playoffs aren’t even done, but DraftKings Sportsbook posted 2025-26 title odds after the 2025 NBA Draft Lottery. So, while we’re still waiting to crown a new champion this season, futures bettors can already get ahead on next season. The Oklahoma City Thunder are currently the betting favorites (+200) to win next year’s championship. And oddly enough, the Boston Celtics (+370), who might have lost Jayson Tatum to a major injury, are second on the oddsboard. Below, I’m going to list out the first 16 teams that appear on the board. Then, I’m going to pick out a few teams that could be worth fliers right now. While we don’t exactly know what teams teams will look like next season, we have a decent idea. We also know that there are some Western Conference teams that are going star hunting this summer, which is why I believe there’s a ton of value in spreading some money out across the West. Let’s get into it.
2025-26 NBA Championship Odds
- Oklahoma City Thunder (+200)
- Boston Celtics (+370)
- Cleveland Cavaliers (11-1)
- Minnesota Timberwolves (12-1)
- New York Knicks (14-1)
- Denver Nuggets (14-1)
- Houston Rockets (16-1)
- Los Angeles Lakers (20-1)
- Golden State Warriors (25-1)
- Dallas Mavericks (25-1)
- Indiana Pacers (25-1)
- San Antonio Spurs (25-1)
- Los Angeles Clippers (30-1)
- Philadelphia 76ers (45-1)
- Orlando Magic (45-1)
- Memphis Grizzlies (50-1)
For the rest of the 2025-26 NBA Championship Odds, head over to DraftKings Sportsbook!
Early 2025-26 NBA Championship Value Plays
Houston Rockets (16-1)
The Rockets are surely disappointed that they weren’t able to beat the Golden State Warriors, but this was a good season for Ime Udoka’s team. Houston finished 52-30 during the regular season, and that was good for second in the Western Conference standings. The Rockets were also fourth in the NBA in adjusted defensive rating (110.1), and it’s clear they have some franchise cornerstones in Alperen Sengun and Amen Thompson. Sengun averaged 19.1 points, 10.3 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game during the regular season, made his first All-Star Game and showed out against Golden State in a very physical series. Meanwhile, Thompson looks like one of the best wing defenders in basketball, and his ability to handle the ball, attack the rim and serve as a play finisher make him an interesting piece on offense.
The Rockets just need to decide what to do to address a shaky offense. Jalen Green gave the team nothing in the opening-round loss to the Warriors, and Houston has the assets to go out and get a No. 1 scorer. Well, how about Giannis Antetokounmpo or Kevin Durant? Antetokounmpo is going to have other suitors, and I’ll hit on one of the others soon. But if the Rockets want to get a deal done, they absolutely can. They have tradable contracts, a bunch of first-round picks and plenty of young guys to offer — like Reed Sheppard, Jabari Smith Jr., Tari Eason and Cam Whitmore.
If Houston can bring in a big fish, this team will be ready to go as a true Western Conference contender. The Rockets are well-coached and play hard on both ends of the floor. So, this is a perfect environment for an electric scorer to come in and make a difference. I ultimately think this is where Durant ends up. Houston wouldn’t have to give up nearly as much for Durant as it would for Antetokounmpo, and the 36-year-old’s ability to shoot the ball would give the Rockets the type of spacing they didn’t have last year. Udoka and Durant also happen to have a great relationship.
Dallas Mavericks (25-1)
Nico Harrison didn’t deserve a “Get Out of Jail Free” card after dealing Luka Doncic to Los Angeles, but he got one in the form of Dallas winning the lottery with a 1.8% chance. Suddenly, the Mavericks can add Cooper Flagg to a loaded roster. Flagg might have to work on his jumper, but his ability to get to the rim, make tough shots in the mid-range area and make all the right reads as a passer will make him a good offensive piece right away. And we all know Harrison believes “defense wins championships,” so he’s going to love Flagg. The future No. 1 pick is an elite defensive prospect, as he’s good on the ball and excellent off it. His ability to play passing lanes and block shots is truly special.
A playoff rotation of Kyrie Irving, Anthony Davis, Flagg, Dereck Lively II, Max Christie, P.J. Washington, Klay Thompson and Daniel Gafford could be very difficult to beat. The Mavericks have the potential to be the best team in the league defensively, and they have enough shot making to turn that into a real run at the title.
The only issue here is health. Irving will likely miss the first half of the regular season after having torn his ACL late in the year, and you never know how many games you’re getting out of Davis. So, not only do we not know how healthy Dallas will be at the end of the year, but this team will also be seeded a little lower because of Irving’s injury. But at 25-1, it’s hard to care. If this team gets into the playoffs with most of its roster intact, it’ll be hard to beat in four out of seven games.
San Antonio Spurs (25-1)
While I mentioned the Rockets as an Antetokounmpo trade spot, the Spurs have to be viewed as the frontrunners in that that sweepstakes. Antetokounmpo apparently wants to go somewhere with talent in place, but it also sounds like he’s interested in avoiding state taxes. Well, the Spurs have all of that, along with the assets to get him. After getting the No. 2 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, San Antonio can now offer two lottery picks this year (2 and 14), other future firsts, Jeremy Sochan and the salaries of Keldon Johnson and Harrison Barnes for Antetokounmpo. That would leave the Spurs with Antetokounmpo, Victor Wembanyama, De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle and Devin Vassell. That sounds like a championship five to me.
If the Spurs don’t want to go all in on Antetokounmo, they can also get in on the Durant conversation. As I mentioned with Houston, he’d be a little cheaper to acquire, and his skill set might even be a better fit. With Fox and Wembanyama, the Spurs can use a sniper and a bonafide bucket-getter. The difference is that the championship window with Durant is much smaller than one with Antetokounmpo. But the point is, that window is open if San Antonio goes out and adds a piece.
Of course, it sucks that Gregg Popovich won’t be coaching the next version of this group, but the 76-year-old is now heading up basketball operations for the Spurs. So, he’s going to have a hand in building the team, and I think he’ll be aggressive in doing so — along with general manager Brian Wright. Plus, I liked the way San Antonio played under Mitch Johnson, who has a bright future on the sidelines.
Orlando Magic (45-1)
The Magic desperately need some offense. They were third in the NBA in adjusted defensive rating (109.3), but they were 27th in adjusted offensive rating (109.1). But Orlando has seen some sizable leaps from Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero, who should make up one of the best wing duos in basketball for years to come. Jalen Suggs is also an elite point-of-attack defender that can knock down 3s, giving this team a tremendous trio to build around. Orlando also made Boston work in the opening round of the playoffs, and the team did that without Suggs. Now, the Magic are a team to watch heading into the offense, as it’s clear the Eastern Conference will be wide open next year.
Orlando has already been linked to Anfernee Simons, who averaged 19.3 points and shot 36.3% from 3 for the Portland Trail Blazers last season. That’s the type of player that can put the Magic over the top, as they’re a shot maker away from entering the top tier in the East. Simons is also a Florida native, so the fit makes all the sense in the world. Orlando just needs to find a way to entice Portland with a trade offer.
It’s also possible that other playmaking guards become available in a couple of weeks. There’s no guarantee guys like Trae Young, LaMelo Ball and Ja Morant will be playing for their current teams next season. And if any of them do end up hitting the market, the Magic will be ready to pounce. They have the defensive infrastructure you need to welcome in those flawed-but-remarkable talents.
All I know is that Orlando is a good offensive piece away from becoming a contender, and Magic president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman said he’s going to be aggressive after the season. So, at 45-1 odds, Orlando is an interesting option when betting on next year’s champion.
