NBA Championship Odds & Favorites 2025: Doncic-Davis Trade Moves Odds for Lakers, Mavs
After one of the most shocking trades in NBA history, the Los Angeles Lakers and Dallas Mavericks have swapped superstars and traded spots in the 2025 NBA championship odds.
The Mavericks sent Luka Doncic - who opened among the NBA MVP odds favorites - to the Lakers for a package centered around Anthony Davis and a first-round pick, according to Shams Charania. The cellar-dwelling Utah Jazz also joined in the three-team deal.
That came ahead of another blockbuster deal that sent De'Aaron Fox to the San Antonio Spurs with the Chicago Bulls shipping Zach LaVine to the Sacramento Kings.
All of those teams still trail the Oklahoma City Thunder and Boston Celtics as NBA championship favorites across our best NBA betting sites, but Los Angeles is among that next tier of contenders after pairing LeBron James with one of the world's best players.
NBA championship odds 2025
Live NBA championship odds from our best NBA betting sites.
- The Thunder have the best odds in the NBA after waltzing through the Western Conference two-thirds into the season
- The Celtics, who opened the season at +310, have seen their odds shorten thanks to continued solid play
- The Cavaliers have a clear lead in the East over the title favorite at our best sports betting sites, but sportsbooks aren't quite sold on Kenny Atkinson's group yet
- The Knicks remain a threat to both the Celtics and Cavs thanks to the acquisition of Karl-Anthony Towns paying off in the Big Apple
- The Nuggets have the second-shortest odds in the West, despite sitting fourth in the standings due to the dominance of Nikola Jokic
- We're expecting more shake up in the NBA championship odds with the NBA trade deadline on Thursday
Lakers, Mavericks title odds after Doncic-Davis trade
Lakers NBA championship odds: +1700
On paper, the Lakers' roster might even have more questions than it did before trading for Doncic, one of the world's best players.
While the former Mavericks star is an elite offensive player, his defensive shortcomings and inability to stay on the court have hampered Dallas this season and led to his eventual rebuke by the front office. Yet his brilliance when on the court led the Mavs to the NBA Finals last year even when Doncic wasn't at full strength.
That's ultimately why Los Angeles' odds shortened so dramatically on Saturday night, from as high as +4500 before the deal to no better than +1700 as of Sunday morning.
Best odds: +1700 via DraftKings | Implied probability: 5.56%
Terms and conditions apply.
Mavericks NBA championship odds: +3500
Dallas' title odds were trading around +2000 heading into the weekend, even with Doncic missing over half the season and the Mavericks sitting on the playoff bubble.
Then the team flipped its franchise star for Davis, Max Christie, and a future draft pick, which doesn't exactly inspire confidence alongside Kyrie Irving and the rest of the Mavericks roster. Clearly, the front office disagrees, though our best sportsbooks were comfortable dropping Dallas out of contention with this move.
If you're buying what the Mavericks are selling, you can turn a $10 bet into a $350 profit.
Best odds: +3500 via DraftKings | Implied probability: 2.78%
NBA championship odds favorites 2025
Thunder NBA championship odds: +240
Has Sam Presti finally cracked the code? The Oklahoma City Thunder are among the league's best teams and they have yet to field a fully healthy starting five this season, with Hartenstein and Holmgren combining to play just 36 of a possible 92 games as of Jan. 30.
The Thunder are one of the greatest defensive units of the modern era, and they have the MVP front-runner leading the charge on offense. They're as well-rounded as well-rounded gets. The only potential factor giving bettors pause is Mark Daigneault's team has yet to win a championship, unlike Boston, Denver, or Milwaukee.
Best odds: +240 via Caesars | Implied probability: 29.41%
New users only. Must use promo code. Min. $10 deposit. Max. bonus is $1,059 bonus bet if first bet loses. Bonus bet expire in 14 days. Void where prohibited. Full terms.
Celtics NBA championship odds: +250
Boston proved last year it was capable of dominating the postseason and winning with its current core. We've seen countless champions come out on autopilot the following year, which is why there's no talk of the Celtics falling off.
While Boston's record is still impressive and good enough for second in the East, Joe Mazzulla and Co. don't seem particularly bothered by closing the gap between themselves and Cleveland. At the end of the day, the Celtics have all of the necessary tools to win another title - we know it, they know it, and oddsmakers know it.
Best odds: +250 via DraftKings | Implied probability: 28.57%
Terms and conditions apply.
My NBA championship odds team to watch
Cavaliers NBA championship odds: +950
Cleveland still holds the NBA's best record nearly halfway into the season, a huge blow to those who believed it'd fall off after a 15-0 start. The Cavaliers swapping JB Bickerstaff for Kenny Atkinson seems like one of the best coaching moves in recent memory as the latter leads the NBA Coach of the Year odds.
All four Cleveland stars - Jarrett Allen, Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell, and Evan Mobley - are averaging at least 13.8 points per game while shooting 44.9% or better from the field. It's hard to stop a team as offensively diverse as the Cavs, as evidenced by their second-rated scoring offense.
A $10 winning wager on Cleveland at this stage returns $95 in profits at DraftKings. The Cavaliers represent the best value on the board at this price given their track record throughout the regular season.
Best odds: +950 via DraftKings | Implied probability: 9.52%
NBA conference winner odds
Here's a look at how the Eastern and Western Conference odds shake out as of Jan. 30 with odds courtesy of FanDuel.
| Eastern Conference | Odds | Western Conference | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Celtics | -110 | Thunder | +105 |
| Cavaliers | +340 | Nuggets | +550 |
| Knicks | +550 | Mavericks | +950 |
| Bucks | +1200 | Grizzlies | +1100 |
| Magic | +1900 | Clippers | +1400 |
| 76ers | +2800 | Rockets | +1600 |
| Pacers | +3800 | Timberwolves | +2000 |
| Heat | +12000 | Suns | +2100 |
| Hawks | +18000 | Lakers | +2500 |
| Pistons | +33000 | Warriors | +3400 |
| Bulls | +50000 | Kings | +5500 |
| Hornets | +50000 | Spurs | +12000 |
| Nets | +50000 | Jazz | +50000 |
| Raptors | +50000 | Pelicans | +50000 |
| Wizards | +50000 | Trail Blazers | +50000 |
How to bet on the NBA championship
Betting on NBA championship odds is pretty simple. First, pick a reputable sportsbook that offers NBA futures.
Check out the odds for each team; for example, if the Lakers are +500 to win it all, a $100 bet on the Lakers would win you $500 if they take the championship. Place your bet by deciding how much you want to wager. If you bet $100 on the Lakers at +500 and they win, you’ll get $600 back ($500 profit + $100 stake).
Keep an eye on the teams' performances throughout the season to see how your bet is doing.
It's important to remember that odds move in future markets. It’s all about performance and perception. If a team starts playing better or worse than expected, their odds will change.
Injuries to key players can also significantly impact a team's chances and thus their odds. Trades and new player acquisitions can shift odds too. Public betting trends play a role - if a lot of people are betting on one team, sportsbooks might adjust the odds to balance their risk.
Expert analysis and predictions can influence how people bet, which in turn affects the odds.
How to read NBA championship odds
Reading NBA championship odds is straightforward. Odds are usually presented in a format like +500 or -200. Positive odds (e.g., +500) show how much profit you’d make on a $100 bet.
For example, a $100 bet at +500 odds would win you $500, plus your original $100 stake, totaling $600. Negative odds (e.g., -200) indicate how much you need to bet to win $100. So, a $200 bet at -200 odds would win you $100, plus your $200 stake, totaling $300.
These odds also reflect the probability of a team winning the championship. Lower odds (e.g., +300) suggest a higher likelihood, while higher odds (e.g., +2000) indicate a lower probability.
Sportsbooks adjust these odds based on factors like team performance, injuries, trades, and betting patterns.
For example, if the Lakers have +500 odds and the Nets have +700 odds, the Lakers are considered more likely to win. If you bet $100 on the Lakers and they win, you’d get $600 back ($500 profit + $100 stake).
NBA championship opening odds
- Celtics: +310
- Nuggets: +750
- Mavericks: +950
- Thunder: +950
- Bucks: +1000
- Timberwolves: +1000
- Knicks: +1600
- 76ers: +1600
- Clippers: +2000
- Warriors: +2500
- Lakers: +2500
- Suns: +2500
- Heat: +3500
- Grizzlies: +4000
- Cavaliers: +5000
- Pacers: +5000
- Pelicans: +5000
- Magic: +5000
- Kings: +5000
- Hawks: +10000
- Rockets: +10000
- Spurs: +10000
- Bulls: +15000
- Raptors: +25000
- Jazz: +25000
- Nets: +50000
- Hornets: +50000
- Pistons: +50000
- Trail Blazers: +50000
- Wizards: +50000
NBA Finals betting history
| Year | Team | Preseason odds |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Boston Celtics | +450 |
| 2023 | Denver Nuggets | +1800 |
| 2022 | Golden State Warriors | +1200 |
| 2021 | Milwaukee Bucks | +550 |
| 2020 | Los Angeles Lakers | +1800 |
| 2019 | Toronto Raptors | +6600 |
| 2018 | Golden State Warriors | -168 |
| 2017 | Golden State Warriors | +215 |
| 2016 | Cleveland Cavaliers | +300 |
| 2015 | Golden State Warriors | +2500 |
| 2014 | San Antonio Spurs | +100 |
| 2013 | Miami Heat | +250 |
NBA Championship FAQs
Who is favored to win the 2025 NBA championship?
The Oklahoma City Thunder are the favorites to win the 2025 NBA championship at +240. Those odds imply a probability of 29.41% that the Thunder will win it all.
Who won the NBA Finals last year?
The Boston Celtics won the 2024 NBA Finals, defeating the Dallas Mavericks in five games.
When will the 2025 NBA Finals be decided?
The last NBA Finals began on June 5. Expect the 2025 postseason to run on a similar schedule.
When's the last time an NBA team won back-to-back titles?
The last time an NBA team went back-to-back was when the Golden State Warriors won the championship in 2017 and 2018.
NBA betting odds pages
Here are our best NBA betting sites
- Caesars Promo Code: SBRBONUS1000
- BetMGM Bonus Code: SBRBONUS
- bet365 Bonus Code: SBRBONUS
- FanDuel Promo Code
- DraftKings Promo Code
- Hard Rock Bet Promo Code
- Fanatics Sportsbook Promo Code
(21+. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER)
* Bonuses not applicable in Ontario.
Not intended for use in MA.
Each betting site featured on SBR has been meticulously researched and selected by our team of experts. If you sign up through our links, we may get a commission.
Related pages
- Best Sports Betting Sites | Best Sportsbook Promos (U.S. only)
Related Articles
