As the NBA season tips off, the Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks emerge as the frontrunners to claim the championship, according to various sportsbooks across the nation.
The excitement is palpable as these two teams share the top spot, with the Celtics slightly edging out the Bucks in the odds race, coming in at +380, while Milwaukee is at +400. Meanwhile, the defending champions, the Denver Nuggets, aren’t far behind at +420. Rounding out the contenders with single-digit odds are the Phoenix Suns (+600) and the Golden State Warriors (+850) – setting the stage for an electrifying season.
Both the Celtics and the Bucks revamped their backcourts during the offseason, making significant moves to strengthen their teams. Boston acquired the experienced Jrue Holiday, while Milwaukee made headlines by acquiring the superstar Damian Lillard to complement the reigning MVP, Giannis Antetokounmpo. These exciting additions have only fueled the anticipation for what’s to come.
In a notable twist, the Denver Nuggets attracted considerable attention during the offseason, with a bettor in Nevada placing a $30,000 wager at 4-1 odds, potentially reaping a net profit of $120,000. This sizable bet underscores the belief in the Nuggets’ ability to defend their title.
Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Lakers, with odds of around 11-1, are the darlings of the betting community, drawing substantial support at sportsbooks like FanDuel and the SuperBook. The LA Clippers are not far behind at 18-1, and the Miami Heat also command attention with odds of 22-1.
On the flip side, a few teams are facing long odds. The Detroit Pistons, Charlotte Hornets, Washington Wizards, and Portland Trail Blazers are all considered significant underdogs, each having odds of 500-1 at Caesars Sportsbook.
Looking ahead to individual accolades, the regular-season MVP race is heating up, with Nikola Jokic of the Nuggets leading the pack at 3-1 odds. Close contenders include Giannis Antetokounmpo at 6-1 and Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks at 11-2 odds.
In the rookie category, Victor Wembanyama, the top pick for the San Antonio Spurs, is the odds-on favorite to win Rookie of the Year at -150 odds. Notably, this marks the first time since Kevin Durant in 2007-08 that a rookie is the clear frontrunner for this honor, as per betting database SportsOddsHistory.com.
As the anticipation builds, the NBA season gets underway with exciting matchups, including the Nuggets hosting the Lakers and the Warriors welcoming the Suns. Basketball fans are in for a thrilling season, with countless storylines to follow and plenty of opportunities to engage with the action.
Here are the latest odds to capture the NBA championship according to Caesars Sportsbook as of October 24th:
- Celtics +380
- Bucks +400
- Nuggets +420
- Suns +600
- Warriors +850
- Lakers +1,100
- Clippers +1,800
- Heat +2,200
- Mavericks +2,500
- 76ers +2,800
- Cavaliers +3,000
- Grizzlies +3,000
- Kings +4,000
- Timberwolves +4,000
- Knicks +5,000
- Pelicans +5,000
- Thunder +7,000
- Hawks +8,000
- Raptors +12,500
- Bulls +15,000
- Nets +15,000
- Spurs +20,000
- Pacers +20,000
- Jazz +30,000
- Rockets +30,000
- Magic +30,000
- Pistons +50,000
- Hornets +50,000
- Wizards +50,000
- Trail Blazers +50,000