2024-25 NBA championship odds: Celtics, Thunder favored; Cavs rising

The NBA season is a fourth of the way over.

The Boston Celtics are months removed from becoming NBA champions for the 18th time, after knocking off the Dallas Mavericks in five games in the 2024 NBA Finals.

But the path to another championship won’t be a cakewalk, with a number of real contenders in both conferences.

Here’s a look at the NBA title odds at DraftKings Sportsbook as of Dec. 16.

2024-25 NBA Finals winner:

Boston Celtics: +240 (bet $10 to win $34 total)
Oklahoma City Thunder: +360 (bet $10 to win $46 total)
New York Knicks: +1000 (bet $10 to win $110 total)
Dallas Mavericks: +1100 (bet $10 to win $120 total)
Denver Nuggets: +1400 (bet $10 to win $150 total)
Golden State Warriors: +1500 (bet $10 to win $160 total)
Cleveland Cavaliers: +1700 (bet $10 to win $180 total)
Milwaukee Bucks: +1800 (bet $10 to win $190 total)
Phoenix Suns: +2500 (bet $10 to win $260 total)
Minnesota Timberwolves: +2800 (bet $10 to win $290 total)
Memphis Grizzlies: +3000 (bet $10 to win $310 total)
Miami Heat: +3500 (bet $10 to win $360 total)
Philadelphia 76ers: +3500 (bet $10 to win $360 total)
Los Angeles Lakers: +4500 (bet $10 to win $460 total)
Orlando Magic: +5500 (bet $10 to win $560 total)
LA Clippers: +6000 (bet $10 to win $610 total)
Houston Rockets: +6500 (bet $10 to win $660 total)
Sacramento Kings: +11000 (bet $10 to win $1,010 total)
Indiana Pacers: +16000 (bet $10 to win $1,610 total)
Atlanta Hawks: +25000 (bet $10 to win $2,510 total)
San Antonio Spurs: +45000 (bet $10 to win $4,510 total)
New Orleans Pelicans: +60000 (bet $10 to win $6,010 total)
Washington Wizards: +100000 (bet $10 to win $10,010 total)
Utah Jazz: +100000 (bet $10 to win $10,010 total)
Toronto Raptors: +100000 (bet $10 to win $10,010 total)
Portland Trail Blazers: +100000 (bet $10 to win $10,010 total)
Detroit Pistons: +100000 (bet $10 to win $10,010 total)
Chicago Bulls: +100000 (bet $10 to win $10,010 total)
Charlotte Hornets: +100000 (bet $10 to win $10,010 total)
Brooklyn Nets: +100000 (bet $10 to win $10,010 total)

Let’s check in with Jason McIntyre for some futures picks as of Nov. 12.

New York Knicks: +1000 (at time of pick)

A few weeks into the season, the Knicks odds have mysteriously dropped from +725 to +1000. I’ve got to grab that. The Knicks have two new starters, and two guys playing minutes off the bench who weren’t with the squad last year. Unlike the Celtics, that’s a lot of new faces. They also still have two key rotational factors getting healthy (Precious Achiuwa, Mitchell Robinson). At full strength, this team will be a real problem for the Celtics.

Denver Nuggets: +1100 (at time of pick)

I’m looking for value, and because the Nuggets were +750, but the market is selling them because of a slow start, sure, I’ll take the team with best big man in the league. The Nuggets started 0-2, and then Nikola Jokic decided he was going to do everything for the team because this situation was unacceptable. Jokic now leads the Nuggets in points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks. But more importantly, Michael Malone seems to be embracing the young guys, and if he’s going to play Peyton Watson and Julian Strawther 20-plus minutes a night, that’s a great sign going forward.

Milwaukee Bucks: +3000 (at time of pick)

Didn’t love the Bucks coming into this season, and they’ve been wretched early. The guard play has been abysmal — they started Ryan Rollins and AJ Green at guard recently; these are barely rotational guys in the NBA — and injuries are a problem. But if you’re looking for a silver lining, they still have Giannis Antetokounmpo. Perfect storm scenario: Khris Middleton returns healthy and back near his old form; Gary Trent Jr. turns into the star everyone thought he’d be in high school; Andre Jackson, the former UConn standout, emerges as the do-it-all-talent he’s projected to be.

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