Naturally, the team that won the most recent championship will open as the future market favorite. The Boston Celtics were the best team in the regular season and playoffs en route to the 2023-24 championship. Thus, Boston is the future market NBA betting favorite to take the 2024-25 crown. Repeat champions are not uncommon in the NBA. As recently as 2017-18, the Golden State Warriors turned the trick. Since 1969, there have been seven repeat champions. So, while repeats are not regular, they are possible. Boston will be a loaded team but one facing strong competition.
2024-25 NBA Championship Futures Odds
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Boston Celtics | +290 |
| Denver Nuggets | +800 |
| Oklahoma City Thunder | +850 |
| Minnesota Timberwolves | +900 |
| Milwaukee Bucks | +950 |
| Dallas Mavericks | +1000 |
| Philadelphia 76ers | +1400 |
| New York Knicks | +1600 |
| Los Angles Lakers | +300 |
| Golden State Warriors | +3000 |
| Phoenix Suns | +3000 |
| LA Clippers | +3000 |
| Miami Heat | +3500 |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | +4000 |
| Memphis Grizzlies | +4500 |
| New Orleans Pelicans | +5000 |
| Indiana Pacers | +5000 |
NBA Boston Celtics
Head coach Joe Mazzulla has proven to be the perfect fit for the Celtics. Of course, Mazzulla was hired when former head coach Ime Udoka was released due to a sexual misconduct issue. But out of that chaos, Mazzulla has proven to have the temperament to lead a marquee, high-profile franchise to sportsbook glory. Mazzulla has a .763 win percentage in the regular season. Additionally, his playoff record is 27-12 with an NBA title.
General manager Brad Stevens is one of the best basketball men in history. Stevens, age 47, was originally hired as the Wonderboy head coach of the Celtics. At the onset, his hiring was met with NBA betting skepticism. But Stevens went 354-282 as a head coach in the regular season and led Boston to the Eastern Conference finals three times. Since 2021, he has been the Boston general manager and a masterful one.
Jayson Tatum has emerged as one of the NBA’s elite players. In the 2024 NBA Playoffs, Tatum averaged 25.0 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 6.3 assists per contest. Also, Jaylen Brown was effective, with 23.9 points and 5.9 rebounds per contest.
To conclude, Boston is built for success in the immediate and long-range future. With Stevens at the helm, Boston will be in the championship hunt for years to come.
NBA Denver Nuggets
Last year, the Denver Nuggets won the only title in franchise history. For much of the 2023-24 season, the Nuggets played with a championship hangover. But any team that has Nikola Jokic in the lineup has the potential to go far in the NBA Playoffs. Jokic was named NBA MVP for the third time in his career in 2024. Following a disappointing playoff performance, Denver should be refocused and refreshed in 2024-25.
Oklahoma City Thunder
One of the biggest surprises in the past season was the Oklahoma City Thunder. And with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in the lineup, the Thunder will be in the NBA championship conversation for years to come. In 2023-24, Alexander led Oklahoma City with 30.1 points per game. While in the playoffs, he scored 30.2 points per game with 7.2 rebounds and 6.4 assists per contest.
Minnesota Timberwolves
The Minnesota Timberwolves are another emerging power in the NBA. Namely, Anthony Edwards made a powerful statement this season with 25.9 points per game. In the playoffs, he was even better, with 27.6 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 6.5 assists per game.