Only a handful of teams ever have a realistic chance winning the NBA finals. The Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Lakers were early favorites to lift the Larry O’Brien trophy but things have since changed drastically.
We assess the teams most likely to win it all in 2022 by breaking down the latest championship betting odds from Vegas.
2022 NBA Championship Odds
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Phoenix Suns | +270 |
| Milwaukee Bucks | +550 |
| Brooklyn Nets | +700 |
| Golden State Warriors | +700 |
| Boston Celtics | +800 |
| Philadelphia 76ers | +1100 |
| Miami Heat | +1200 |
| Memphis Grizzlies | +1400 |
| Utah Jazz | +2500 |
| Dallas Mavericks | +3000 |
| Denver Nuggets | +3300 |
| Los Angeles Clippers | +3500 |
| Chicago Bulls | +8000 |
| Minnesota Timberwolves | +12000 |
| Toronto Raptors | +12000 |
| Atlanta Hawks | +25000 |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | +25000 |
| Charlotte Hornets | +50000 |
| New Orleans Pelicans | +100000 |
| San Antonio Spurs | +100000 |
NBA Championship Betting Odds – Monthly Update
March
The Boston Celtics (+800) played the best basketball of the month going 14-4 to move steadily up the Eastern Conference rankings. Phoenix continued their steady play despite the absence of Chris Paul and remain on track as title favorites.
February
Brooklyn (+500) head into the All-Star break having dropped to third place after starting the month as +350 favorites. They may be struggling right now due to Kevin Durant’s injury but their newly revamped roster is reason enough for them to remain as the top team in the East.
Phoenix (+400) finally leapfrogged Western conference rivals Golden State (+450) and Brooklyn to become title favorites. The Warriors move up to become second-favorites despite trailing Phoenix by 6.5 games.
January
Little has changed in the rankings except for the sudden rise of the Memphis Grizzlies who won 12 games for the second consecutive month. Ja Morant continues to make his case for the Most Improved Award though Warriors forward Draymond Green thinks Ja should be in contention MVP award.
December
Phoenix’s franchise-tying 18 consecutive wins bolstered them to fourth in the rankings behind the Nets, Bucks and Warriors. Cleveland’s impressive display has seen them climb up the ladder as they look like a lock for a playoff spot.
November
Less than one month into the season and the Los Angeles Lakers’ championship hopes are already fading. The Lakers opened as second favorites behind the Nets but have quickly been taken over by the Warriors and Suns.
NBA Championship Betting Odds – Preseason Favorites
The Brooklyn Nets are strong favorites to win the 2022 NBA title. They boast the best big three in the NBA and put together a stellar supporting cast during the offseason. The Nets were inches away from qualifying for the Eastern Conference Finals last season despite injuries to Kyrie Irving and James Harden. A healthy roster should make for a successful season. The only big question mark is Kyrie’s hesitation to get vaccinated, an issue that makes prevents the Nets from reaching their full potential.
The addition of 11 new faces have significantly bolstered the Lakers’ Championship chances. The Lakers big three is now complete with Russell Westbrook on the team. Westbrook averaged a triple double for the Wizards last season and will be expected to facilitate the ball. Age is the only downside to this super team. Five players are over 35 so staying healthy will be the key if LeBron James is to get his fifth championship ring.
The defending champs managed to keep most of their roster together but they face a tough task. Only four teams have won back to back Championships since 2000. They may not have the elite talent of the Nets or Lakers but the Bucks are a cohesive championship winning unit. One should never count out a team led by Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Stephen Curry was in fine form last season as he led the league in scoring and has continued to shoot the lights out in the Dubs’ games so far. Klay Thompson is also set to return from a torn ACL at some point in coming weeks. With the Splash Brothers reunited, a strong young core plus the addition of vets like Andre Iguodala and Otto Porter Jr, the Warriors could make a finals run this season.
NBA Championship Winners
These teams won the NBA Championship during the past 10 years:
2020-21: Milwaukee Bucks (46-26)
2019-20: Los Angeles Lakers (52-19)
2018-19: Toronto Raptors (58-24)
2017-18:Golden State Warriors (58-24)
2016-17:Golden State Warriors (67-15)
2015-16:Cleveland Cavaliers (57-25)
2014-15:Golden State Warriors (67-15)
2013-14: San Antonio Spurs (62-20)
2012-13: Miami Heat (66-16)
2011-12: Miami Heat (46-20)
Which teams have won the most NBA championships?
The Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers are the two most triumphant teams in the NBA with 17 championships each. They are followed by the Chicago Bulls, Golden State Warriors and San Antonio Spurs who have five or more titles. Together, the five teams account for nearly 70% of all NBA championship titles.
Which NBA teams have won 3 championships in a row?
Only three teams have managed to complete a three-peat by winning three championships in a row. The Los Angeles Lakers, Boston Celtics and Chicago Bulls have all won three straight championships. Only two teams have pulled off the feat twice – the Lakers and the Bulls. The Lakers enjoyed their first three-peat from 1952 to 1954 and then again from 2000 to 2002. Chicago achieved three-peats between 1991 to 1993 and 1996 to 1998.
How to bet on the NBA Finals
The NBA Championship winner is a popular futures betting option offered by sportsbooks. Futures are typically bets on season-long outcomes such as the eventual MVP winner, Rookie of the Year or Coach of the Year.
Odds for futures bets are set during preseason, but can fluctuate throughout the season based on team performances, results, injuries and transactions.
NBA Championship Betting Odds Explained
Basketball sportsbooks usually display NBA Championship betting odds in the American format:
Brooklyn Nets +240
Los Angeles Lakers +350
Milwaukee Bucks +850
Golden State Warriors +900
This indicates that the Brooklyn Nets are the favorite because they have the lowest number beside them. In this situation, the Nets is viewed as the slight favorite over the Los Angeles Lakers.
How do those numbers translate into payouts? Consider the Golden State Warriors as an example. If you bet $100 successfully on Golden State to win the NBA Championship, you’d get $1000 – your original stake is returned plus your winnings of $900.
Calculate your potential NBA Championship winnings with our odds calculator.
NBA Most Improved
Ja Morant is the undisputed favorite to take home the award.
Does anyone else stand a chance?
Who is the favorite to win the NBA Finals in 2022?
The Brooklyn Nets remain favorites to win the 2022 NBA Championship with odds of +300.
Who won the NBA Finals in 2021?
The Milwaukee Bucks won the championship in 2021. They opened the 2021-22 season as third favorites for the title with odds of +850.
