The NBA season is set to return as the Boston Celtics look set to defend their crown following their first championship win in 16 years last time out.
Jayson Tatum and Jalen Brown will be looking to create a dynasty with their team, but they will have a lot of competition with a host of teams strengthening during the off-season with trades and looking to improve and challenge for the top spot.
We’ll take a look at the top teams heading into the season and break down who has the best chance of coming away with the title come June 2025, and provide you with our best free NBA betting picks to earn you some extra cash.
| NBA Championship Futures |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston Celtics | +315 | +320 | +325 |
| Oklahoma City Thunder | +600 | +650 | +550 |
| New York Knicks | +750 | +800 | +750 |
| Philadelphia 76ers | +800 | +900 | +800 |
| Denver Nuggets | +1000 | +1000 | +900 |
| Dallas Mavericks | +1100 | +1000 | +1000 |
Learn more about how to bet on the NBA Finals here.
Below you’ll find a list of favorites to win the 2025 NBA Championship.
After a fantastic regular season, the Celtics went 16-3 in the playoffs in the 2024 season and came away with the championship most people predicted they’d win, so it’s absolutely no surprise whatsoever that they’re the favorites to do it again in 2025.
The roster didn’t need much in terms of rejuvenation, so Boston focused on tying Jayson Tatum and Derrick White, Xavier Tillman and Luke Kornet to new long-term contracts instead, securing the future of the franchise.
It would be a surprise to absolutely nobody if they claimed the Eastern Conference title once again with the current team and the way they play, and once they’re inevitably in the playoffs every team will have trouble besting them in a best-of-seven series too. At this stage of the season, +325 is excellent value for them to claim a title again so this is a solid bet.
Check out our review for Bovada sports betting here.
Two seasons ago Oklahoma only won 40 games, but an incredible improvement last year saw them claim 57 wins and the number one seed ahead of the Denver Nuggets.
When looking at the business they have done in the off-season too, it’s hard not to believe they could improve even further. Alex Caruso has replaced Josh Giddey and addressed significant needs on both ends of the floor, and the addition of Isaiah Hartenstein gives this team a legitimate, more traditional presence in the paint and on the glass.
OKC was a bottom-five team in opponent three-pointers and offensive rebounds allowed this past season, so on paper, it appears it’s plugged those holes with playoff-ready contributors. The team is also another year on in it’s progression and could be ready to leap up another level.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the main man in the team once again, and while a championship may be a bit too early this year the same would have been said about their win record last season. At +650 the value is excellent, so it’s certainly one to look at.
Had it not been for injuries in the 2023/24 season, there is every chance that the Knicks could have had a real run towards the title. The response? Adding a player in Mikal Bridges to the side who barely ever misses a game who also helps to round out a threatening two-way core.
As the number one option in Brooklyn this past year Bridges averaged 19.6 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and a steal in roughly 35 minutes per game. But in a team where he’ll now be surrounded by top talent such as OG Anunoby, Jalen Brunson, and Julius Randle he won’t need to be a one-man supershow while still being incredibly effective.
The team has been built to compete with a strong Celtics side and if everyone is fit, they will match up very well. They’d still be underdogs, but the value at +800 is tremendous and this is well worth a bet if you don’t see Boston going back-to-back.
Check out our review for BetUS sports betting here.
Philadelphia made the biggest free-agent splash of the summer when they added Clippers forward Paul George to the franchise on a four-year deal. The nine-time All-Star figures to be a strong complement to Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, as Philly look to make a big push for a championship title.
But while George is a solid coup, The Sixers desperately need to add more depth and the likes of Eric Gordon and Andre Drummond aren’t the type of players to make them title contenders a year after they crashed out of the playoffs in the first round.
The price of +900 is big, but considering the state of the roster currently and the way other teams are shaping up, it’s not big enough and this is probably a bet to avoid.
About the Author
Daniel is a football writer who has a great thirst for the Premier League and other major European leagues. A lover of the beautiful game and a firm believer that the eye test is better than statistics. Also an avid MMA fan.
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