NBA Championship Odds 2025: NBA Playoffs, Futures, Betting Lines

Written by: Jeff Veillette Fact checked by: Greg Warren

Last Updated: February 13, 2025

The ultimate prize in basketball is once again up-for-grabs as we close in on the 2025 NBA Championship this season. With several viable contenders for this year’s Larry O’Brien Trophy, we have compiled the current NBA Championship odds below so you can see who’s favoured to claim this year’s title.

NBA Championship Live Odds

Check out the latest NBA Championship odds below and see who the oddsmakers have the best chance to be crowned NBA champions in 2025. Click on the odds to pace a bet!

NBA Finals MVP Odds

Along with the latest NBA title odds, bettors can also wager on who will win the NBA Finals MVP. The NBA Finals MVP is awarded to the best player of the NBA Finals. Check back closer to the 2025 NBA Finals for updated NAB Finals MVP odds.

NBA Playoffs Schedule 2025

Stay up-to-date on the latest NBA Playoff action with our 2025 schedule found below. Don’t miss a second of the high-stakes action this postseason with the NBA postseason schedule.

NBA Finals Odds: Analyzing the Favorites For 2025 Season

Entering into the 2024-25 NBA season, the odds-on favourite to win the 2025 NBA Championship were the reigning NBA Champions, the Boston Celtics. While the lines have moved been shuffling among the top of the table throughout the season, the Celtics continue to sit atop the NBA Finals betting odds. Below we’ve highlighted a few of the top contenders for the 2025 NBA Championship. See what makes each of these contenders a threat to claim the NBA throne below.

Boston Celtics (+225)

The Boston Celtics have long been a juggernaut in the NBA. Having already proven that they have what it takes to win the NBA Championship after claiming the title in 2024, the Celtics are set to run it back as they returned the entirety of their Championship roster’s core in 2025. Led by All-Star duo, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, the Celtics pride themselves on their stellar defence as well as their high-volume three-point shooting. With most teams unequipped to match the Celtics firepower, the C’s have had plenty of sizeable blowouts already this season.

With the best odds to win NBA Championship, the Celtics current NBA title odds still have solid value as they are in a great position to become the first repeat champions since the Golden State Warriors in 2017 & 2018.

Oklahoma City Thunder (+250)

Currently holding the best record in the NBA, the Oklahoma City Thunder are looking like the deepest team in the league this season. Coming off of a conference semifinal loss to the eventual Western Conference Champion Dallas Mavericks in 2024, the Thunder are primed to send shockwaves across the NBA this playoff season. Sporting the league’s top overall defence, the Thunder have lockdown defenders at every position on the court. Additionally, the Thunder are led by the league’s leading-scorer, and current MVP favourite, Canada’s own, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Alongside the Canadian superstar the Thunder’s roster is comprised of terrific talents such as Chet Holmgren, Jalen Williams, and Cason Wallace.

Having experienced time at the top of the latest NBA futures odds, the West will run through the OKC Thunder in 2025. As far as NBA Championship odds trends are concerned, backing the best team in the Western Conference is a smart bet as five of the last eight champions have come from out West.

Cleveland Cavaliers (+700)

Hitting their stride as their stellar squad seemingly begins to enter their prime, the Cleveland Cavaliers have vaulted their way into NBA title contention quickly this season. After beginning the year with a 15-game winning streak, the Cavs quickly established themselves as one of the top teams to beat across the NBA. One of the deepest NBA teams in 2025, the Cavaliers rock a star-studded lineup led by All-Stars Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, and Darius Garland, as well as a stellar supporting cast of Jarrett Allen, DeAndre Hunter, and Ty Jerome.

While they’re a far shot outside of the league-leaders in NBA Championship odds with the Celtics and Thunder, the Cavaliers still have a great chance to win-it-all with a profitable price tag attached.

NBA Finals Predictions 2025: Matt’s Pick

Previously published in Sports Betting Dime, The Hockey Writers, Prospects by Sports Illustrated, and FanSided, Matt Eichhorn has expert knowledge of all major North American sports as well as the best ways to bet on them.

Read more from Matt →

For my money’s worth, I believe that the best bet to win the 2025 NBA Championship is the Oklahoma City Thunder. After learning valuable lessons about what it’s like to play in the postseason last year, the Thunder are now battle-tested and know what to expect in these high-stakes games. Additionally, every returning member of the Thunder roster has improved since last season, as well as upgrading at key positions to bolster their already stacked depth chart.

Outside of the Thunder, the Cleveland Cavaliers are a great pick to meet them in the NBA Finals. While the Celtics have been sensational in recent seasons, they haven’t been without their shortcomings. After a cakewalk to the NBA Finals last season, the Cavaliers are well-equipped to match the Celtics output, and potentially use their superior depth to usurp the Eastern Conference title from the defending champs.

If you were to use my 2025 NBA Finals odds predictions, you could net yourself a hefty +1500 win if you bet the Thunder to beat the Cavaliers in your NBA playoff prediction. In the last five years, no team with NBA Championship odds of +750 or greater at the All-Star break has won the Larry O’Brien Trophy, meaning the Celtics, Thunder, and Cavaliers are the only teams worth betting on.

How to Bet on NBA Finals Odds

Betting on NBA Finals odds is easy. Simply follow our step-by-step guide below to learn how to open an online sports betting account so you can place your first winning wager today. Here’s how to bet on the NBA finals in four easy steps:

1. Choose a sportsbook: Check out our list of the best NBA betting sites below or our in-depth reviews on the best NBA betting sites in Canada to find the oddsmaker that fits your betting needs.
2. Create an account: Once you’ve landed on the sportsbook that’s right for you, select the sign up/join/register option on the homepage and create your account. Provide personal information such as name, address, phone number, and email and verify your identity.
3. Make a deposit: Next, head to the banking options and make your first deposit into your sportsbook account. Be sure to look at the applicable terms & conditions of each banking method to ensure you’re avoiding any hidden transaction fees, as well as if you can withdraw using the same method.
4. Place your bets: All that’s left to do is head to the NBA betting markets and place your first bet. Be sure to try and find the best bang for your buck in terms of value returned. Develop your betting strategy to help you decide how you want to wager.

NBA Finals Betting Sites

If you’re unsure of where you want to take your action ahead of this year’s NBA Finals, don’t sweat it, we’ve got you covered. Below we’ve featured three of the top NBA sportsbooks for wagering on the Finals so you can easily place bets on the action.

1. Sports Interaction

As Canadian as maple syrup, Sports Interaction is a homegrown sportsbook that takes pride in its Canadian roots. Providing their players with a plethora of unique betting markets on the NBA Finals, you can’t go wrong placing your bets with Sports Interaction.

• Unique NBA Futures Odds
• Exclusive Prop Bets
• Easy-to-use Interface

2. BetVictor

Another standout oddsmaker available for Canadians looking to bet on the NBA is BetVictor. Packaged in a sleek, visually appealing package, BetVictor has everything you could ever need from an online betting site. With no shortage of NBA betting markets as well as competitive odds, BetVictor is a go-to destination for NBA Finals wagers.

• User-friendly Interface
• Quick Banking Methods
• Competitive Odds

3. bet365

Last but not least, you can’t go wrong placing NBA futures bets with bet365. Known around the world as one of the top online sportsbooks, bet365 comes equipped with an plethora of NBA betting markets so you never run out of ways to win your NBA wagers.

• Best Selection of NBA Futures and Game Props
• Lighting-fast Deposit Speeds
• Live Streaming Capability

NBA Betting Bonuses

One of the biggest incentives for singing up with an online sportsbook is netting yourself a sizeable betting bonus. Below we’ve highlighted some of the best NBA betting bonuses on the market so you can get the most out of your betting experience ahead of this year’s playoffs.

Operator	Bonus Details	Promo Code
	$1500 first bet encore	CANBET
	100% match up to $500	CANBET
	$400 safety net	Get Bonus
	125% deposit match up to $250	Get Bonus
	$1000 first bet safety net	CANBET

NBA Playoffs Betting Markets

During the postseason, there is no shortage of NBA postseason betting lines that will present wagering opportunities. You can play pre-match odds on individual games. Live NBA playoff odds are also available on each game, as are player and team proposition bets on outcomes that will impact each game. Learn more about each of the most popular NBA betting markets below to see how you can get some skin in on the action this playoff season.

🏀 Moneyline

A great starting point for rookie bettors as well as a reliable option for experienced players, the moneyline never goes out of style. The moneyline is simply betting the winner of a matchup outright, with one team being favoured, the other being the underdog. For example, if the Los Angeles Lakers were playing the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA postseason, you could bet either side’s moneyline for who you think will win the game.

🏀 Point Spread

Building off of the moneyline, the point spread is a wager on the difference between the two teams’ final scores. This wager adds value to betting on a favourite, as well as insurance when tailing an underdog. For example, if the Milwaukee Bucks are -5.5 point favourites against the Boston Celtics at +5.5, this means the Bucks would need to win the game by six-points or more in order to cover the spread. Inversely, the Celtics would need to either win outright, or lose within five points in order to cover the spread.

🏀 Over/Under

Instead of wagering on the winners-and-losers of a game, the over/under or point total allows bettors to wager on how many total combined points will be scored within the matchup. For example, let’s say the New York Knicks are playing the Oklahoma City Thunder and the point total is set at 229.5 points. You could choose to bet whether the final score will be more or less than 229.5. If you bet the over, 230 or more points need to be scored, if you bet the under 229 or fewer would need to be scored for your bet to pay out as a winner.

🏀 Prop Bets

Prop bets allow bettors to wager on specific events within a matchup outside of the total score. Prop bets are one of the most exciting ways to bet on NBA games. Grouped into either game props and player props, these unique bets allow players to hone in on the performance of a single player, or for something to happen within the game. Examples of a game prop would be which team will score first, if the final score will be odd or even, as well as first-half point spreads/totals. Examples of NBA player props are wagering on whether a specific player will go for over or under their projected total in points, rebound, assists, steals, blocks, or three-pointers made in a game.

🏀 Futures

Lastly, NBA Futures odds allow bettors to place bets on upcoming events that haven’t yet taken place. Examples of NBA Futures odds are NBA Finals odds, regular season player award winners such as the MVP, DPOY, or ROY, as well as whether specific teams will make or miss the NBA postseason.

How to Read NBA Championship Odds

Reading NBA Finals odds is easy to do and is key in understanding how to properly wager on the latest odds. In American odds, a favourite is displayed using a minus (-) symbol, whereas an underdog uses a plus (+) sign. The minus indicates the amount that needs to be wagered in order to profit $100. For example, if the Cleveland Cavaliers are a -250 favourite in their next game, that means a $250 wager would return $350, $100 being profit, and $250 being your original stake.

For an underdog, the plus sign represents the profit made by betting $100. For example, if the Minnesota Timberwolves are +1000 to win the NBA title, then a $100 wager would return $1100 if successful, $1000 profit and $100 in your stake returned.

All-Time NBA Champions: A Brief History

Team	NBA Championships
	18
	17
	7
	6
	5
	3
	3
	3
	2
	2

The Boston Celtics have won the most NBA Championships with a league record 18-titles. The Los Angeles Lakers sit directly behind them with 17 total titles won, dating back to their days as the Minneapolis Lakers. Michael Jordan lifted the Chicago Bulls to a pair of three-peats in the 1990s, cementing his status alongside Bill Russell as one of the greatest players of all time. As such, the Bulls are the fourth-most successful club in NBA history, sitting behind the Golden State Warriors who have won seven, four of which coming in the last decade. The San Antonio Spurs have five titles under coach Gregg Popovich, with the Philadelphia 76ers, Detroit Pistons, and Miami Heat trailing them with three championships apiece.

Wrapping Up: Betting on the NBA Finals Odds

After a long and tiring season, the best teams battle for a chance at an NBA championship. Both novice and experienced bettors enjoy NBA Finals betting, and there are a few betting tips to help you find great value bets. Don’t miss out on your chance to elevate the excitement level of this year’s action, place a bet on the 2025 NBA Finals odds with on elf the top NBA betting sites today.