As we enter the new year it's time to take a look at the NBA futures odds and see which teams the oddsmakers think are contenders and which ones are pretenders.
After trading for Anthony Davis to be LeBron James' running mate - and also signing a bevy of veterans including Danny Green, Avery Bradley and Dwight Howard - the Lakers are sitting in first place in the Western Conference with a 30-7 record. They currently have the best odds to win the NBA title but share that distinction with a squad that they also happen to share a home court with: the Los Angeles Clippers.
The other L.A. team added Kawhi Leonard and Paul George in the offseason and have cruised to a 26-12 record despite sitting Leonard out in ten games for load management. In the the 28 games that Leonard has played they have gone 21-7, including 2-0 versus the Lakers.
Reigning NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks have the best record in the NBA and the third-best odds to win the Larry O'Brien Trophy at +350. After the Bucks there is a big drop off to the Houston Rockets and the rest of the field.
As for Kawhi's old team, the defending champion Toronto Raptors, they sit at just +6000 despite a solid 24-13 start to the year.
We bring you the updated NBA Championship odds courtesy of our friends from the SuperBook at Westgate.
| Teams | Odds to win the 2020 NBA Championship (as of Jan 6, 2020) |
|---|---|
| Los Angeles Lakers | +250 |
| Los Angeles Clippers | +250 |
| Milwaukee Bucks | +350 |
| Houston Rockets | +1,200 |
| Philadelphia 76ers | +1,400 |
| Boston Celtics | +1,800 |
| Denver Nuggets | +2,000 |
| Dallas Mavericks | +2,500 |
| Utah Jazz | +3,000 |
| Miami Heat | +4,000 |
| Toronto Raptors | +6,000 |
| Indiana Pacers | +8,000 |
| Portland Trail Blazers | +10,000 |
| Brooklyn Nets | +20,000 |
| Oklahoma City Thunder | +30,000 |
| New Orleans Pelicans | +30,000 |
| San Antonio Spurs | +100,000 |
| Orlando Magic | +100,000 |
| Sacramento Kings | +100,000 |
| Detroit Pistons | +200,000 |
| Chicago Bulls | +200,000 |
| Golden State Warriors | +200,000 |
| Minnesota Timberwolves | +200,000 |
| Memphis Grizzlies | +200,000 |
| Phoenix Suns | +200,000 |
| Atlanta Hawks | +1,000,000 |
| Charlotte Hornets | +1,000,000 |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | +1,000,000 |
| New York Knicks | +1,000,000 |
| Washington Wizards | +1,000,000 |
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21+. NJ only. Odds may vary. Eligibility restrictions apply. See website for details.
