NBA Championship Best Bets: 2027 NBA Finals Predictions & Odds
We are less than seven days away from tip-off in the 2026-27 NBA season, and the timing is perfect to bring you our NBA Championship predictions for what should be another historic campaign. The New York Knicks ended a 53-year drought by winning the title last season - can they repeat or will we see a different champion for the ninth season in a row? The cards have been reshuffled in the offseason, so let's see who made the most out of their moves!
Some would argue the East hasn’t been this wide open in years, while in the West we have two teams that are headed on an inevitable collision course. The main storylines to look out for this season are: how far can the new-look Philadelphia 76ers go with LeBron James at the helm? As the lone superstar in LA now, is it finally time for Luka Doncic to take the next big step in his career? Can Giannis Antetokounmpo make the Miami Heat a contender in the East? How will SGA and the Thunder bounce back from a disappointing campaign?
The 2026-27 NBA season tips off next Tuesday on NBC with three exciting matchups. Fans in Europe can enjoy an early tip between the Boston Celtics and Detroit Pistons at 3:00 PM ET, followed by a ring ceremony at MSG and a clash of titans between the Philadelphia 76ers and New York Knicks at 7:00 PM ET. The night ends on the West Coast, as the San Antonio Spurs host the OKC Thunder at 9:30 PM ET. We couldn’t be more excited to bring you our NBA Championship predictions, but be sure to keep an eye out for our NBA analysis for the 2026-27 NBA season, as well as our NBA picks for every game this season. Let’s get into it!
2026-27 NBA Championship Betting Odds and Favorites
Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook and available at time of publishing.
- Oklahoma City Thunder +240
- San Antonio Spurs +270
- Philadelphia 76ers +1000
- New York Knicks +1000
- Boston Celtics +1400
- Cleveland Cavaliers +2200
- Toronto Raptors +2500
- Denver Nuggets +2700
- Detroit Pistons +2700
- Minnesota Timberwolves +2700
- Houston Rockets +2700
- Los Angeles Lakers +4000
Find out which sportsbook has the best NBA odds for every game throughout the entire 2026-27 season!
2027 NBA Championship Winner Best Bet: Philadelphia 76ers (+1000)
After the arrivals of LeBron James and Jaylen Brown in the offseason, it’s really hard to argue the star power head coach Nick Nurse has at his disposal. Joining those three in the starting lineup will likely be Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe and Joel Embiid, completing one of the most formidable starting units in the league.
Despite playing in his 24th season, James still has plenty left in the tank and his postseason experience will certainly be of benefit for younger players like Maxey, who could be up for a breakout season. Obviously, a lot will depend on the health of Joel Embiid, who has missed over 60% of games in the last three seasons. Assuming he’s healthy come playoff time, the centers in the Eastern Conference will have their hands full trying to contain the former MVP, who is still chasing that elusive first ring.
Let’s also not forget Jaylen Brown is looking to prove all of his doubters wrong, who said he was the second fiddle behind Jayson Tatum in Boston. Even though it’ll be their first season together as a group, I expect these Sixers to win 50+ games in the regular season and grab home-court advantage in the NBA Playoffs.
LeBron isn’t getting any younger, and if he wants to sail off into the sunset with another ring, this season with Philadelphia might be his best chance of doing so.
Now get our expert's NBA MVP predictions for the 2026-27 season, featuring a longshot pick at HUGE +15000 odds!
2027 NBA Championship Winner Longshot Pick: Los Angeles Lakers (+4000)
Despite not achieving their goals last season, there were still some positives head coach JJ Redick can take coming into this year. The Lakers won 53 games and reached the Western Conference semifinals, so in a way they’ve already built a winning culture, which not many teams in the NBA have these days.
With LeBron James out of the picture, all the burden now falls down onto the shoulders of Luka Doncic, and I think he’s up for it. He has shown great dedication to working on his craft and his body during the offseason, and he even brought his Lakers team to Slovenia for a team-building exercise. Apart from Luka, the Lakers can also count on Austin Reaves, who averaged a career-high 23.3 ppg last season. When he and Luka both played last season, the Lakers were winning at a 73% win pace (30-11), which is elite territory.
The addition of Walker Kessler addresses a major weakness – interior defense. Along with rebounding and interior physicality, the Lakers now also have a valid lob threat, so expect everyone to benefit from Kessler’s presence down low. The bench unit also got a boost with the additions of Collin Sexton, Quentin Grimes and Matisse Thybulle. I feel like the Lakers could have a really solid season ahead of them, and at +4000, they are a pretty solid longshot pick to win it all.
Keep an eye out for our NBA best bets throughout this season, where you'll get access to our experts' 5-star plays!
