Western Conference Teams Dominate NBA Championship Betting With
LAS VEGAS (AP) - The Western Conference is so loaded that its champion may be the real NBA Finals, at least if all the betting on those teams is any indication.
Of the leading 7 possible NBA champions that would be bad monetary news for BetMGM Sportsbook, 6 reside in the West. Miami, at 200-1 odds, is the only Eastern Conference group that the book would not be happy see hold up the Larry O'Brien Trophy.
"Seemingly, we're simply going to be cheering for whoever comes out of the East," said Halvor Egeland, BetMGM trading technique supervisor.
Western Conference groups have actually won 3 of the past 4 champions, with Boston in 2024 the exception.
The leading two favorites at BetMGM are protecting champ Oklahoma City (+240) and 2023 champ Denver (+550 ). Eastern Conference teams Cleveland (+750) and New York City (9-1) are next.
"Obviously, the Knicks, if they make a huge run, our liability grows," Egeland said. "But currently, they're in fact among our best outcomes. Like constantly, we're expecting the Lakers to be a huge liability. We're anticipating the Warriors to be up there. We normally take a great deal of Nuggets cash. We're reside in Colorado, and personally, I think they're going to be an excellent team as well."
Milwaukee Bucks guard/forward Kevin Porter Jr. (7) attempts to navigate Oklahoma City Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein, second from right, as he routes behind Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) as Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis (9) searches during the very first half of a preseason NBA basketball game Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Kayla Wolf)
Caesars Sportsbook is seeing that exact same type of patterns.
"The Nuggets, obviously with their offseason, they took some heavy action early," stated David Lieberman, Caesars' NBA sports lead. "The Warriors and Lakers are quite always 2 of our greatest liabilities. Just popular teams for individuals to bank on."
CBS SportsLine handicapper Bruce Marshall said he expects this NBA season to end like last season.
"I think Oklahoma City's plainly the team to beat," Marshall said. "They've got good depth and even with a couple of cutting edge injuries, they can overcome them. They're wearing a bigger target this year. I think they're going to be similar as a year earlier."
The Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the reigning MVP and is the favorite at BetMGM at +260 to record the award again.
But, he has business.
Denver's Nikola Jokic and the Los Angeles Lakers' Luka Doncic are next at each 3-1. Jokic is a three-time MVP. Doncic has never ever received the award, but he figures to be the focus of LA's offense, specifically with LeBron James missing out on the first part of the season due to the fact that of sciatica.
Voters tend to prefer to offer the advantage of the doubt on close races to those who have not won the award just recently or at all.
"That's always the thing with awards," Egeland said. "It does not necessarily go to who had the very best season. You have to price it as if you're choosing who's going to be voting. That's why I like Jokic. I believe he must've won last year."
Jokic is the favorite at Caesars.
"I personally think Jokic must be the preferred," Lieberman said. "I think there's an argument he most likely should've won last year, but I do believe SGA was deserving of it. They had such a great year, I had no issue with him winning, however I think there's sort of a dominating idea that he won since the group's record was so good."
Marshall stated he liked Orlando (50 1/2), Indiana (37 1/2), Miami (37 1/2) and Charlotte (26 1/2) to discuss the win overalls.
The Magic were especially intriguing to him.
"I think this is the team that may be ready to take off," Marshall said. "They had a great deal of injury issues last year. ... They still made the playoffs."
He was more bearish on Boston (41 1/2), Philadelphia (42 1/2) and Memphis (39 1/2), anticipating those group to go under. Marshall stated health concerns were a problem for all 3 clubs.
The Lakers are 16-1 to win the championship and the crosstown Clippers are at 18-1.
Both teams face their share of concerns.
For the Lakers, it James' health in addition to whether this will be his last season. The NBA is investigating whether the Clippers broke the salary cap relating to a recommendation deal for Kawhi Leonard.
"I believe the biggest X-factor is the Clippers, much more than the Lakers, since of Kawhi," Marshall said. "His accessibility, you never learn about that. ... This off-court thing with Kawhi's contract, will that be a distraction? I do not understand.
"The Lakers, you can notice change coming. I'm practically encouraged this is it for LeBron. Maybe Luka is primed for an MVP season, but that was no fluke when Minnesota beat them (in the playoffs) in 2015. They just out-athleted them everywhere."
Dallas ´ Cooper Flagg, the leading pick in this year ´ s draft, is the clear favorite for Rookie of the Year. BetMGM even notes him in minus area at -225.
The closest are Utah ´ s Ace Bailey and Philadelphia ´ s V.J. Edgecombe, each at 10-1.
While acknowledging Flagg should have to be the favorite, Marshall also tempered expectations.
"I ´ m not actually sure just how much of an impact Flagg is really going to make," Marshall stated. "I think Dallas is not a threat this year. I just wear ´ t see it with them, and I wear ´ t think Flagg is going to be the super star everybody believes."
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Joki (15) is fouled by Chicago Bulls forward Isaac Okoro (35) as Chicago Bulls center Nikola Vuevi (9) looks on during the very first half of a preseason NBA basketball video game Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Los Angeles Lakers forward/guard Luka Doni (77) shoots in between Phoenix Suns Isaiah Livers and and Koby Brea (14) during the very first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg (32) drives against Utah Jazz guard Walter Clayton Jr. (13) throughout the very first half of a preseason NBA basketball game Monday, Oct. 13, 2025, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rob Gray)