- The Oklahoma City Thunder are betting favorites to win the 2026 NBA championship.
- Oklahoma City won the 2025 NBA Finals over the Indiana Pacers.
The Oklahoma City Thunder remain the betting favorites to win the NBA championship in 2026.
Last season, Oklahoma City won its first title since moving from Seattle to the Midwest. The last time a team went back-to-back was when the Golden State Warriors accomplished the feat in 2017 and 2018.
Take a look at the updated NBA championship odds market at the BetMGM online sportsbook:
Odds to Win NBA Championship 2026
NBA Finals Odds 2026: Will Thunder Defend Crown?
The Oklahoma City Thunder started the 2026 title race as betting favorites, listed at +240 when the market opened in June, as they look to defend their championship.
Oklahoma City is chasing history, aiming to become the first team to win back-to-back NBA titles since 2018.
Parity has defined the league of late, with seven different champions crowned in as many seasons:
- 2025: Oklahoma City Thunder
- 2024: Boston Celtics
- 2023: Denver Nuggets
- 2022: Golden State Warriors
- 2021: Milwaukee Bucks
- 2020: Los Angeles Lakers
- 2019: Toronto Raptors
Among those winners, Denver and Toronto stood out as the biggest preseason surprises. The Raptors opened the 2018–19 season at +1850, while the Nuggets were +1800 entering 2022–23.
The remaining champions all began the year with shorter odds, typically between +400 and +900. Oklahoma City opened at +500 last October, Boston at +400 two years ago, Golden State at +900 in 2021–22, Milwaukee at +550 in 2020–21, and Los Angeles at +450 in 2019–20.
That trend suggests bettors may find the most value near the top of the board when targeting an NBA title future this season.
NBA Championship Prediction: Who Will Win the 2026 NBA Finals?
Based on the current futures market at BetMGM, the Oklahoma City Thunder are favored to win the 2026 NBA Finals.
Looking ahead to a potential Finals matchup, the New York Knicks hold the best odds to come out of the Eastern Conference.
List of Past NBA Champions
| Year | Team | Preseason Odds |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Thunder | +500 |
| 2024 | Celtics | +400 |
| 2023 | Nuggets | +1800 |
| 2022 | Warriors | +900 |
| 2021 | Bucks | +550 |
| 2020 | Lakers | +450 |
| 2019 | Raptors | +1850 |
| 2018 | Warriors | -187 |
| 2017 | Warriors | -128 |
| 2016 | Cavaliers | +280 |
| 2015 | Warriors | +2800 |
| 2014 | Spurs | +1200 |
| 2013 | Heat | +225 |
| 2012 | Heat | +225 |
| 2011 | Mavericks | +2000 |
| 2010 | Lakers | +225 |
| 2009 | Lakers | +350 |
| 2008 | Celtics | +1000 |
| 2007 | Spurs | +450 |
| 2006 | Heat | +350 |
| 2005 | Spurs | +400 |
| 2004 | Pistons | +1500 |
| 2003 | Spurs | +1100 |
| 2002 | Lakers | +200 |
| 2001 | Lakers | +180 |
| 2000 | Lakers | +400 |
| 1999 | Spurs | +450 |
| 1998 | Bulls | +140 |
| 1997 | Bulls | +100 |
| 1996 | Bulls | +350 |
| 1995 | Rockets | +450 |
| 1994 | Rockets | +1200 |
| 1993 | Bulls | +120 |
| 1992 | Bulls | +250 |
| 1991 | Bulls | +700 |
| 1990 | Pistons | +300 |
| 1989 | Pistons | +400 |
| 1988 | Lakers | +120 |
| 1987 | Lakers | +400 |
| 1986 | Celtics | +250 |
| 1985 | Lakers | +200 |
NBA Playoffs Odds
When the stakes increase on the court, they can increase at the online sportsbook with NBA playoff odds. From the play-in tournament through the NBA Finals, BetMGM is the premier destination for NBA betting.
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