As the buzz for the 2024/25 NBA season builds, the championship odds for several teams have left fans and analysts scratching their heads. At the top of the betting charts, it will come as no surprise to see the Boston Celtics. The Beantown outfit heads into the new campaign as the reigning champions after defeating Luka Doncic’s Dallas Mavericks in last season’s Finals.
With Jayson Tatum and Jalen Brown leading the charge, the Celtics were the dominant team in the league last term. They dominated throughout the regular season, finishing a mighty seven wins clear of their nearest rival and a whopping 14 wins clear of the rest of the Eastern Conference. Once the postseason got underway, they continued in a similar vein, dropping just three games in four series to claim the Larry O’Brien for a record-breaking 18th time.
Next season, they will attempt to build a dynasty and successfully claim back-to-back crowns. They are expected to find staunch resistance from the likes of the vanquished Mavs, Oklahoma City Thunder, Minnesota Timberwolves, and the Denver Nuggets. However, there are a number of teams that have relatively short odds on championship glory which looked a million miles away from the title last term.
Philadelphia 76ers
One of the top online betting sites in Canada has listed the Philadelphia 76ers as a +800 fourth favorite for the championship next season, only behind last season’s two conference top seeds and the New York Knicks. That certainly comes as a surprise, especially after a lackluster 2023.24 season. Despite having a stacked roster consisting of then-reigning-MVP Joel Embiid, the Wells Fargo Center outfit could only manage a seventh-place finish in the eastern conference last term, some 17 wins behind the table-topping Celtics.
Last term, the Sixers struggled with consistency and injuries, leading to yet another disappointing playoff exit. They were dumped out in the first round of the postseason by the second-seed Knicks, stretching their wait to make it past the second round of the playoffs into the 24th year. But despite the disappointment, there are plenty of reasons to be optimistic in the City of Brotherly Love.
The team’s core has been built around the aforementioned Embiid, who just helped the United States claim an Olympic Gold Medal in Paris earlier this year, and that remains intact heading into the new campaign. Adding to that, the Sixers have a bucket load of cap space available to bring in someone of the caliber of Paul George, which would only strengthen Philly’s championship ambitions. The bookies’ relatively short odds have surely taken that into account, as well as the continued development of young stars like Tyrese Maxey to continue elevating their game.
Milwaukee Bucks
The Milwaukee Bucks enter the 2024/25 season with a +1400 chance of claiming the NBA Championship, odds that might surprise some given last year’s acrimonious playoff exit. Giannis Antetokounmpo remains the star of the show, but many are wondering whether he has ample firepower around him to sustain a bonafide title challenge.
The Greek Freak was front a center as he led his side to the Larry O’Brien in 2020, the franchise’s first in 40 years. Since then, his stats have only gotten better, but the Bucks have slipped further and further out of championship contention. In 2023, they were dumped out in the first round by the eighth-seed Miami Heat in one of the biggest playoff upsets of all time. Last season, they were eliminated by another rank outsider in the form of the sixth-seed Indiana Pacers.
While ever the Bucks’ roster includes former MVP Giannis, then they will always have a chance. The points-scoring machine provides dominant play all over the court and is the very definition of a game-changer. But it’s clear that there are some weaknesses in Milwaukee, and they will need to be addressed if they are to build any real hope of championship glory.
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are pegged as a +2200 contender for the crown next season, and that is courtesy of one man, LeBron James. Despite the King heading into the new season at the ripe old age of 39, the addition of his son Bronny could give him a new lease of life at the summit of the NBA. Last term, the GOAT suffered numerous injuries – as did another talisman, Anthony Davis – and as a result, the 17-time champions had their campaign derailed.
If the Lakers can keep those two fit next season, then the Lakers will remain a threat. The front office has worked tirelessly in the offseason to reshape the roster with Lebron’s veteran presence supported by a new youthful energy. James and Davis, when healthy, form one of the most potent duos in the league, and their ability to lead a playoff charge is a major reason behind their favorable odds. Don’t be put off by the Californians once the playoffs get under way even if they have had a questionable regular season.
