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The basketball betting landscape has evolved dramatically over the past few years. Sports betting legalization across North America has led to an explosion of wagering options for hoops fans. While moneyline, spread and totals (over/under) bets remain popular, sportsbooks are catering to die-hard basketball enthusiasts by offering previously unavailable exotic betting markets. 

Prop Bets Galore 

Player and team proposition bets have become ubiquitous at leading online sportsbooks. These wagering options allow fans to bet on outcomes other than the final score of a Casino Brango game. While props like “which player will score the first basket” have been around for decades now, the variety and specificity of what’s available today would have been unimaginable just a few years ago. Here’s a sampling of some prop bets basketball bettors can expect to find for the 2025 season:

  • Number of three-pointers made by a specific player
  • Total number of blocks recorded by a specific team
  • Will a particular player record a double-double?
  • Which team will attempt more free throws?
  • Will a specific player foul out of a game?

The list goes on and on. And with player tracking data becoming more advanced (and accessible to bookmakers), expect props based on hyper-specific player performances to emerge in the coming years. Think bets like “Devin Hester Jr.’s total number of layups in the first half” or “Zach LaVine III’s total number of dribbles per game.”

Live, In-Game Betting 

In-play betting already exists but expect the experience to become even more immersive in the near future. Sportsbooks will offer exponentially more in-game lines as the action plays out. For example, bettors will likely be able to wager on outcomes as granular as whether a free-throw shooter will make or miss his next attempt. Apps might also allow fans to instantly bet on live win probabilities throughout games and across a slate of contests. This real-time wagering will provide new levels of excitement – and potential profits – for engaged basketball fans.

Projected Available Live Betting Options for Basketball Games in 2025

Live Bet TypeExample Bets
MoneylineUpdated win odds for both teams
Point spreadSpreads will adjust depending on score and game flow
TotalsOver/under betting based on teams’ per-possession pace
Players propsWhether a player will hit their next shot attempt
Team propsWhich team will score next and how

Micro-Market Player Performance Futures 

Sportsbooks already offer futures betting on outcomes like NBA Championship odds, conference winners, division champs and individual player awards. In 2025 operators will drill down even further to let fans bet on hyper-specific player milestones. For example, books will post over/under lines for statistical achievements like:

  • DeShawn Stevenson Jr.’s total 3-pointers for the 2025-26 season
  • Zion Williams IV’s total rebounds for the 2025-26 season
  • Ja Morant III’s total assists for the 2025-26 season

Additionally oddsmakers will get creative with cross-sport props comparing basketball starts to athletes in other leagues. Expect to see futures like:

  • Who will record more 2025-26 touchdowns: Chiefs RB Patrick Mahomes III or Pelicans PG Zion Williamson IV?
  • Who will record more 2025 hits: Yankees OF Mike Trout III or Nets SG Luka Doncic II?

These hyper-specific player milestones and cross-sport props will provide hoops fans with exciting new betting opportunities months in advance of the actual 2025-26 season tipping off.

Bottom Line 

Basketball betting has exploded from a niche pastime to a mainstream cultural phenomenon in just a few short years after sports wagering legalization. While traditional moneyline, spread and totals betting isn’t going anywhere, sportsbooks clearly recognize that diehard basketball fans crave new, exciting and exotic betting opportunities. That’s why operators are investing heavily in player tracking and data analytics to create innovative markets tailored specifically for hoops enthusiasts. Just imagine what the basketball betting landscape might look like in another five years as technology continues advancing. But for right now, 2025 is shaping up to be a historic year for unique and engaging wagering options catering to passionate NBA and college basketball fans.