NBA Cup Odds & Predictions: Can Hawks Challenge Thunder During In-Season Tournament?

The NBA Cup first rolled out during the 2023-24 season, with the Los Angeles Lakers the inaugural winners, and the Milwaukee Bucks getting the Eastern Conference on the board in 2024-25. 

As the 2025-26 campaign approaches, the defending NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder are unsurprisingly boasting the shortest NBA Cup odds, with playoff contenders like the New York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Denver Nuggets also in the top five.

📊 NBA Cup odds 2025-26

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🏆 Who will win the NBA Cup?

Check out all of our NBA picks entering the regular season.

Oklahoma City Thunder (+390)

It may not be groundbreaking to roll with the defending NBA champs as the likeliest NBA Cup winners as they run it back with the same core, but here we are. 

Reigning NBA MVP odds winner Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will naturally spearhead the Thunder. Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren, among others, were the complementary options next to SGA's elite production.

The Thunder will start the tourney in a talented Western Conference Group A that also includes the Sacramento Kings and Minnesota Timberwolves. Nevertheless, as the current holders of the Larry O’Brien Trophy, OKC has proven its ability to conquer the league with its current group.

Assuming good early-season health, the Thunder may well be the most cohesive and well-rounded squad, making Oklahoma City an excellent candidate to add the NBA Cup to its trophy case.

At +390 odds on FanDuel, a $10 bet on the Thunder will net $39.

Atlanta Hawks (+1300)

The Hawks offer an intriguing value play. Despite the four-digit odds, a look at Atlanta’s roster reveals a formidable first unit and an increasingly deep bench that could make some noise in its own right.

One key to this bet coming with a better-than-average chance to cash will be the health of the oft-injured Kristaps Porzingis, whose ability to amply contribute on both ends is well established as long as his body is right. A first unit consisting of the big man, Trae Young, defensive wizard Dyson Daniels, a likely improved Zaccharie Risacher, and a full-strength Jalen Johnson can arguably match up with any team.

Then the second unit is set to feature a fair share of experience and scoring punch, considering the likes of Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Luke Kennard, and Onyeka Okongwu are among those available to give the starters a breather. The latter finished last season as a starter and put up career-best numbers in multiple categories.

Atlanta will face an uphill battle immediately while trying to emerge from an East Group A that includes the Cleveland Cavaliers and Indiana Pacers. But the Hawks could be tough to slow if they get rolling.

At +1300 odds through FanDuel, a $10 bet on the Hawks would lead to a $130 payout.

🎯 Best NBA Cup long shot

Follow along with the rest of our NBA analysis for more futures picks.

Houston Rockets (+1700)

The Hawks nearly qualify as a long shot right given their odds. But we’ll go just a bit further down the oddsboard and back to the Western Conference to identify our true darkhorse team to take home the NBA Cup.

Ime Udoka’s Rockets sustained a serious loss when Fred VanVleet suffered a torn ACL in September. Yet Houston still boasts plenty of talent and has its fair share of experience playing without the veteran guard, who missed 22 games last season. The Rockets ended up with an 11-11 record without him.

Naturally, the offseason addition of future Hall of Famer Kevin Durant helps cushion the blow, as does the remainder of a first unit that consists of ascending stars Reed Sheppard and Amen Thompson, in addition to the talented Jabari Smith-Alperen Sengun frontcourt duo. Also, second-unit members Dorian Finney-Smith, Steven Adams, Clint Capela, Josh Okogie, and Tari Eason bring a versatile collective skill set and plenty of experience.

Paired with Udoka’s savvy coaching, it’s not inconceivable to envision the Rockets emerging from West Group C over the likes of the Golden State Warriors, Denver Nuggets, Portland Trail Blazers, and San Antonio Spurs. They could eventually even upend the Thunder, whom the Rockets beat twice last season.

A $10 wager on the Rockets would lead to a $170 profit through the +1700 at FanDuel.