NBA Championship Odds & Favorites 2026: Thunder Open as Favorites to Repeat
The Oklahoma City Thunder opened as the NBA championship odds favorites at our best sports betting sites for 2026 after defeating the Indiana Pacers in the NBA Finals to capture their first title.
Thanks to NBA MVP odds winner Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the Thunder lead the Cleveland Cavaliers, New York Knicks, and the Houston Rockets, who shook up the 2026 NBA Finals odds by acquiring Kevin Durant from the Phoenix Suns.
📊 Live NBA championship odds 2026
Our 2026 NBA championship odds update in real time based on the odds from our best sports betting apps.
📈 NBA championship betting insights
NBA betting insights via BetMGM.
Highest ticket percentage
- Thunder: 13.8%
- Pacers: 13.3%
- Lakers: 11.1%
Highest handle percentage
- Lakers: 19.8%
- Warriors: 14.8%
- Knicks: 12.7%
Planned opening odds to actual odds (Kevin Durant trade)
- Rockets: +1300 to +800
- Spurs: +1800 to +2200
- Heat: +10000 + 25000
- Suns: +20000 to +30000
Planned opening odds to actual odds (Tyrese Haliburton injury)
- Cavaliers: +1000 to +750
- Knicks: +900 to +800
- Pacers: +1300 to +4000
🤖 NBA championship AI prediction
For entertainment purposes, we asked ChatGPT, a popular large language model chatbot, to analyze historical trends and NBA stats before predicting the winner of the 2026 NBA championship. Our AI prediction projects the Thunder to win the NBA championship.
🖥️ AI NBA champion prediction: Oklahoma City Thunder
🏀 First-time repeat favorites: Following their NBA Finals win, OKC now stands at +230 - the strongest preseason favorite since the Golden State Warriors in 2017‑18, which became the last team to repeat as NBA champions
🏀 Elite core chemistry: With MVP Shai Gilgeous‑Alexander locked in, and Mark Daigneault’s system fostering consistency, the Thunder remain a top championship contender with SGA, Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren, and Luguentz Dort under contract for the upcoming season
🏀 Roster flexibility & analytics-heavy front office: GM Sam Presti’s knack for smart drafting and cap management gives OKC the ability to upgrade and adjust as needed
🤔 Betting takeaway: ChatGPT's AI prediction would mean the Thunder (+250 via Caesars) repeating as NBA champions. ChatGPT is a large language model and not specifically designed for predicting sporting events, so these projections should be viewed as entertainment or a supplementary data point for your NBA betting research.
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🎯 AI long shot NBA championship prediction
🪄 Orlando Magic
🏀 Massive odds movement after off-season shake-up: Between adding Desmond Bane and taking advantage of Tyrese Haliburton’s injury, Orlando's odds shifted from +4000 to +2200, signaling serious new attention
🏀 Stronger roster, balanced blend: With budding stars Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero healthy, plus veteran additions like Bane, the Magic now have a lineup that blends youth, shooting, and experience
🏀 West opens the door: As the Western Conference becomes top-heavy, an improved Magic squad in the East could quietly climb into a favorable playoff position and suddenly be in the conversation come NBA Finals time
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🔢 NBA championship opening odds
Odds via DraftKings.
- Thunder: +230
- Rockets: +750
- Cavaliers: +850
- Knicks: +850
- Timberwolves: +1300
- Lakers: +1400
- Nuggets: +1500
- Celtics: +1900
- Warriors: +2000
- Magic: +2200
- Spurs: +2500
- 76ers: +3500
- Pacers: +3500
- Clippers: +4000
- Mavericks: +4000
- Bucks: +6000
- Pistons: +6000
- Heat: +17000
- Raptors: +18000
- Grizzlies: +20000
- Hawks: +20000
- Pelicans: +25000
- Kings: +30000
- Nets: +40000
- Suns: +50000
- Bulls: +70000
- Trail Blazers: +70000
- Wizards: +100000
- Hornets: +100000
- Jazz: +100000
❓ NBA Championship FAQs
Who is favored to win the 2026 NBA championship?
The Oklahoma City Thunder are the favorites to win the 2026 NBA championship. They opened as +230 favorites, implying a 30.30% probability they'll repeat.
Who won the NBA Finals last year?
The Boston Celtics won last year's NBA Finals, defeating the Dallas Mavericks in five games, while the Oklahoma City Thunder won it this year by knocking off the Indiana Pacers in seven games.
When will the 2026 NBA Finals be decided?
The 2026 NBA Finals will start sometime in June of 2026.
When's the last time an NBA team won back-to-back titles?
The last time an NBA team went back-to-back was when the Golden State Warriors won the championship in 2017 and 2018.
Who won the NBA Finals MVP last year?
Boston Celtics All-Star Jaylen Brown won NBA Finals MVP last year, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander winning it this year for the Oklahoma City Thunder.
💰 NBA betting odds pages
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