NBA Championship Odds & Favorites 2025: Thunder, Celtics Still Lead After Losses

The second round of the NBA playoffs is underway with the Boston Celtics and Oklahoma City Thunder still listed as NBA championship odds favorites despite early slip-ups.
NBA Championship Odds and Favorites 2025
Pictured: Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum shoots the ball against the New York Knicks. Photo by David Butler II via Imagn Images.

Though the Oklahoma City Thunder and Boston Celtics both opened the second round of the NBA playoffs with losses, they remain the clear favorites by the NBA championship odds at our best sports betting sites.

Led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the NBA Finals MVP odds favorite, our AI prediction expects the Thunder to live up to their billing as the team to beat in the race to win the NBA Finals.

πŸ“Š Live NBA championship odds 2025

Our 2025 NBA championship odds update in real time based on the odds from our best sports betting apps.

πŸ€– NBA championship AI prediction

We asked ChatGPT to analyze historical trends and NBA stats before predicting the winner of this year's NBA Finals. Our AI prediction projects the Oklahoma City Thunder will win the NBA Finals.

πŸ–₯️ AI NBA championship prediction: Oklahoma City Thunder (+175)

NBA Championship Odds and Favorites 2025
Pictured: Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander shoots as Memphis Grizzlies guard John Konchar defends. Photo by Petre Thomas via Imagn Images.

πŸ€ League’s most complete team: The Thunder finished with a league-best 68–14 record, ranking top-five in both offensive and defensive efficiency - a hallmark shared by nearly every champion in the past two decades
πŸ€ Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's MVP-level impact: SGA averaged 32.7 points per game this season, and is the favorite for Finals MVP at +190, and his ability to take over late-game possessions gives OKC a clutch advantage few teams can match
πŸ€ Elite depth and defensive versatility: Oklahoma City features one of the deepest rotations in the league with Chet Holmgren, Jalen Williams, and Lu Dort providing rim protection, spacing, and perimeter lockdown defense - giving them matchup flexibility across playoff series'

πŸ€” Betting takeaway: ChatGPT's AI prediction would mean the Thunder (+175 via BetMGM) winning their first NBA Finals. 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 Finals MVP betting research.

Up To $1,500 First Bet

Bonus bets will expire in 7 days. One new customer offer only. Additional terms and conditions apply.

Each product featured on our website has been meticulously researched and selected by our team of experts. If you sign up through our links, we may get a commission.

🎯 AI long shot NBA championship prediction

🐺 Timberwolves (+1100)

πŸ€ Defensive prowess: Minnesota boasts one of the league's top defenses, anchored by Rudy Gobert and Jaden McDaniels, and their ability to stifle opponents has been a cornerstone of their success
πŸ€ Emergence of Anthony Edwards: Edwards has elevated his game, becoming a reliable offensive leader, and his scoring and playmaking have been pivotal in the Timberwolves' playoff run
πŸ€ Momentum from recent upsets: The Timberwolves have demonstrated resilience and the capacity to upset higher-seeded teams, like the Los Angeles Lakers, showcasing their potential to make a deep playoff run

The Timberwolves, with their defensive strength and rising stars, are a compelling long-shot bet for the 2025 NBA Championship. Their recent performances suggest they have the tools to challenge the league's elite and potentially secure their first title.

Bet $5, Win $200 in Bonus Bets

New customers only. Min. deposit $5+. Bet $5+ and win $200 in Bonus Bets, if your bet wins (within 72 hours). Bet does not have to win in AZ, CO, KS, NC, or TN.

Each product featured on our website has been meticulously researched and selected by our team of experts. If you sign up through our links, we may get a commission.

πŸ“Š NBA Finals MVP odds 2025

NBA Finals MVP odds from our best sports betting apps.

πŸ”’ NBA championship opening odds

  • Celtics: +310
  • Nuggets: +750
  • Mavericks: +950
  • Thunder: +950
  • Bucks: +1000
  • Timberwolves: +1000
  • Knicks: +1600
  • 76ers: +1600
  • Clippers: +2000
  • Warriors: +2500
  • Lakers: +2500
  • Suns: +2500
  • Heat: +3500
  • Grizzlies: +4000
  • Cavaliers: +5000
  • Pacers: +5000
  • Pelicans: +5000
  • Magic: +5000
  • Kings: +5000
  • Hawks: +10000
  • Rockets: +10000
  • Spurs: +10000
  • Bulls: +15000
  • Raptors: +25000
  • Jazz: +25000
  • Nets: +50000
  • Hornets: +50000
  • Pistons: +50000
  • Trail Blazers: +50000
  • Wizards: +50000

❓ NBA Championship FAQs

Who is favored to win the 2025 NBA championship?

The Oklahoma City Thunder are the favorites to win the 2025 NBA championship at +175. Those odds imply a probability of 36.36% that the Thunder will lift the Larry O'Brien Trophy.

Who won the NBA Finals last year?

The Boston Celtics won last year's NBA Finals, defeating the Dallas Mavericks in five games.

When will the 2025 NBA Finals be decided?

The last NBA Finals began on June 5. Expect the 2025 postseason to run on a similar schedule.

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 is the favorite to win the 2025 NBA Finals MVP?

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the favorite to win NBA Finals MVP. His odds are +155, which imply a 39.22% win probability.

Who won the NBA Finals MVP last year?

Boston Celtics All-Star Jaylen Brown won NBA Finals MVP last year. Brown's shortest odds of -240 before Boston's series-clinching Game 5 win implied a 70.59% win probability.

πŸ’° NBA betting odds pages

πŸ€ Best NBA betting sites

Looking to bet on the NBA? Here are the best NBA betting sites as determined by our expert team at Sportsbook Review, along with the best sportsbook promos available for tonight's NBA games.

(21+. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER)
* Bonuses not applicable in Ontario.

Not intended for use in MA.
Each betting site featured on SBR has been meticulously researched and selected by our team of experts. If you sign up through our links, we may get a commission.