Celtics favored, 76ers lead pack of contenders for 2025 NBA Championship

With free agency in full swing, the Boston Celtics are leading the pack in the latest 2024-25 NBA championship odds from our top NBA betting sites.

The championship odds have already seen significant shifts as teams make strategic moves to bolster their chances of winning the Larry O'Brien Trophy.

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After defeating the Dallas Mavericks in the 2024 NBA Finals, the Boston Celtics remain the clear favorites across our best sports betting sites.

Here’s a look at the latest NBA championship odds, favorites, and teams to watch:

2025 NBA Championship Odds

To Win 2025 NBA Championship
Boston Celtics	+300	+300	+300
Oklahoma City Thunder	+650	+850	+875
Denver Nuggets	+800	+800	+850
New York Knicks	+800	+850	+950
Philadelphia 76ers	+800	+850	+775
Dallas Mavericks	+850	+1000	+1000
Minnesota Timberwolves	+1000	+1000	+1000
Milwaukee Bucks	+1400	+1400	+1500
Los Angeles Lakers	+2500	+2800	+2800
New Orleans Pelicans	+3300	+4500	+4500
Golden State Warriors	+4000	+4000	+3000
Miami Heat	+4000	+4000	+4000

Boston Celtics

With their dominant performance in the 2024 NBA Finals and an unstoppable 16-3 record in the playoffs, the Celtics have emerged as the clear favorites for next year's NBA championship.

Their recent success is a testament to their potential for the upcoming season, sparking excitement and optimism among fans.

Despite this being only the Celtics' second title this century, their current roster is a strong indicator of more success to come. This should instill a sense of hope and confidence in the team's potential for the upcoming season.

The team will bring back all of its franchise cornerstones and key contributors.

Jayson Tatum and Finals MVP Jaylen Brown, the faces of this era of Boston basketball, will lead the team next season with support from Jrue Holiday, Derrick White, Kristaps Porzingis, and Al Horford (if he doesn't retire).

It was destiny for the Celtics 🍀 pic.twitter.com/vuExn2v2nV

— ESPN (@espn) June 18, 2024

These six players formed the main rotation for the Celtics in the playoffs, and all are under contract for at least one more season. Even super-sub Payton Pritchard will be back with the team.

Additionally, Boston drafted Creighton's Baylor Scheierman with the final pick of the first round—his 3-point shooting should be a perfect fit.

Kristaps Porzingis' injury concerns the Celtics entering the upcoming campaign.

He's expected to miss six months after successful surgery to repair a torn retinaculum and a dislocated posterior tibialis tendon. He is scheduled to return to play in about five months.

Without a significant move in the offseason, it's hard to imagine any team overtaking the Celtics atop the odds board. These odds imply that Boston has a 25% probability of winning the title.

Boston Celtics To win 2025 NBA Championship

+300

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Philadelphia 76ers

In the hours leading up to the start of free agency on Sunday evening, the 76ers were trading as high as 14/1 to secure the first title of the Embiid era.

However, those odds shifted dramatically when it was confirmed that Paul George would join the Sixers.

This development prompted the top sportsbooks to move Philadelphia to the second spot, just behind the Celtics.

BREAKING: Free agent F Paul George has agreed on a four-year, $212 million maximum contract with the Philadelphia 76ers, sources tell ESPN. George committed in a meeting with Sixers officials and returns East to join Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey in pursuit of an NBA title. pic.twitter.com/pkCfGu3hyp

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2024

The Celtics still boast the most talented roster on paper, with two star wings and a perfect complement of role players.

Despite this, the 76ers present an intriguing challenge with a dominant two-way center and two elite shot-creators in the backcourt.

As always, the primary concern for this team is health. This remains a constant worry for Embiid and is now also a consideration for George, whose 74 games last year were his most in a season since 2018-19.

George is entering his age-34 season after a career of heavy minutes.

If everything aligns for the 76ers, they certainly have the talent to make a deep run in the East and potentially win it all.

However, the level of risk with this team is as high as with any contender, adding an element of uncertainty that keeps the audience engaged and intrigued.

Philadelphia 76ers To win 2025 NBA Championship

+775

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Denver Nuggets

The Nuggets missed their chance at consecutive titles after falling to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2024 playoffs.

However, Denver, led by three-time MVP Nikola Jokic, remains a top contender in the Western Conference for the 2024-25 season.

Jokic, arguably the best player in the world, has won three MVP awards in the last four seasons. He's one of only nine players in NBA history to win at least three MVP awards.

The Nuggets are set to retain most of their key rotation players.

Alongside Jokic, the Nuggets have Jamal Murray, Michael Porter Jr., and Aaron Gordon all under contract for at least another season.

Despite losing Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to Orlando, Reggie Jackson exercised his player option and will return for the 2024-25 season.

Denver also traded up in the NBA draft to select Dayton's DaRon Holmes, a versatile frontcourt defender.

This gives head coach Michael Malone the core pieces from a team that went 57-25 last season and finished fourth in the NBA in net rating (plus -5.4).

Consequently, the odds reflect a 10.53% probability that Denver will win it all.

Denver Nuggets To win 2025 NBA Championship

+850

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OKC Thunder

The Thunder's offseason hasn't been as headline-grabbing as some other teams, with their most notable move being the three-year, $87 million contract for center Isaiah Hartenstein.

However, the Thunder already have a roster poised for title contention around Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who finished second in MVP voting last year and fifth the previous year.

ESPN Sources: Free agent C Isaiah Hartenstein has agreed on a three-year, $87 million deal with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Hartenstein leave the Knicks for the top West seed eager to add his size, skill and physicality. pic.twitter.com/gbOpAw1Gsx

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2024

He's supported by a young core of emerging playmakers and a wealth of draft picks that OKC could leverage to acquire another star alongside SGA.

A blockbuster trade could happen this summer, at the deadline, or in the coming seasons.

This uncertainty makes Oklahoma City the biggest sleeping giant in the league, as one significant move could elevate the Thunder from intriguing West contenders to outright favorites for the championship.

OKC Thunder To win 2025 NBA Championship

+875

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New York Knicks

The Knicks were considered a second- or third-tier contender when the NBA championship odds opened. They’ve vaulted into the top five in less than a month after executing the biggest offseason trade.

New York is clearly in win-now mode with Jalen Brunson, who had an outstanding playoff performance, averaging 32.4 PPG and 7.5 APG.

Team president Leon Rose demonstrated the Knicks' commitment by trading four unprotected first-round picks, a 2025 protected first-round pick, a pick swap, two second-round picks, and Bojan Bogdanovic to the Brooklyn Nets for Mikal Bridges.

THE NOVA KNICKS 🗽 pic.twitter.com/cyqymZTYrk

— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) June 26, 2024

This move reunites Bridges with Brunson, Josh Hart, and Donte DiVincenzo, who all won a national championship together at Villanova.

They also re-signed OG Anunoby and will have a healthy Julius Randle back. Despite losing key big man Isaiah Hartenstein, Mitchell Robinson will return after missing most of last season.

The big question for this team will be health and depth, especially with Tom Thibodeau’s heavy reliance on his starters.

While the Knicks selected Pacome Dadiet from France with the 25th pick in the draft, the soon-to-be 19-year-old will unlikely have much impact as a rookie.

New York Knicks To win 2025 NBA Championship

+950

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