NBA Finals Odds

Sportsbooks offer odds for next season’s NBA Finals winner before the current season ends. The lines are based on team performance, growth potential, quality of the competition, and more. 

And despite the fact that the Milwaukee Bucks won the 2020/21 NBA Finals, the team sits as the third most likely team to win after the Brooklyn Nets and the Los Angeles Lakers. 

Those odds could change depending on how the NBA Draft pans out. But as of the final buzzer of the 2021 NBA Finals, the Nets are the favorite to hoist the O’Brien Trophy in 2022.

Then again, the Nets and the Lakers were among the favorites this time last season, and the Milwaukee Bucks weren’t in the top five most likely to win. So, as it stands, it’s anyone’s guess who will win the 2021/22 NBA Finals.

That means if you bet on the team that makes it happen, you can make out with a big payout.

Will it be the expected Brooklyn Nets, who were the favorites this time last year? Will it be the Los Angeles Lakers, who were the favorites this time two years ago and indeed went on to win? Will the Bucks repeat, or will they make way for another dark horse team to silence all the doubters?

We can’t know for sure. But what we do know for sure is that folks are already betting on the 2021/22 NBA Finals, and the action is already heating up.

Current NBA Finals Odds

These odds will likely change in the wake of the NBA Draft on July 29, 2021; the start of free agency on August 6, 2021; and the 2022 trade deadline. And this page will automatically update accordingly so you always know where to find the most up-to-date odds for the 2022 NBA Finals, which is set to start around June 2, 2022.

Current Favorites For The 2021 NBA Finals

Brooklyn Nets +225

The Brooklyn Nets have Kyrie Irving and James Harden, but both suffered from postseason injuries in 2021, which took the team out of the running for the Finals. If they had stayed fit, it’s not hard to imagine them and Kevin Garnett beating any team that stood in their way – and that’s true for a fit Brooklyn Nets team in 2021/22.

Now imagine if the Brooklyn Nets made some key trades designed to boost their superstar players. Even without it, the Brooklyn Nets are the distant favorites. But with the right moves, they could become borderline unstoppable.

Los Angeles Lakers +450

The Los Angeles Lakers have Lebron James, Anthony Davis, Marc Gasol, Kostas Antetokounmpo, Kyle Kuzma, Alex Caruso, the list goes on. While the pure superstardom of the Brooklyn Nets will be difficult to contend with, the Lakers have a deep bench of players that can light up the court under the right circumstances. 

If any team was going to shut down the Nets, it’s this Lakers lineup. Plus, it’s never a great idea to bet against Lebron. In fact, it’s probably not the worst idea to bet on him for future NBA Finals MVP.

Milwaukee Bucks +800

At the start of the 2020/21 season, the Bucks went all in by trading a boatload of draft picks for Jrue Holiday. Milwaukee hoped a play-making guard would act as the final piece to their championship puzzle. Their bet paid off – especially when it was confirmed that Giannis Antetokounmpo would be fit to play in the Finals.

The stars aligned, and the Milwaukee Bucks became the 2021 NBA Champions. The Greek Freak also won the 2021 NBA Finals MVP Award.

All eyes are now on the Giannis’s herculean athleticism as well as Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton. Can they make it all the way to another trophy? The odds on the Bucks winning the Finals in 7 sat at a tantalizing +650, and that bet paid off. Who’s to say a bet on a repeat won’t have the same finale?

Where Can I Bet On The NBA Finals Online

Every online sportsbook that operates in the US will carry odds on the NBA Finals. Your ability to bet will depend on which state you live in and whether the state permits sports betting.

You are better off sticking with one of the major online sportsbooks like DraftKings, FanDuel, BetRivers, BetMGM, or William Hill for the most reliable service and competitive odds. 

But every book is not available in every state:

• BetRivers: Colorado, Virginia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, and New Jersey (PlaySugarHouse.com)
• William Hill: Virginia, New Jersey, West Virginia, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Tennessee, and Michigan
• FanDuel: Illinois, Colorado, Virginia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Washington D.C., West Virginia, Indiana, Iowa, Tennessee, and Michigan
• BetMGM: Michigan, Virginia, New Jersey, Nevada, West Virginia, Indiana, Washington D.C., Tennessee, Colorado, Iowa, and Pennsylvania
• DraftKings: New Jersey, Virginia, New Hampshire, Iowa, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Colorado, Illinois, Tennessee, and Michigan

Because the odds will be competitive no matter who you decide to bet with, it can be hard to determine which sportsbook you should bet with. That is where you can/should factor in the site’s bonus offer. 

Who is going to give you more if you bring your business to them?

BetRivers

• Welcome Bonus: Visit BetRivers Sportsbook and claim a 100% first deposit match of up to $250
• 1X play-through requirement
• You have 30 days upon receipt of bonus money to satisfy the play-through requirement.

William Hill

• Welcome Bonus: Visit William Hill Sportsbook and claim a risk-free bet of $500 ($2021 in some states) – Use Code TODAYRF
• You must make your first bet within seven days of opening your account.
• Your account will be credited with a free bet equal in value to your first bet up to $500 (if you lost) and must be used within seven days.

BetMGM

• Welcome Bonus: Visit BetMGM Sportsbook and claim a risk-free bet with a max value of $600
• For bets over $50, refunds in the form of free bets get issued in 20 % increments of what you wagered.
• Free bets must be used within seven days of them being credited to your account.

FanDuel

• Welcome Bonus: Visit FanDuel Sportsbook and claim a risk-free bet with a max value of $1000
• Funds from lost wager returned as site credit and must be used within 14 days.
• 1X play-through requirement.

DraftKings

• Welcome Bonus: Visit DraftKings Sportsbook and claim a 20% first deposit match up to $1000 + $50 free bet with $5 deposit
• Play through requirement is one of the stricter in the industry but can be met playing in the casino and DFS along with the sportsbook; for every $25 played, the user will receive $1 of bonus money
• One of the most trusted and respected sportsbooks in the US

How NBA Finals Bettings Odds Are Calculated

Betting odds for the NBA Finals can be a little tricky, but not because they are confusing or anything. It is because there are several things you can bet on. 

There is the overall winner (futures), the outcome of each game played (point spread, moneyline, totals), and various prop bets related to the Finals (i.e., MVP, how long the series will be, and who wins, etc.).

Futures are available as early as prior to the previous season’s Finals and throughout the season. But those odds will often change once teams start making moves in free agency, because of any trades, and the draft.

In-season, the odds will change depending on how well a team is playing, how well other teams may be playing, injuries, and any in-season acquisitions (like when the Nets acquired James Harden).

Generally speaking, odds are subject to change leading up to the Finals depending on how well a team is playing, injuries, and who they are facing.

As for the spread, moneyline, and totals, those will be dependent on how well each team is playing heading into the Finals and how well they play as the Finals progress. Injuries will, of course, factor in as well.

The same can be said for the various prop bets sportsbooks will offer heading into the Finals and as they progress.

NBA Finals Odds And Betting

There are several ways in which you can bet on the NBA Finals such as the outcome of each game (moneyline, point spread, and totals), futures, and prop bets. 

You can’t bet on the outcome of each individual game until the moneyline, point spread, and totals are posted. For Game One it will be shortly after each participant has been decided. Odds for each subsequent game will come out after the conclusion of the previous game. 

Futures, or who is going to win the NBA Finals, is something fans can bet sometimes during the previous Finals (or shortly after). Sportsbooks usually do not waste time posting odds for the next season. 

Odds will shift throughout the year up until each conference championship is decided. Once it is down to the last two teams, betting typically shifts to the prop bets and game outcomes.

As for the prop bets, those will typically be posted when the point spread, moneyline, and totals are. Fans can usually bet on them right up until game time.

Check out our complete Guide To NBA Betting with live betting odds. 

What Is An NBA Futures Bet? 

An NBA futures bet is a wager made on the outcome of a future event—like the NBA Finals. Fans can bet on the winner of the NBA Finals throughout the offseason, regular season, and playoffs. Until the matchup is set, those odds are considered futures.

Other examples include the regular season MVP, Coach of the Year, and the other awards handed out at the end of the season. Sportsbooks take bets on these as early as the previous offseason (MVP) and throughout the regular season.

What Is An NBA Finals Prop Bet?

Prop bets are bets not related to the outcome of a game or series. They are more so related to what goes on in-game. There really is not a shortage of prop bets for the NBA Finals. The Finals MVP is considered a prop bet.

Sportsbooks will have many based on player production—how many points will LeBron James score, how many rebounds will Anthony Davis have, etc. Prop bets will often be offered on team production by quarter and half as well.

Where Can I Bet On The NBA Championship In Vegas

If you decide you want to head to Vegas to bet on the NBA Finals, your options are going to be wide open to you. Sports betting is, of course, legal in Nevada, both in-person and online. However, to bet online, you will have to register for an account in person first.

As for where to go, take your pick from one of the many casinos in Las Vegas. Just about every casino there will have a sportsbook located on the premises. If you happen to be in one that does not have one, there will probably be several that do nearby.

Because odds can vary from one book to the next, it may not be a bad idea to check out the odds in Vegas before traveling to Sin City. You can check out several websites to see what the odds are like in Vegas (i.e., VegasInsider.com, Vegas.com, etc.). You can also check some of the sportsbooks that operate in Nevada. 

Strategies For NBA Finals Betting

Everyone has their own betting strategy. Some will have more detailed, intricate plans than others, and some may have no real plan at all—and that is okay. But the basis of every strategy should involve a few basic things:

• Set limits and stick to them. 
• Stay calm and do not overreact to anything.
• Listen to your friends and the ‘experts’ all you want, but always do your own homework (which is also a must).
• If you are going to be drinking, place your bets first. That way, you can make decisions with a clear head/mind.
• Do not bet money you do not have or cannot afford to lose.

As for the NBA Finals, there are different avenues you can take, but they all involve one thing—you must do your homework. If you are going to bet on alternate lines, you will need to have as much knowledge as possible to decide how many points you can give or take.

Fading the public can be another strategy. When the public starts to bet heavily on one team, sportsbooks will adjust the odds to discourage further bets on that team and to encourage betting on the other team. It is how they protect themselves from heavy losses.

But it can also be how you hit a bigger payday.

Then there is the safe route—betting on the favorite. In four of the last five years, the winner of the NBA Finals was a preseason favorite. The only outlier was in 2019 when the Toronto Raptors won (preseason odds +1850).

Betting Odds For The NBA Finals FAQs