The big wheel keeps turning in every league, including the NBA. The Thunder players might still be celebrating the first title in OKC history, but GM Sam Presti and company have already moved on to the draft and free agency. It's never too early to start thinking about next year.
The same can be said for bettors, many of whom already have futures bets in place for the 2025-26 NBA season. On the same night that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander raised his Finals MVP trophy, Sportsbet had released its 2026 NBA championship odds. And, surprise, surprise — Oklahoma City sits atop the list of favorites.
Second on that list is the Cavaliers. Third? It's not the Celtics or the Lakers or Warriors — it's the Rockets, fresh off their massive acquisition of two-time Finals MVP Kevin Durant. Not long after their trade for Desmond Bane, the Magic also sit within the top five. If the early odds board is any indication, the '25-26 season should be boatloads of fun.
Let's take a look at the full odds board for the 2026 championship, and then make our way-too-early expert picks to win it all. We'll highlight the best bets, top sleepers and highest-value long shots to help you get some solid futures wagers in and hopefully bag you a winner next June.
MORE: 2025 NBA Draft results | Top 30 NBA free agents of 2025
NBA Finals 2026 odds
Odds courtesy of bookmaker Sportsbet.
| Team | Odds |
| Thunder | $3.20 |
| Cavaliers | $8.50 |
| Rockets | $9 |
| Knicks | $9 |
| Magic | $12 |
| Timberwolves | $13 |
| Lakers | $14 |
| Celtics | $15 |
| Nuggets | $15 |
| Clippers | $21 |
| Mavericks | $26 |
| Warriors | $26 |
| 76ers | $26 |
| Spurs | $26 |
| Pistons | $41 |
| Pacers | $41 |
| Hawks | $91 |
| Bucks | $91 |
| Grizzlies | $126 |
| Heat | $201 |
| Pelicans | $276 |
| Raptors | $301 |
| Suns | $401 |
| Nets | $501 |
| Hornets | $501 |
| Bulls | $501 |
| Trail Blazers | $501 |
| Kings | $501 |
| Jazz | $501 |
| Wizards | $501 |
NBA Finals 2026: Best bet
Houston Rockets ($9 with Sportsbet)
Many will view this pick as reactionary. Many others feel that Houston got "fleeced" by the Suns. Well, many people are silly. The Rockets just acquired one of the best scorers in NBA history, Kevin Durant, without having to trade Amen Thompson. Now, Ime Udoka, who just led H-Town to a 52-30 record and the two-seed in a stacked West, has a go-to clutch scorer who can push this team over the top.
The blockbuster move allows All-Star center Alperen Sengun to be the comfortable No. 2 scorer. It takes some late-game pressure off point guard Fred Van Vleet, who has championship experience just like Udoka and KD, but can't score as much as five years ago. It also gives Thompson, Jabari Smith Jr. and even Reed Sheppard a valuable mentor who can help each of them tap into their potential.
Udoka has already proven himself as one of the best defensive coaches in the NBA. He led the Celtics to the Finals in his first year as a head coach, a year in which Boston led the NBA in scoring D and ranked second in defensive rating. Last year, the Rockets finished in the top six in points allowed and top four in defensive rating. So, we know the defense and rebounds will be very good. Now, the scoring will be really good, as well.
The Slim Reaper might not play beyond 2027 or '28, but there's no reason to worry about that right now. The Rockets landed a sure thing for Jalen Green (a good but not great player), Dillon Brooks (an overrated defender and shot chucker), the 10th pick in this draft, and five second-round picks. If you're a Houston fan, you're over the moon with excitement about your team's chances. And we're right there with you.
MORE: Kevin Durant trade grade | Rockets' projected lineup with KD
NBA Finals 2026: Top value pick
Denver Nuggets ($15 with Sportsbet)
The Nuggets still have arguably the best player in the world in Nikola Jokic (sorry, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander). They also have a stud second scorer in Jamal Murray, who will hopefully log a fully healthy season in 2025-26. And with Aaron Gordon fresh off a late-career breakout, Denver has the ability to trade Michael Porter Jr. for pieces that make more sense for a second title run in three years.
Russell Westbrook is gone (addition by subtraction). Christian Braun and Peyton Watson, two dependable role players in David Adelman's core, will likely stick around for the long haul. Any development of recent draft picks will be icing on the cake. This Nuggets team just took Oklahoma City to seven games two rounds before the Thunder won it all — is it that far-fetched to think they can win the next chip?
NBA Finals 2026: Best sleeper
Dallas Mavericks ($26 with Sportsbet)
What would happen if the Mavs won it all and Nico Harrison ended up looking like the mad genius? The Internet would probably explode, that's for sure. The thing is, it's really not that improbable! Any team with Kyrie Irving, Anthony Davis and Cooper Flagg as its Big Three has a damn good chance of running the table.
Flagg, like the other two, will make everyone around him better. Klay Thompson, Max Christie and Caleb Martin won't have any pressure on them to do anything but knock down open three-pointers. Dereck Lively, P..J. Washington and Daniel Gafford can just defend and crash the boards to help AD out.
If everyone stays healthy — and we realize that's a big if, with this team — Dallas has a real shot to cash this lotto ticket.
NBA Finals 2026: Top long shot
Detroit Pistons ($41 with Sportsbet)
It's not a true long shot, but we'll settle for a $10 bet that yields a $400 profit if it wins. J.B. Bickerstaff did a tremendous job with these Pistons last year, leading them to a 44-38 record. That's a 30-win improvement over the previous season, and a big reason to think Motown is on the verge of contending for a fourth title.
Cade Cunningham is a true superstar in the making. He does just about everything well, and he orchestrates Bickerstaff's offense with poise and consistency. Detroit has also played pretty good defense despite its collective inexperience, and another step forward in that department would be huge.
If President of Basketball Operations, Trajan Langdon, makes a couple of solid early moves and Detroit capitalizes on the East being banged up, the Pistons could be the next version of the Pacers and Thunder. Superstar? Check. Shot-makers? Check. Perimeter defense, rebounding and some rim protection? Check, check, check. Depth? Loading. They have first-round picks in '26, '27 and '28 they can move, and cap space to take on players who make them better. This squad at $41 feels like a gift.