2027 NBA Championship Odds: Oklahoma City Thunder Open As Favorite

Congratulations to the New York Knicks for winning the 2026 NBA Finals. But now that the series is over, it is time for the inevitable next step: looking ahead to next season and the odds of winning the NBA Championship for 2026-2027.

Of course, with the offseason just getting underway and things like free agency and the NBA Draft still to come, the odds may not stay where they are for long. With some of the rumors that are circulating, we could see a major shake-up in the league's hierarchy before the offseason wraps up.

(Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)

Before that happens, let’s take a look at where the NBA Championship odds opened for several teams.

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NBA Championship Odds, 2026/27: Post 2026 NBA Finals

Here are the 2027 NBA Championship odds for the 15 teams at the top of BetMGM’s betting board:

• Oklahoma City Thunder +250
• San Antonio Spurs +270
• Boston Celtics +700
• New York Knicks +700
• Denver Nuggets +2000
• Los Angeles Lakers +2500
• Minnesota Timberwolves +2500
• Cleveland Cavaliers +3300
• Detroit Pistons +3300
• Indiana Pacers +3500
• Miami Heat +3500
• Orlando Magic +5000
• Philadelphia 76ers +6000
• Golden State Warriors +6600
• Houston Rockets +6600

It is not unusual for defending champions to open as the betting favorite to win the following year again. That is certainly what happened when the 2025/26 odds opened with the Oklahoma City Thunder as the favorite. But that is not the case for the Knicks, as the Thunder and San Antonio Spurs have opened with shorter odds.

Of course, their odds opened at +700 last year. So, you could say seeing them open at +700 again is a little prophetic. But the NBA hasn’t really been a league where underdogs emerge from nowhere to win the Finals. Of the last 12 winners, seven opened with odds shorter than +1000 and were among the top three contenders.

What about the other five? Three opened with odds ranging from +1000 to +2000: Denver Nuggets (+1400, 2023), the Golden State Warriors (+1400, 2022), and the Los Angeles Lakers (+1800, 2020).

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As for the two outliers, there was Toronto in 2018-2019, which opened at +6600. But that was the best example of how the offseason can impact a team’s immediate future. That was the year they acquired Kawhi Leonard in the offseason. There was also the Golden State Warriors, which won the 2015 title but opened at +2500. Their major offseason acquisition was not a player, but head coach Steve Kerr.

So, while we do not see many surprise champions in the NBA, it is not uncommon for some team to make an offseason move that takes it from pretender to contender.

Offseason Moves That Could Impact Next Year's Title Chase

Several teams will have new head coaches next season: the Dallas Mavericks, Orlando Magic, Milwaukee Bucks, Chicago Bulls, Portland Trail Blazers, and New Orleans Pelicans. But the real difference-making moves involve players:

• Giannis Antetokounmpo: whether he stays in Milwaukee or moves to any of the several teams (Celtics, Heat, Trail Blazers, Timberwolves, etc.) rumored to be interested, whoever he plays for in 2026-27 will be a contender. If he goes to Boston or Minnesota, either team will become the new favorite.
• Jaylen Brown: he is rumored to be part of any potential deal the Celtics may make to acquire Antetokounmpo. He will not make his new home the new favorite, but it'll certainly be one of the top contenders.
• LeBron James: There is a ton of rumored interest, but no reason to believe he is leaving LA (yet). James is not the game changer that he once was. But his experience alone and the knowledge he can pass on to his teammates will make whoever he plays for better (and potentially a contender). If he does leave, that is.
• Other players that could be on the move via trade or free agency include Ja Morant, Austin Reaves, Zach LaVine, Mitchell Robinson, James Harden, and Trae Young.

My 2027 NBA Championship Odds Pick(s)

Luxury-tax limits could slow spending. With the first- and second-apron restrictions helping to make roster decisions, teams may be less aggressive than they have been in past offseasons. Unless the financial incentive is strong enough, high-profile free agents could choose to stay with their current teams rather than test the market.

So, with that in mind, here are my top three picks heading into the offseason:

• My Favorite: San Antonio Spurs (+270, BetMGM)

The talent is there, and it is young and under contract. Losing in the NBA Finals the way they did will sting and take some time to get over. But it would not be shocking to see the Spurs come back with vengeance next year, ready to prove they are better than they showed in the Finals.

• My Dark Horse Pick: Minnesota Timberwolves (+2500, BetMGM)

After watching this team take care of the Denver Nuggets and push the San Antonio Spurs pretty hard in the Conference Semifinals, they are not far from becoming a top-of-the-line contender. According to the rumor mill, they are actively seeking out a shooter to pair with Anthony Edwards.

If they succeed in acquiring such a player, the Nuggets could easily become one of the top contenders.

• My Longshot: Dallas Mavericks (+8000, BetMGM)

With Cooper Flagg as the cornerstone, if they can keep Kyrie Irving and figure out a way to acquire another star, the Mavs could become the next Cinderella team and make a 2018-19 Toronto Raptors-like rise to relevancy next year.