NBA Futures Betting Odds

NBA 2020-21 Finals Odds

How to Read the NBA Futures Odds Market

The 2020-21 NBA regular season started on Tuesday Dec. 22 and this year's campaign will be a 72-game schedule, opposed to 82 games.

The NBA Playoffs will likely begin in April and the NBA Finals are expected to be decided in June.

The Los Angeles Lakers are the defending champions in the NBA and are one of the favorites to repeat in 2021.

Right ahead of the Lakers are the loaded Brooklyn Nets, who continue to play well behind James Harden and Kyrie Irving.

Milwaukee was the top team in the Eastern Conference last season and is still a threat to make the NBA Finals at 9/1 odds.

Bettors can compare their future prices below at four of the most popular legal online sportsbooks in the United States.

Contenders - Odds Comparison

Odds To Win 2021 NBA Finals

Contenders Brooklyn Nets +245 +240 +230 +225 L.A. Lakers +375 +350 +350 +350 L.A. Clippers +425 +500 +550 +550 Utah Jazz +725 +700 +900 +700

2021 NBA Eastern Conference Odds

2021 NBA Western Conference Odds

2021 NBA Divisional Odds

NBA Pacific Division Odds

NBA Southwest Division Odds

NBA Northwest Division Odds

NBA Southeast Division Odds

Updated Mon, May 3, 1:00 PM ET - Odds provided by BetMGM - subject to change

HOW TO BET ON NBA FUTURES

Betting on the NBA is widely popular in the United States and the NBA Futures Odds market continues to cater to both novice and professional bettors. The NBA championship is decided very June with a best-of-seven matchup known as the NBA Finals.

This Future Odds market is open year-round and the oddsmakers will adjust their numbers when trades, injuries, free agent signings, or other changes affect the NBA championship odds. The opening odds come out at the end of the current season or just after it ends, with NBA Future Odds posted on all 30 teams in the league.

Betting on NBA Futures may not always provide big payouts due to the nature of the league, where dynasties are often created by player movement in free agency. However, betting on the right team early can provide better results, as seen in 2019 when the Toronto Raptors won with +1850 odds to win the NBA championship in August 2018. Compare that to the +750 odds the Raptors had in December 2018 and you can see how the NBA Futures odds could offer less value as the season progresses and the player talent is on display.

The NBA championship futures betting market takes in the most volume of wagers and money at sportsbooks but there are other wagering opportunities in the NBA Futures market.

Bettors can wager on:

NBA CONFERENCE WINNERS

Eastern, Western

NBA DIVISION WINNERS

East
Atlantic, Central, Southeast

West
Southwest, Northwest, Pacific

The sportsbooks also offer up NBA Futures Odds on specific player awards, usually just for the Most Valuable Player and the Rookie of the Year. These wagers are a little tricky since those bets and their results are based off subjectivity. Both awards are determined by votes from sports writers and we all know that everybody has an opinion.

2021 NBA FINALS ODDS TO WIN

There are several good bets to win the NBA Playoffs in 2021. The current odds for the top contenders to win the NBA Championship today are:

• Brooklyn Nets: +220
• Los Angeles Lakers: +375
• Los Angeles Clippers: +550
• Milwaukee Bucks: +900
• Philadelphia 76ers: +900
• Utah Jazz: +900
• Phoenix Suns: +1400
• Denver Nuggets: +2000
• Miami Heat: +3500

NBA FINALS ODDS

In the offseason, opening odds are posted on all 30 teams to win the NBA Championship and those numbers are adjusted as the regular season begins based on the opinion of bettors. The key to cashing a big ticket and locking in a return on the NBA Finals Odds is not easy but with the right homework, you can forecast ahead and take a shot with a team that may have started slower than others.

Injuries, suspensions, trades are also key factors in the NBA Finals Odds and that’s just in the regular season. When the playoffs begin and the matchups are set, you’ll see sportsbooks tweak their Future Odds because one team may have an easier path on paper than others.

After the NBA Playoff field of 16 is dwindled down to two teams in the NBA Finals, oddsmakers will use American Odds on the matchup. The American Odds is often thought of as a Money-Line or in this example below, it would be called the NBA Finals Odds Series Price:

Los Angeles Lakers -250 (Bet $100 to win $40)
Milwaukee Bucks +200 (Bet $100 to win 100)

Fractional Odds
Los Angeles Lakers 2/5
Milwaukee Bucks 2/1

Decimal Odds
Los Angeles Lakers 1.4
Milwaukee Bucks 3.0

BETTING ON NBA FUTURES ODDS

WHERE CAN I BET ON THE 2020 NBA CHAMPIONSHIP?

There are several legal sportsbook options in the United States. Visit our sportsbook directory to find online sportsbooks where you can bet on who will win the NBA Playoffs.

WHO ARE THE EXPERTS PICKING TO WIN?

With multiple strong contenders to pick from, our experts are here to help. Check out our 2020 NBA Playoff Predictions to see what teams our handicappers like.

WHAT TYPE OF BETS CAN I MAKE ON THE NBA?

In addition to betting on how teams will finish in the NBA Playoffs, there are multiple angles you can bet on individual games. Check out our NBA odds page for the odds on each game.

WHERE CAN I LEARN HOW TO BET ON BASKETBALL?

To learn more about betting on basketball, check out our basketball betting tutorial.