Can you believe that we're already at the halfway point of the NBA season? Since we're officially at the All-Star break, let's take a look at the current odds to win the 2023-24 NBA championship.
Can the Nuggs pull of a repeat this season? Surprisingly enough, most oddsmakers have the Boston Celtics as the favorite to take home the crown for the 2023-24 season. Check out the live odds for the 2023-24 NBA championship below as well as an early futures bet.
Here’s a quick look at the current odds as of April 15:
Just four teams have odds of +650 or less for next season's title. While Boston is the favorite at +470, Denver is nipping on their heels at +480. Milwaukee currently has the 3rd lowest odds at +600 and Phoenix is currently sitting at +650.
As for the second-tier favorites that are in double-digit odds, Miami is at +1000 after their Eastern Conference title. The Golden State Warriors (+1400) are getting older but will still be in the mix as long as Steph Curry and Klay Thompson stay healthy.
The Los Angeles Lakers (+1500) and Philadelphia 76ers (+1700) are the only 2 other teams with odds less than 20 to 1 to win the title.
Can the Nuggets Repeat?
Denver certainly has the roster to repeat as NBA champs in 2023-24. Jokic is the most dominant player in the league and Murray has really established himself as an elite scoring guard.
As long as these two beasts are healthy, the Nuggs will always be a title threat. All of that being said, Denver has some depth concerns heading into the new season.
They weren't able to sign Bruce Brown, who wound up inking a deal with Pacers this offseason. Brown came up big for the Nuggets during the playoffs last year and his leadership skills will be sorely missed.
Best Bet to Win NBA Title: Philadelphia 76ers +1800
While most of the focus is on Denver and Boston, I'm going to take the opportunity to buy the 76ers at a low. Getting 18 to 1 with Philly just seems like a bargain. The Sixers have the roster to contend with the Celtics and the Bucks in the Eastern Conference.
Joel Embiid finally brought home his first NBA MVP Award last season after averaging 33.1 points and 10.2 rebounds per game. While there are rumors that Philly may trade James Harden, I just don't see that happening. "The Beard" was a big reason why Embiid had so much success last season.
I love the fact that the Sixers finally parted ways with Doc Rivers. He seems to be a great guy, but he folds like a cheap tent in the postseason. Hiring Nick Nurse, who led the Raptors to a title in 2019, was a great move for Philly.
Look for Nurse to get more out of this squad than Rivers. Embiid will have another fabulous season, and even if Harden ends up getting traded, the supporting cast is still pretty good. Give me Philly at +1800 to start up the NBA Futures portfolio.
February 5, 2024 Update
The Boston Celtics continue to be the odds-on favorite to win the 2023-24 NBA Championship, and it's easy to see why. Jayson Tatum leads the Celts in both points per game (27) and rebounds per game (8.4). Boston also gets quality minutes from Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, and newcomer Kristaps Porzingis.
The defending champion Denver Nuggets are currently holding down the No. 2 spot, with odds of +440 to repeat. Winning back-to-back titles won't be easy, but NBA frontrunner Nikola Jokic and his sidekick Jamaal Murray make a phenomenal 1-2 punch. No one will want to play the Nuggs come playoff time.
Currently in the No. 3 slot is the Milwaukee Bucks, who recently brought in Doc Rivers as head coach. It'll be interesting to see how Rivers does, as he's not had the best track record in the playoffs. That being said, a roster that includes Giannis Antetokounmpo and Dame Lillard should always be taken seriously.
February 16, 2024: All-Star Break Update
The 23-24 NBA season is flying by and we're officially at the All-Star break. Fans and bettors alike will look forward to both the 3-point and slam dunk contests. Both of those are always highly entertaining.
The Los Angeles Clippers saw an improvement in their title odds since our last update. The Clips went from +600 to +550 and have jumped the Milwaukee Bucks for the No. 3 spot on the odds board. The star-studded trio of James Harden, Paul George, and Kawhi Leonard may be worth a look at those nice odds.
The New York Knicks also saw a nice bump in their championship odds. Tom Thibodeau's crew is now sitting at 18 to 1 after being at 20 to 1 just a couple of weeks ago. Can Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle lead this team to a deep playoff run?
March 5, 2024 Update
The Celtics have continued to torch every Eastern Conference opponent in their path, stretching their lead over second-place Milwaukee to 8.0 games after a third win of 50+ points this season. They have the highest offensive rating of any team in NBA history, scoring 122.7 points per 100 possessions.
The Cs are also fourth all-time in Basketball Reference’s Simple Rating System (SRS), which assigns teams a value based on their strength of schedule and margin of victory. Boston is currently favored to win the title at +230.
The Bucks (+700) are expected to pose the biggest threat to the Celtics title hopes in the East. After a shaky start to Doc Rivers’ tenure in Milwaukee, the team has won six in a row, including a road victory in Minnesota.
In the West, Minnesota and Oklahoma City are one-two in the standings, but the Nuggets (+450) are expected to represent the conference in the NBA Finals with the Clippers (+500) right on their heels. Denver and Boston are a combined 11-0 since the All-Star break and the two will face one another for a potential Finals preview in Denver on March 7.
Despite resurgent campaigns for both organizations, the Thunder (+2500) and Timberwolves (+2800) are not being billed as serious title contenders as their young players develop into legitimate NBA stars.
Update: April 15, 2024
The start of the NBA Playoffs is right around the corner, and not much has changed from an odds perspective. The Boston Celtics continue to be the frontrunner to take home the NBA title, as they have current odds of +180. The defending champion Denver Nuggets are next in line with odds of +300.
According to the sportsbooks, a Boston vs. Denver NBA Finals showdown appears to be the most likely occurrence. The Los Angeles Clippers and the Oklahoma City Thunder are the next teams on the odds board, with prices of 12 to 1 and 16 to 1, respectively.
Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks will look to challenge Boston in the East, as their title odds are currently sitting at +1700. Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks currently have the 6th best championship odds at +1900.
Past Winners of NBA Title
Ready to learn more about the history of the NBA title? We've put in the research to bring you the most commonly asked questions and answers.
This section may help you win trivia night at your favorite sports bar or restaurant. Here's a list of all of the NBA champions from 2000 to current. As you can see, the Lakers, Spurs, and Warriors have dominated since the turn of the century.
| Year |
Winner |
| 2000 |
Los Angeles Lakers |
| 2001 |
Los Angeles Lakers |
| 2002 |
Los Angeles Lakers |
| 2003 |
San Antonio Spurs |
| 2004 |
Detroit Pistons |
| 2005 |
San Antonio Spurs |
| 2006 |
Miami Heat |
| 2007 |
San Antonio Spurs |
| 2008 |
Boston Celtics |
| 2009 |
Los Angeles Lakers |
| 2010 |
Los Angeles Lakers |
| 2011 |
Dallas Mavericks |
| 2012 |
Miami Heat |
| 2013 |
Miami Heat |
| 2014 |
San Antonio Spurs |
| 2015 |
Golden State Warriors |
| 2016 |
Cleveland Cavaliers |
| 2017 |
Golden State Warriors |
| 2018 |
Golden State Warriors |
| 2019 |
Toronto Raptors |
| 2020 |
Los Angeles Lakers |
| 2021 |
Milwaukee Bucks |
| 2022 |
Golden State Warriors |
2023 |
Denver Nuggets |
NBA Title FAQs
To further increase your knowledge of the NBA, we've put together the following list of the most commonly asked questions and answers about the NBA championship.
Got a question you'd like us to answer in this section. Reach out to us via email at [email protected] or on Twitter @EatWatchBet.
What team has won the most NBA championships?
The Boston Celtics have won the most NBA championships with 17 titles. The Los Angeles Lakers are close behind with 16 championships.
Which player has won the most NBA Finals MVP awards?
Michael Jordan has won the most NBA Finals MVP awards, with six in his career.
What is the NBA championship trophy called?
The NBA championship trophy is called the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy.
Have the NBA Finals always been a 7-game series?
No, the NBA Finals have not always been a 7-game series. The format of the NBA Finals has changed several times throughout the history of the league. Prior to the 1984-85 season, the NBA Finals were played as a best-of-seven series. However, from 1947 to 1957, the Finals was a best-of-five series, and in some instances, it was a best-of-three series. Since the 1984-85 season, the NBA Finals have been a best-of-seven series.
Who has scored the most points in NBA Finals history?
The player with the most points scored in NBA Finals history is Michael Jordan, who scored 1,176 points in 35 Finals games during his career.
