The NBA is back, just in time for Christmas. We run down the bookies’ latest 2020/21 NBA Championship odds.
The Los Angeles Lakers are the defending champions and will look to make it back-to-back titles with a roster that is arguably stronger than last season’s.
Milwaukee Bucks, Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Clippers all are gearing up to make a run at the top and who’s to say another contender can’t emerge?
NBA Championship odds 2021
Los Angeles Lakers +250
Brooklyn Nets +650
Los Angeles Clippers +650
Milwaukee Bucks +650
Philadelphia 76ers +1,600
Boston Celtics +1,800
Miami Heat +1,800
Dallas Mavericks +2,000
Denver Nuggets +2,000
Golden State Warriors +2,200
Toronto Raptors +2,800
Phoenix Suns +4,000
Portland Trail Blazers +4,000
Utah Jazz +4,000
Houston Rockets +5,000
New Orleans Pelicans +8,000
Chicago Bulls +10,000
Oklahoma City Thunder +10,000
Washington Wizards +10,000
Atlanta Hawks +12,500
Indiana Pacers +12,500
Memphis Grizzlies +12,500
Minnesota Timberwolves +15,000
Charlotte Hornets +20,000
Orlando Magic +25,000
Sacramento Kings +25,000
San Antonio Spurs +25,000
Cleveland Cavaliers +50,000
Detroit Pistons +50,000
New York Knicks +50,000
2021 NBA title betting favorites
Los Angeles Lakers +250
Oftentimes, championship teams have to deal with attrition. Not this one.
The Lakers got stronger this offseason by keeping their star players together while also bringing in reigning NBA Sixth Man of the Year Montrezl Harrell, runner-up for the award Dennis Schroder, and former Defensive Player of the Year Marc Gasol.
Toss in another signing, veteran shooter Wesley Matthews, and the Lakers will not give any opposing defense time to relax.
Barring serious injury to LeBron James and or Anthony Davis, the Lakers have a deep, experienced roster poised for another title.
Milwaukee Bucks +550
If you want to bet longshots, go ahead, but the smart plan is to stick with the most capable teams.
Giannis Antetokounmpo is the best player on the planet, and Milwaukee made a concerted effort during the offseason to surround him with more talent.
That led to the arrivals of Jrue Holiday, a proven point guard who represents an immediate upgrade over Eric Bledsoe. D.J. Augustin, Bobby Portis and Bryn Forbes provide depth to a team desperate for a title.
Brooklyn Nets +600
Brooklyn has been waiting for this moment for quite some time.
The 2019-20 campaign was basically a lost season for the franchise, which now will add Kevin Durant into the fold along with teammates such as Kyrie Irving, Caris LeVert, Joe Harris, Spencer Dinwiddie and others.
Expect some early-season rust, but come playoff time, this team is loaded with talent.
2020/21 NBA Championship odds dark horses
The Miami Heat (+1800) offer good value beyond the top three contenders. Miami already has showed that it can survive a tough test in the playoffs to emerge from the Eastern Conference.
Erik Spoelstra is one of the best coaches in the league and will put his players in position to succeed.
If Miami somehow is able to land James Harden from Houston, watch out.
Philadelphia (+2000) has failed to live up to expectations in recent years, but the arrival of longtime coach Doc Rivers could inject new energy into the franchise.
Joel Embiid is a dominant big man who can change a game on any given night.
It has been a rough offseason for the Golden State Warriors (+2500), who lost Klay Thompson to yet another significant injury.
That said, Golden State could find a way to hang around, and Stephen Curry could put the
