2025 NBA Futures: Lakers Continue Climb Up Odds Board

Patrick Everson Sports Betting Expert

5 minute read

NBA championship odds for 2024-25 got a massive jolt when the Los Angeles Lakers acquired Luka Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks, in exchange for Anthony Davis. The shockwaves continue to reverberate more than a month later, in March.

The Boston Celtics and Oklahoma City Thunder still sit atop odds to win the NBA Finals. But the Lakers are now all the way up to the fourth choice in NBA Finals futures odds.

Here's everything you need to know about 2024-25 NBA Finals odds: action, line movement and betting trends. Check back regularly for updates and use our BetMGM bonus code to get the most out of your action.

2025 NBA Championship Odds

Lake Show

In a stunning late-night development on Feb. 1, ESPN's Shams Charania broke the news that Doncic was headed to Los Angeles, and Davis would in turn go to Dallas. The Lakers also got Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris from the Mavericks.

Max Christie joined Davis in going to the Mavs, and the Lakers also included a 2029 first-round pick.

At BetMGM, Los Angeles initially leapt from +4000 to +1800, and within three hours of the deal, the Lakers' NBA championship odds got all the way into +1000.

That made L.A. the fourth choice at BetMGM. The Lakers eventually adjusted to the +1400 co-fifth choice. Now, as of March 6, Los Angeles is the +1000 fourth choice.

Since the blockbuster deal, it's been all Lakers action. In fact, in digital betting (online/mobile), L.A. is now No. 1 in ticket count and No. 3 in money.

"The Lakers are our worst result for the championship and the Western Conference," BetMGM trader Hal Egeland said. "The Lakers have been the most-bet team since the deadline, by a decent margin."

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That appears to be for good reason at the moment. Since Jan. 30, the Lakers are on a 13-2 SU run, including 9-2 SU since Doncic entered the lineup on Feb. 10. L.A. is now 39-21 SU, the second-best mark in the West.

"LeBron James and Luka Doncic make the Lakers a scary team to play in the playoffs, even if the rest of their roster was the BetMGM intramural team. There are going to be some ugly defensive nights for L.A., but that offense is going to be incredible to watch.

"LeBron has had some incredible teammates in his career. But I don’t think there have been many who can dissect a basketball court at a similar level to him, and Luka can do that."

Still, the Lakers have significant obstacles to overcome.

"There's still a clear gap between the Lakers and the Thunder in the West. But the Lakers are in that second tier, in my opinion," Egeland said.

Creating Separation

The Boston Celtics are looking for a second straight championship, after beating the Dallas Mavericks 4-1 in last year's title series. Through games of March 5, the Celtics are 44-18 SU, the third-best record in the league.

That's good enough for BetMGM to keep Boston atop NBA Finals odds, at a tidy +255.

But Oklahoma City is also at +225, now the co-favorite. The Thunder are a stout 51-11, winning at an 82.3% clip, just barely behind league-leading Cleveland. (More on the Cavs below.)

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander & Co. went on a torrid 19-1 SU streak from Dec. 3-Jan. 16. The only loss in that stretch was at Cleveland, 129-122 on Jan. 8. But on Jan. 16, the Thunder avenged that setback on their home court, beating the Cavs 134-114.

Since Feb. 1, OKC has gone 14-2 SU.

"In my opinion, the Celtics and Thunder are clearly constructed the best in each conference. Both teams are built for deep playoff runs, and their championship odds reflect that," BetMGM trader Hal Egeland said.

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And perhaps Oklahoma City will soon be the solo favorite in odds to win the NBA Finals.

"I don’t think we’ve even seen the best of the Thunder yet," Egeland said. "The Thunder are one of the top two teams in the league already. They’re well-positioned to make a championship run in 2025 and beyond."

Meanwhile, Boston looks every bit the defending champion.

"I don’t think much needs to be said about the Celtics. There weren't any significant roster turnover from last year," Egeland said. "In all likelihood, the Cavs will finish with the No. 1 seed. But we know what to expect from the Celtics in the playoffs, and that was nothing short of dominant last year."

Indeed, Boston rumbled through the postseason, going 16-3 SU.

Trending Teams

The Cavaliers are among the bigger surprises of the 2024-25 season. At 52-10, Cleveland has the best mark in the NBA. The Cavs are on a 16-1 SU tear through games of March 5.

From Dec. 1-Jan. 20, Cleveland won 12 in a row as part of a 16-1 SU spree.

All of that has prompted a huge move in BetMGM's NBA Finals futures odds. Back in June, the Cavaliers opened +5000. Cleveland got to +700 in late January and is now the +600 third choice, behind only the Celtics and Thunder.

"Luckily for us, we didn’t take a heap of money on the Cavs early on at +5000. But customers are certainly backing them now," BetMGM trader Hal Egeland said. "The Cavs are a small loser for the book and are the third-most-bet team" since the trade deadline.

From coaching to players, Egeland can't stop raving about the Cavaliers so far.

"Kenny Atkinson is likely going to win Coach of the Year, and he’s well-deserving," Egeland said. "The Cavaliers are playing at a faster pace, shooting higher-quality shots, and making them at a higher percentage. 

"Their offensive identity is significantly better than last year, while retaining their defensive efficiency. Both Evan Mobley and Darius Garland have made jumps in their game."

Golden State is also trending in BetMGM's NBA championship futures odds. A month ago, the Warriors were muddling around .500. Now, after acquiring Jimmy Butler from the Miami Heat, the Dubs are on a 7-1 SU surge.

Golden State went from +8000 to +5000 after getting Butler. The Warriors are now all the way into the +1400 sixth choice.

The Denver Nuggets are the +1200 fifth choice in BetMGM's NBA championship futures odds.

"I have doubts with the Nuggets when it comes to depth. But their core has championship experience, and they have, in my opinion, the best player in the world leading the way," Egeland said, obviously alluding to Nikola Jokic. "That’s a pretty solid recipe for success."

Denver (40-22) won nine straight games from Jan. 31-Feb. 20, but is 3-3 SU since then.

"The Nuggets' recent performance has shown that they can’t be ignored as a threat in the West," Egeland said. "The Thunder are going to be the [Western Conference] favorites, barring significant injuries, but I don’t think any team will be excited to see the Nuggets in the playoffs.

"Since we operate in Colorado, we often take a decent amount of Nuggets money, and this year is no different."

Tickets, Money, Liability

Action in BetMGM's NBA Finals odds market is tilted toward the aforementioned teams. As noted above, in digital betting (mobile/online), the Lakers are now No. 1 in ticket count, followed by the Celtics, Cavaliers and Nuggets.

In money, Denver actually leads the way, followed by Boston, Los Angeles and Cleveland.

At the moment, Egeland said BetMGM is rooting for the Houston Rockets and Memphis Grizzlies. Memphis (38-24) was +2400 in mid-February, but is now +4000. Houston (37-25) was +5000 in mid-February, but is now out to +10000 (100/1).

Key liabilities in NBA Finals futures odds are the Lakers and Warriors.

Patrick Everson

Patrick Everson is a senior reporter for VegasInsider. Based in Las Vegas since 1994, he's worked in the sports betting journalism/content space for more than a decade. He's most known for his deep roster of contacts behind sportsbook counters, providing readers and viewers with the ins-and-outs of how events are being bet. He's also a thought leader in the sports betting space, often appearing on or moderating panels at national conferences. More from Patrick Everson