2025 NBA Championship Odds: Nuggets Fire Coach, Futures Price Stagnant

Patrick Everson Sports Betting Expert

5 minute read

NBA championship odds for 2024-25 are heading toward the end of the regular season. And one of the teams among the top six on the odds board decided to fire its coach.

The Denver Nuggets 86'd Michael Malone, who two years ago led the team to its first-ever title. However, Denver's number didn't shift much if at all in odds to win the NBA championship.

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

Discord In Denver

At 47-32 SU, Denver has the fourth-best mark in the Western Conference. However, the Nuggets now trail the Los Angeles Lakers (48-30 SU) and are only a half-game clear of teams 5-8: The Los Angeles Clippers, Golden State Warriors, Minnesota Timberwolves and Memphis Grizzlies.

Coincidentally, the Grizzlies fired coach Taylor Jenkins on March 29.

Through games of April 7, Denver is on a four-game skid that's part of a 3-7 overall slide. The Nuggets could well find themselves in the play-in round if they don't get it together.

Still, BetMGM had Denver as the +2000 sixth choice in the hours before Malone's firing. And the Nuggets remained +2000 several hours after the decision.

"Obviously, the firing came as a shock to everyone," BetMGM trader Hal Egeland said. "The Nuggets have struggled recently and aren't guaranteed a playoff spot, with how bunched up the West is. But Malone is a championship-winning coach.

"In terms of their title chances, we didn't make a move. The Nuggets' on-court performance would be more concerning to us."

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And indeed, in the week leading up to Malone's firing, Denver slid from +1400 to +2000.

But Egeland reminds that Nikola Jokic is the reigning and three-time NBA MVP. Jokic would be on his way to a fourth MVP if not for the huge year Oklahoma City's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is having.

"Jokic isn't going anywhere. If he's on the court, the Nuggets are right up there in the second tier of Western Conference teams," Egeland said, alluding to every team currently chasing the torrid Thunder.

Speaking of which ...

California Dreaming

The Los Angele Lakers and Golden State Warriors continue to gain ground in NBA championship odds. Perhaps that's part of the reason why the Nuggets dumped Malone.

The Lakers are now 48-30 SU, third in the West, while the Warriors are 46-32 and in a way four-way tie for fifth in the West. That's led BetMGM to move both teams into +1200, with L.A. and Golden State the co-fourth choice in NBA Finals odds.

Pre-trade deadline, the Lakers were middling and stood at +4000 to lift the trophy. After acquiring Luka Doncic in a blockbuster deal with Dallas, L.A. zoomed to as short as +1000, before setting at +1400.

Los Angeles was on an 8-0 roll in early March, but has blown hot and cold since then. Still, LeBron, Luka & Co. are getting a ton of action to win it all.

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

The Warriors' have seen the biggest adjustment. Two months ago, Golden State was muddling around .500 and was a distant +8000 to win the title. Picking up Jimmy Butler from Miami at the trade deadline moved the Warriors' odds to +5000.

By early March, Golden State was all the way into +1400. Since then, the Dubs are on a 14-4 SU tear through April 7, which helped them join the Lakers at +1200.

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 April 7, the Celtics are 58-20 SU, the third-best record in the league.

The C's have been on fire since March 2, going 16-2 SU, including a nine-game win streak. That's more than enough for BetMGM to have Boston as the +220 second choice.

But Oklahoma City is now the +175 favorite in NBA championship odds. The Thunder are a stout 64-14 SU, winning at a league-leading 82.1% clip. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander & Co. went on a torrid 19-1 SU streak from Dec. 3-Jan. 16.

Then from Feb. 26-April 2. the Thunder tore it up again with an 18-1 SU run.

"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," 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."

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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 63-16 SU-10, Cleveland has the best mark in the East and the second-best record in the league, behind only OKC.

The Cavs won 16 in a row from Feb. 5-March 14, part of a 20-1 overall run.

Cleveland's success 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 +575 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."

Tickets, Money, Liability

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

In money, Cleveland now surprisingly leads the way, though it's close among the top five teams. Los Angeles is No. 2, followed by Boston, Oklahoma City and Denver.

At the moment, Egeland said BetMGM is rooting for the Houston Rockets and Memphis Grizzlies. Memphis (46-32) was +2400 in mid-February, but is now a huge +30000 (300/1) long shot, even while tied for fifth in the Western Conference.

Houston (52-27) was +5000 in February, but has slid out to +8000, despite having the second-best record in the West.

BetMGM's key liabilities in NBA championship 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