Thunder Open as Favorites to Repeat as NBA Champions After Historic Title Run

The Oklahoma City Thunder won the NBA championship Sunday night. And no surprise — they are heavy favorites to repeat the feat next season.

The Thunder (+240 at DraftKings) are a young team loaded with talent, and NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander can still improve — a scary thought for the rest of the league. Oklahoma City won 84 games this season (68 in the regular season, 16 in the postseason), and is the class of the Western Conference. The franchise could win another two or three titles with its young core and a stockpile of 13 first-round picks over the next seven drafts.

The Eastern Conference, however, is wide open. Achilles injuries to three star players — plus the uncertain status of Giannis Antetokounmpo — leave the East filled with question marks. The Indiana Pacers’ title odds (+1800) took a big hit when All-NBA guard Tyrese Haliburton sustained a major injury during Game 7 of the Finals.

Western Conference

The Houston Rockets (+750) became bigger threats in the West by acquiring Kevin Durant. The Rockets were missing a bona fide end-of-game closer — now they have one of the best ever. Houston only lost Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks off its roster in the deal.

The Minnesota Timberwolves (+1400) have reached the Western Conference finals in each of the past two seasons, and Anthony Edwards is surely itching to take the next step. The Los Angeles Lakers (+1600) will look to make a title run with LeBron James and Luka Doncic together for a full season. Only time will tell if it’s James’ final ride.

The Denver Nuggets (+1800) have slid backward since winning the 2023 NBA title, but three-time MVP Nikola Jokic remains in his prime. New coach David Adelman impressed during his late-season interim stint. The Golden State Warriors (+2200) still have Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler, but the West appears too strong for them to make a surprise Finals run.

Eastern Conference

The Pacers figure to take a step back next season, especially if Haliburton misses significant time. Pascal Siakam starred in the postseason, but Haliburton’s playmaking magic is key for another deep run. Veteran coach Rick Carlisle will keep Indiana competitive.

The Boston Celtics (+1800) lost Jayson Tatum (Achilles) during the playoffs, so next season will belong to Jaylen Brown. The Milwaukee Bucks (+4500) saw Damian Lillard (Achilles) go down, but the franchise’s fate may hinge on whether Antetokounmpo requests a trade. Without him, the Bucks likely miss the playoffs.

The New York Knicks (+750) have the best odds in the East but are searching for a coach after firing Tom Thibodeau, who led the team to its first conference finals appearance since 2000. Jalen Brunson remains elite. The Cleveland Cavaliers (+900) will contend again after a conference-best 64 wins, while the Orlando Magic (+1800) are suddenly a team to watch after acquiring Desmond Bane to join Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner.

Pretenders

It’s hard to take the Philadelphia 76ers (+4000) seriously after a disastrous season in which Joel Embiid (19 games), Paul George (41) and Tyrese Maxey (52) were repeatedly injured. Philadelphia went 24-58 and finished 13th in the East.

Remember when the Los Angeles Clippers (+4000) were supposed to win a title or two in the Kawhi Leonard era? The Clippers haven’t reached the second round in the past four seasons. Leonard remains elite when healthy, but he and James Harden don’t appear to be leading Los Angeles anywhere.

The Dallas Mavericks (+4500) reached the 2024 NBA Finals when Doncic carried the team. Then he was traded to the Lakers — and just when the oft-criticized Mavericks needed a break, they won the draft lottery despite long odds. Dallas will select Cooper Flagg, but the Mavs could be fighting to avoid the play-in round next season.