NBA Championship Odds, Predictions & Picks 2025: Lakers Catapult Following Doncic Trade

• The Celtics and Thunder are nearly tied in odds

• The Nuggets surged after winning eight of nine games

• The Mavericks are still alive despite several injuries

The NBA Finals are mere months away, and the list of odds to win the NBA championship is starting to take place.

The Boston Celtics crept below two-to-one to win the NBA Finals, while the high-flying Los Angeles Lakers moved up to sixth following their impressive performances on the court and the trade block.

Here’s a complete look at the odds to win the NBA Finals, the top contenders, our best picks, and more.

2025 NBA Championship Odds

2025 NBA Championship Pick

• My Pick: Boston Celtics (+195) at FanDuel Sportsbook

The Celtics haven’t been overwhelmingly impressive in 2025, but they’re still elite on both ends and will inevitably get better as the postseason gets closer. They dominate the mathematical portion of the game with their three-point dominance both offensively and defensively, and they have lineup versatility that allows them to maintain the perfect focus in a multitude of matchups. Their stars are also in their prime years and just proved they can win the Finals a year ago.

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2025 NBA Finals Favorites

Boston Celtics (+195) at FanDuel

• Head Coach: Joe Mazzulla 

• Key Player: Jayson Tatum

• Player to Watch: Kristaps Porzingis

The Celtics are fourth in offensive and fifth in defensive rating, leading to the third-best net rating in the sport (+8.6). They make more threes per game than any team in the league and allowed the fifth-fewest threes per game, meaning their opponents have to be extremely efficient to have a chance at beating them. They go deep off the bench, protect the ball, know their role, and execute in a methodical, machine-like manner.

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Oklahoma City Thunder (+230) at FanDuel

• Head Coach: Mark Daigneault 

• Key Player: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 

• Player to Watch: Jalen Williams

The Thunder are as dominant a defensive team as there has been in recent years, in part because their defensive pressure is largely felt on the perimeter. They will be even better on both ends when Chet Holmgren returns to the lineup, although Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had three 50-point games since Jan. 22. OKC is a young team, but they got a bit of “championship” experience in their In-Season Tournament loss against the Milwaukee Bucks.

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Cleveland Cavaliers (+850) at FanDuel

• Head Coach: Kenny Atkinson

• Key Player: Donovan Mitchell

• Player to Watch: Darius Garland

Cleveland still has the best record in the Eastern Conference and made one of the best moves at the deadline by acquiring De’Andre Hunter from the Atlanta Hawks, giving them even more athleticism, shooting, and defensive versatility. The Cavs are extremely efficient from everywhere on the floor and have mobile interior defenders that shut off attacks at the rim. Their playoff resolve is yet to be determined, but they’ve been pretty close to flawless thus far.

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New York Knicks (+1300) at FanDuel

• Head Coach: Tom Thibodeau

• Key Player: Jalen Brunson

• Player to Watch: Karl-Anthony Towns

The Knicks’ offense is nothing short of ethereal. They create and make tons of open threes, attack the lane, punish mismatches, apply pressure on the rim, and never let the ball stick longer than it needs to. Their defense can be better, but the fact is can be better with Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby is all that matters heading into the business half of the season.

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Denver Nuggets (+1400) at FanDuel

• Head Coach: Michael Malone

• Key Player: Nikola Jokic

• Player to Watch: Michael Porter Jr.

Nikola Jokic’s offensive brilliance is carrying the team to a certain extent, although Russell Westbrook has been extremely impactful as a starter. The Nuggets struggle when they’re asked to sustain their defense across multiple possessions and don’t win the rebounding battle, but they always have the ace in the hole of having the best player in the world on their roster. In addition, none of the other top teams in the West have a center who can regularly trouble him.

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2025 NBA Finals Dark Horse Picks

Los Angeles Lakers (+1900) at FanDuel

If you haven’t paid attention to the Lakers—the team that posted the fifth-best net rating in the league since the turn of the year—consider this a signal to start. They won 10 of their last 12 at the time of writing and are playing at an extremely high level on both ends, and they’re about to integrate Luka Doncic and Mark Williams into their lineup. If they’re hitting their perimeter shots, they are going to be a nightmare to try to keep pace with. 

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Who Won the 2024 NBA Championship?

The Boston Celtics won the 2024 NBA Finals over the Dallas Mavericks 4-1. The C’s did not lose more than one game in any of their playoff series and brought back their entire starting five, along with important bench contributors such as Payton Pritchard and Sam Hauser. 

The title was Boston’s first since 2008 and broke a tie with the Los Angeles Lakers for the most championships in NBA history.

Who Won the 2024 NBA Finals MVP?

Jaylen Brown was named the NBA Finals MVP after he averaged 20.8 points, 5.4 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 1.6 steals on 44 percent field goal shooting. Brown received seven of 11 first-place votes, while Jayson Tatum (22.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, 7.2 assists) received four.

Which NBA Teams Have Not Won the Finals?

10 of the NBA’s 30 franchises never won an NBA Finals trophy. The list of teams includes the following:

• Brooklyn Nets

• Charlotte Hornets

• Indiana Pacers

• Los Angeles Clippers

• Memphis Grizzlies

• Minnesota Timberwolves

• New Orleans Pelicans

• Orlando Magic

• Phoenix Suns

• Utah Jazz