The Pacific Division is shaping up to be one of the most competitive NBA divisions for the 2024-25 season. The division is the home of two of the last five NBA champions, the Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Lakers. However, those two teams aren’t even favored to win the division. Let’s dive into each team’s odds.
NBA Odds: Breaking Down the Favorites in the Pacific Division
Phoenix Suns: Pacific Division Favorites
According to FanDuel, the Suns enter the 2024-25 season as the betting favorites to win the Pacific Division with +175 odds. Coming off a 49-33 season last year, they fell short to the Los Angeles Clippers to win the division.
They have the offensive firepower, led by Olympic gold medal winners Devin Booker and Kevin Durant, but their inability to lock down opponents raises questions about their long-term success. The Suns will need to improve defensively to live up to their NBA betting prediction of winning the division. If you’re doing some NBA betting on the Finals, the Suns are +1600 to win the championship.
Devin Booker’s Olympic journey was magical 🔥
(Via @DevinBook / h/t @CGBBURNER )pic.twitter.com/m1r8XcUX3j
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) August 20, 2024
Sacramento Kings: Young and Hungry
The Kings are the youngest team in the division and had a 46-36 record last season. The Kings strengthened their roster by adding veteran forward DeMar DeRozan this offseason. They are +230 to win the division.
DeMar DeRozan said he considered the Lakers, Clippers, Heat, and Sixers before joining the Kings
(🎥 @PodcastPShow / h/t @TomerAzarly) pic.twitter.com/JL5gwVTHoX
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) September 10, 2024
While they’ve been historically inconsistent, their recent success shows they’re trending in the right direction and DeRozan brings a steadying veteran presence. They also still have De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis, young offensive stars. Like the Suns, they have some defensive questions.
Los Angeles Lakers: NBA Betting Mistake
The Lakers are not our pick to win the Pacific Division. Last year, the Lakers finished with a 47-35 record, just four games behind the division-leading Clippers, but LeBron James is one year older. The Lakers have been eliminated by the Nuggets in the last two playoffs, and they will have an uphill battle to reach the playoffs again this year.
LeBron played more games last year than he had since the 2017-18 season. He also just grabbed the MVP of the Paris 2024 Olympic Basketball Tournament. James will need a huge season from running mate Anthony Davis if the Lakers can cash their +500 NBA betting odds to win the division.
LeBron is the first men's basketball player to win an Olympic gold medal in 3 different decades 🤯 pic.twitter.com/c8n8OVOSHa
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) August 11, 2024
Golden State Warriors: What Does Steph Have Left?
The Warriors’ roster is in a precarious position. The front office is balancing the end of franchise superstar Stephen Curry’s hall-of-fame career, while also attempting to develop a skilled but raw young core. The NBA basketball betting lines have them as +500 to win the Pacific Division, and there could be some value there.
Curry showed during the 2024 Paris Olympics that he could carry a team to championship heights. They won’t have Klay Thompson next season but the Warriors are hoping Jonathan Kuminga and Brandin Podziemski, who are expected to take on more prominent roles, are ready to take significant steps forward. If Curry and Draymond Green still have some magic left, and the young players take the leap, they will have a decent shot to win the division.
“THE GOLDEN DAGGER!”
Steph Curry that is utterly ridiculous. 🤯#ParisOlympics | 📺 NBC and Peacock pic.twitter.com/8hIN8tgmfK
— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) August 10, 2024
Los Angeles Clippers: Expect a Step Back
The reigning division champions, the Los Angeles Clippers, come into the 2024-25 season as underdogs. Last season their 51-31 record was just enough to win the division. However, the Clippers lost key player Paul George to free agency, which has lowered expectations for the upcoming season.
The Clippers success likely hinges on Kawhi Leonard and James Harden playing more like it is 2016 than 2024. Both superstars still can dominate on any given night, but neither plays at a high level (or in Kawhi’s case plays at all) enough to lead this team back to the top of the division. Their NBA betting odds to win the Pacific Division are +900.
BREAKING: Free agent F Paul George has agreed on a four-year, $212 million maximum contract with the Philadelphia 76ers, sources tell ESPN. George committed in a meeting with Sixers officials and returns East to join Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey in pursuit of an NBA title. pic.twitter.com/pkCfGu3hyp
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2024
