The Boston Celtics took home the franchise’s 18th championship last season. It was a dominant run as they went 16-3 in the 2024 playoffs. With the 2024-25 season rapidly approaching, let’s put each NBA team into tiers by their championship odds for the 2024-25 season. Odds are taken from DraftKings Sportsbook and are as of September 5.
2024-25 NBA Championship Odds
Tier 1: Favorite To Repeat
- Boston Celtics (+295)
Why wouldn’t Boston be in a tier on their own? They are coming off the franchise’s 18th championship in a season where they had the highest offensive rating in NBA history. Every key member from last season’s team remains.
Tier 2: Contenders To Dethrone Boston
- Oklahoma City Thunder (+700)
- Philadelphia 76ers (+850)
- New York Knicks (+900)
- Denver Nuggets (+950)
- Minnesota Timberwolves (+1000)
- Dallas Mavericks (+1000)
- Milwaukee Bucks (+1300)
The Thunder, a team with much youth, was the surprise top seed in the Western Conference last season. They have added Isaiah Hartenstein and Alex Caruso to go along with the core of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren.
Other teams in this tier, such as the 76ers (Paul George), Knicks (Mikal Bridges), and Mavericks (Klay Thompson), made a noteworthy addition in the offseason.
Tier 3: Veteran Superstars Hoping For One More Championship Opportunity
- Los Angeles Lakers (+3000)
- Golden State Warriors (+3500)
- Phoenix Suns (+3500)
LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant are far closer to the end of their career than the beginning. The trio has combined for 10 championships, and each would love to add to their total. All three also play in a stacked Western Conference, where it surely won’t be easy (and they aren’t expected) to do so.
Tier 4: Hopeful To Avoid Play-In
- Memphis Grizzlies (+4000)
- Miami Heat (+4500)
- New Orleans Pelicans (+5500)
- Cleveland Cavaliers (+6000)
- Indiana Pacers (+6000)
- Orlando Magic (+6500)
- Sacramento Kings (+7500)
- Los Angeles Clippers (+8000)
A lot of interesting teams fall into this tier. Memphis will be getting back Ja Morant, and they were the second seed in the West in both 2021-22 and 2022-23. The Pacers reached the Eastern Conference Finals last season. A healthy Jimmy Butler has led Miami to surprise NBA Finals appearances before.
Tier 5: Play-In Tournament Sounds Nice
- San Antonio Spurs (+15000)
- Houston Rockets (+15000)
The Rockets are clearly an ascending young team that finished .500 last season. The Spurs added veteran leadership in Chris Paul and Harrison Barnes to team up with wunderkind Victor Wembanyama. In a loaded West, it would seem like a victory for both teams to at least reach the Play-In Tournament, with Houston perhaps being the more likely of the two to do so.
Tier 6: Cooper Flagg Sweepstakes?
- Atlanta Hawks (+60000)
- Washington Wizards (+100000)
- Utah Jazz (+100000)
- Toronto Raptors (+100000)
- Portland Trail Blazers (+100000)
- Detroit Pistons (+100000)
- Chicago Bulls (+100000)
- Charlotte Hornets (+100000)
- Brooklyn Nets (+100000)
Nine teams in this tier are complete long shots to win the Larry O’Brien Trophy. While an NBA Finals victory in 2025 will be the shocker of all shockers for any of them, these teams will likely have all eyes on the 2025 NBA Draft Lottery. Winning the lottery and getting the first pick will allow that team to take prohibitive 2025 first-overall selection favorite Cooper Flagg with their selection. Others such as Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper could also be in the running, or excellent consolation prizes for those teams that don’t select first.
