As the 2024-25 NBA season gets underway, one thing remains constant amidst the flurry of roster shake-ups and budding rivalries: the Boston Celtics’ stranglehold on the oddsmakers’ favor. Despite valiant efforts by the New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers to bolster their squads over the summer, the defending champions maintain their perch as the consensus betting favorite to claim the Larry O’Brien Trophy next June.
Celtics’ Reign Continues in Betting Markets
For the third straight year, the Celtics enter the season as the odds-on favorite to win it all. Currently listed at +290 at ESPN BET, Boston boasts its shortest preseason title odds in this three-year span of dominance. The betting public appears to be in lockstep with the bookmakers, as reports from FanDuel indicate a whopping 43% of the money wagered on their NBA futures market has been placed on the green and white.
This show of confidence is not without historical precedent. In nine of the past 16 seasons, the preseason favorite has gone on to capture the championship. The Celtics, it seems, have both the oddsmakers and the trends on their side.
Contenders Nipping at Their Heels
While Boston may be the frontrunner, they’re far from the only horse in the race. The Oklahoma City Thunder (+675), New York Knicks (+700), and Philadelphia 76ers (+825) round out the top four in the oddsmakers’ esteem, each eager to unseat the reigning champs.
The Knicks, in particular, have seen their stock rise dramatically since acquiring star duo Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns. Once a +1800 longshot, New York’s odds have shortened to +700, drawing the second-most betting action at ESPN BET. As one bookmaker put it, “The Knicks are not a great result either.”
Sixers’ Historic Odds, Sleeping Giants Loom
Not to be outdone, the 76ers made waves of their own by landing veteran swingman Paul George, a move that catapulted their title odds from +1600 to +825—the shortest preseason odds the franchise has seen since 1986. But even as the top contenders jostle for position, a couple of slumbering giants lie in wait.
The Los Angeles Lakers (+3300) and Golden State Warriors (+4000), though not favored by the numbers, pose the greatest liability for many sportsbooks. As one oddsmaker explained, “With both being popular teams and at relatively high odds, it’s not surprising.”
At the opposite end of the spectrum lie the Brooklyn Nets, whose offseason turmoil has relegated them to 1000-1 longshots—a price at least one bettor found too tempting to pass up, placing a $750 wager at Caesars Sportsbook in June.
The Stage Is Set
As the season tips off, the landscape is rife with compelling storylines. Will the Celtics live up to expectations, or will a new contender emerge to seize the crown? Can the Knicks’ marquee additions vault them into the elite tier, or will the Sixers’ aggressive retooling prove the wiser gambit? Might the Lakers or Warriors flip the script on the oddsmakers entirely?
These questions, and many more, will be answered in the coming months. But for now, all eyes are fixed on Boston, the prohibitive favorite looking to extend its reign atop the NBA hierarchy. The chase is on, and if the early betting action is any indication, it promises to be nothing short of riveting.
