NCAAB
Spread

NBA Champion Predictions 2021-2022 | Betting Picks & Odds For NBA Finals Winner

Last Updated: Mar 9, 2022

The 2020-21 NBA season is officially a wrap. A hearty congratulations to Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks, who overcame a 2-0 deficit in the 2021 NBA Finals and defeated the Phoenix Suns to win their first NBA title in 50 years. But this is the league that never sleeps, which means it’s time to start looking ahead to the 2021-22 season and taking a stab at next year’s batch of title contenders.

With that said, let’s take a look at which teams are currently leading the pack to take home the Larry O’Brien trophy in 2022.

Sportsbook Play of the Day

Before making your next NBA futures bet, you should know that BetMGM Sportsbook is one of the best around, offering tons of promotions and a fantastic $1,000 risk-free welcome bonus to new signups using promo code .

Read Anthony Cervino’s BetMGM Sportsbook review for more insight and get your welcome bonus below, or continue reading this analysis.


NBA Champion 2021-2022 Odds

  • Brooklyn Nets (+225)
  • Milwaukee Bucks (+800)
  • Phoenix Suns (+1400)
  • Philadelphia 76ers (+1600)
  • Los Angeles Clippers (+1800)
  • Denver Nuggets (+2000)
  • Dallas Mavericks (+3000)
  • Atlanta Hawks & Miami Heat (+3500)
  • Boston Celtics & Portland Trail Blazers (+4000)
  • New York Knicks (+8000)
  • Indiana Pacers & Toronto Raptors (+10000)
  • Chicago Bulls & New Orleans Pelicans (+12500)
  • Memphis Grizzlies & Washington Wizards (+15000)
  • Charlotte Hornets (+20000)
  • Minnesota Timberwolves, Sacramento Kings, & San Antonio Spurs (+25000)

NBA Champion 2021-2022: Forecasting 2021 NBA Draft & Free Agency

The 2021 NBA Draft is up next on the agenda, taking place on Thursday, July 29. The Pistons have the No. 1 overall pick, which they’ll likely use to select Oklahoma State product Cade Cunningham. The 19-year-old phenom has the makings of a generational talent with his massive 6-foot-8 frame and stellar playmaking ability.

Outside of Cunningham, other top prospects to watch include Jalen Green, Evan Mobley, Jalen Suggs, and Jonathan Kuminga, all of whom will make an immediate impact for their respective teams. This year’s draft class looks especially deep, meaning there will still be some talented players on the board near the end of the first round.

The 2021 free-agent class is full of high-level players as well, including Kawhi Leonard, Chris Paul, Mike Conley, Kyle Lowry, and John Collins. While Leonard, Paul, and Conley are all expected to re-sign with their respective teams, the same can’t necessarily be said of Lowry and Collins. The Knicks and Heat are among those expected to be big players in free agency, so look for them to be aggressive in their pursuit of some of the bigger targets on the market.

The list of notable free agents doesn’t end there, though. Victor Oladipo, Jarrett Allen, DeMar DeRozan, Spencer Dinwiddie, Norman Powell, and Tim Hardaway Jr. could all end up with new teams this offseason, and each has the potential to raise a team’s ceiling. The same goes for Lonzo Ball, Lauri Markkanen, and Devonte’ Graham, who would benefit from a change of scenery.

In addition to the Knicks and Heat, expect the Spurs, Thunder, Mavericks, and Raptors to be among the top spenders this offseason.


NBA Champion 2021-2022: Sleeper Teams

Los Angeles Clippers (+1800)

With Leonard expected to miss most of next season as he recovers from knee surgery, the Clippers will be relying on a talented group led by Paul George, who averaged 29.6 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 5.6 assists per game following Leonard’s injury in the postseason. Los Angeles also has to hope it can retain unrestricted free agents Nicolas Batum and Reggie Jackson, who both played major roles for them in the playoffs.

Ultimately though, this pick depends on Leonard’s health. The Clippers finished off the Jazz and took two games from the Suns without him, but if he misses a majority of the regular season their playoff seeding will suffer. If he returns sooner rather than later, however, Los Angeles will be firmly in the mix for the title.

Denver Nuggets (+2000)

Had it not been for a late-season ACL injury that kept Jamal Murray sidelined for the postseason, Denver would have been legitimate title contenders this year. Led by 2020-21 MVP Nikola Jokić, the Nuggets sat near the top of the Western Conference standings all season long and appeared bound for a second consecutive Western Conference Finals appearance. Injuries to Murray and key rotation piece Will Barton ultimately kept them from achieving that goal, however.

Barton will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason after declining his player option, and JaMychal Green, Paul Millsap, JaVale McGee, and Austin Rivers could all depart as well. However, Denver’s core of Jokić, Murray, Aaron Gordon, and rising star Michael Porter Jr. are all locked down for the immediate future, giving the front office an excellent nucleus to build around.

Atlanta Hawks (+3500)

Atlanta turned a lot of heads this postseason by upsetting both the Knicks and 76ers on their way to the Eastern Conference Finals. While they were unable to get past the Bucks, the Hawks proved they have a solid foundation to build on heading into 2022.

Everything starts and ends with Trae Young, a 22-year-old phenom who averaged 28.8 points and 9.5 assists per game in his first postseason run. Beyond Young, Atlanta’s relatively youthful core consists of Bogdan Boganović, Clint Capela, De’Andre Hunter, Kevin Huerter, and Cam Reddish, not to mention a savvy group of veterans headlined by Danilo Gallinari and Lou Williams.

Even if 2022 isn’t the year for the Hawks, bank on them contending for years to come, especially if they re-sign Collins to a long-term contract this summer. Atlanta proved a lot of people wrong this postseason, so underestimate them at your own peril.


NBA Champion 2021-2022: Prediction

Brooklyn Nets (+225)

The Nets were inches away from knocking off the eventual NBA champions in the second round. Had Kevin Durant squared up even a smidge farther from the basket in the final seconds of Game 7, his game-tying jumper would have been a series-clincher. But alas, Durant sent the game to overtime, where Milwaukee prevailed.

Of course, Brooklyn might have avoided that situation altogether had James Harden and Kyrie Irving been fully healthy during the postseason. At full strength, the Nets’ talent is unmatched. They’re heavy favorites for a reason, as they remain well-positioned to win a title in 2022.

Of course, the front office will have some decisions to make this offseason. Dinwiddie, Bruce Brown, Jeff Green, and Blake Griffin are all slated to become unrestricted free agents, and Brooklyn doesn’t have the spending power to bring them all back. When you’re starting with Durant, Harden, and Irving, though, your roster is already in pretty good shape.

Author

Garrett Chorpenning

Garrett Chorpenning is the Lead NBA Editor for The Game Day. His previous work includes covering the LA Clippers for Sports Illustrated and FanSided. He graduated from Ball State University in 2021.

Related articles

Promotions

Get $1,500 in Bonus Bets

5 stars

Bet $5 & Get $150 in Bonus Bets or First Bet Safety Net

5 stars

Bet $5, Get $150 in Bonus Bets

5 stars

Get A Bonus Bet Up to $1,000

5 stars

Get $200 in Bonus Bets

5 stars

Get up to $250 2nd Chance Free Bet

5 stars

If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, please call 1-800-GAMBLER.

21+ and present in OH. Gambling Problem? Call or text 1-800-GAMBLER (CO, DC, IL, IN, LA, MD, MS, NJ, OH, PA, TN, VA, WV, WY).

Call 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY).

Please Gamble Responsibly. Call 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (KS, NV), 1-800-327-5050 (MA), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-270-7117 for confidential help (MI).

All betting content on TheGameDay.com is exclusively intended for audience members 21 years and older who are permitted to gamble in legal states. The Game Day may earn revenue from site visitor referrals to betting services.

Responsible Gaming: Many sportsbooks offer ways to encourage responsible gaming, including the establishment of limits to deposits, spending, and time dedicated to betting.

The Game Day is a TGD Marketing Ltd. endeavor.