The Oklahoma City Thunder were crowned the 2025 NBA champions in June. Since then, numerous changes have led up to the tip-off of the season, and significant moves across each conference have shaken up the top of the title race.
With the beginning of the 2025-26 NBA season just a few days away, we’re sifting through the aftermath and uncovering the best picks you can make today for the 2026 NBA Finals.
NBA lines for these 2026 NBA Finals winner picks are courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook and current as of Saturday, Oct. 18.
2026 NBA Finals Betting Odds
- Oklahoma City Thunder (+245)
- Denver Nuggets (+600)
- Cleveland Cavaliers (+750)
- New York Knicks (+900)
- Houston Rockets (+1100)
- Los Angeles Lakers (+1400)
- Minnesota Timberwolves (+1400)
- Golden State Warriors (+1800)
- Orlando Magic (+2200)
- Dallas Mavericks (+2500)
- Los Angeles Clippers (+2800)
- Philadelphia 76ers (+3000)
All other NBA Finals contenders have odds of (+4000) or longer.
Use our top NBA playoff betting apps to make these wagers.
Who Will Win the 2026 NBA Finals?
Orlando Magic (+2200)
For my 2025-26 NBA championship pick, I’m going to go bold and take the Magic.
Last season, the team went 41-41 in Jamahl Mosley’s fourth season as head coach. They made the playoffs, but the injuries proved to be too much. The year before that, they were 47-35.
Now, Mosley is the favorite for the NBA Coach of the Year award, and while this is a young Magic team, the talent is undeniable.
They re-signed Paolo Banchero and Moe Wagner, traded for Desmond Bane and Ty Jones, and drafted Jase Richardson and Noah Penda.
On top of that, they have Jalen Suggs and Franz Wagner.
So, they’ll have a starting five of Suggs, Bane, Franz Wagner, Banchero, and Wendell Carter Jr.
That’s an incredible starting group. Of them, Banchero and Franz averaged north of 24 points per game, and Bane is coming off averaging 19.2 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game.
Of course, health is an absolute must, but I wouldn’t be shocked to see the Magic as the No. 1 or No. 2 seed in the East this season. The value is there to make this my NBA bet of the day.
NBA Finals Favorites
Oklahoma City Thunder (+245)
It’s hard to deny the Thunder. They were absolutely dominant last season, going 68-14 in the regular season, sweeping the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round, beating the Nuggets in seven games, taking down the Minnesota Timberwolves in five games in the Western Conference Finals, and finally, taking down the Indiana Pacers in seven games to win the title.
It’s essentially the same team as last year. They lost Dillon Jones, but drafted Thomas Sorber and Brooks Barnhizer.
They’ll also have another season of Jalen Williams developing into a superstar mold.
I’ll be looking to see if they keep up their defensive prowess, but this is a team poised for more success.
Denver Nuggets (+600)
The Nuggets took the Thunder to seven games, and considering they fired their head coach just days before the playoffs, it’s even more impressive.
The team brought in Bruce Brown, Tim Hardaway Jr., Cameron Johnson, and Jonas Valančiūnas, while losing Vlatko Čančar, Michael Porter Jr., Dario Šarić, and Russell Westbrook.
Johnson is coming off a season in which he averaged 18.8 points per game and nearly 40% from beyond the arc.
I’m also looking forward to seeing how Christian Braun progresses.
Denver will be another top contender under David Adelman this season.
NBA Finals Contenders
Cleveland Cavaliers (+750)
The Cavaliers had a fantastic regular season last year, going 64-18 and were the No. 1 seed in the East. Unfortunately, though, they dealt with injuries and were bounced in the Conference Semifinals.
Now, they head into this season with new additions like Lonzo Ball, Thomas Bryant, Larry Nance Jr., and draft picks headed up by Tyrese Proctor.
They did lose Javonte Green, Ty Jerome, Chuma Okeke, and Isaac Okoro, but still have their core of Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell, De’Andre Hunter, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen.
Garland is still recovering from surgery on his big toe.
Still, they’ll be a competitive team in the East once again so long as health stays on their side.
New York Knicks (+900)
The Knicks have retained their core while adding Jordan Clarkson and Guerschon Yabusele. They also took Mohamed Diawara in the second round of the NBA Draft.
The biggest change they made was moving on from Tom Thibodeau, who led them to the Eastern Conference Finals last year. Replacing him is Mike Brown.
This season, the thing to monitor with the Knicks is their depth. Sure, they have Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, and Karl-Anthony Towns, but after that, will they get some solid production from their bench?
That remains to be seen.
NBA Finals Sleepers
Houston Rockets (+1100)
The Rockets made one of the biggest offseason splashes, bringing in 37-year-old future Hall of Famer Kevin Durant. Along with him, they brought in Clint Capela, Dorian Finney-Smith, and Josh Okogie.
It’s going to be quite a spectacle to see Durant mesh with a young team consisting of Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith Jr., and Alperen Sengun.
This season, Thompson needs to be the guy who steps up. In his second season, he took a massive step forward, averaging 14.1 points, 8.2 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.4 blocks per game. He also finished fifth in the Defensive Player of the Year voting.
If he can step more into that superstar mold and Durant stays healthy, the Rockets could be a feisty group this season.
Los Angeles Lakers (+1400)
DraftKings Sportsbook • WAGER: 0.25 Units
Finally, of course, we have the Lakers. We all know the deal: it’s Luka Dončić and LeBron James.
The team also added DeAndre Ayton, Jake LaRavia, and Marcus Smart.
Ayton brings a consistent double-double presence, and Smart is known for his defense.
Now, it’s really just up to seeing how James and Dončić mesh and if James, who’s now in his 40s, can hold up.
