NBA championship and Finals MVP odds: Lakers 35-1 to win title; Wembanyama's odds lengthen

The Los Angeles Lakers entered the 2026 playoffs as 150-1 long shots to win the NBA Finals after a dismal end to the regular season, as well as key injuries to leading scorers Luka Doncic (left hamstring) and Austin Reaves (oblique). However, LeBron James& Co. willed the Lakers to two victories to open their first-round series against the Houston Rockets, vaulting them to 35-1 for the title. The Rockets fell to 300-1 after entering the postseason around 60-1.

Los Angeles was 12-1 to win the 2026 Finals at its peak and is one of the largest liabilities across the sportsbook marketplace, with BetMGM, Caesars and DraftKings all reporting significant action backing the 17-time champions. The Lakers could see their odds shorten further if Doncic or Reaves is able to return, with the latter reportedly a possibility by the end of the first round.

At the top of the odds board, the Oklahoma City Thunder achieved odds-on status after their Game 1 thrashing of the Phoenix Suns. After going up 2-0 in the series on Wednesday, they are -125 for the title. Just behind them, the championship odds for theBoston Celtics and San Antonio Spurs both lengthened from +550 to +650 following Game 2 losses to the Philadelphia 76ers and Portland Trail Blazers, respectively. San Antonio had entered the playoffs at +500 and as a serious sportsbook liability, so bettors will be monitoring the concussion suffered by superstar Victor Wembanyama, whose Finals MVP odds lengthened from +550 to +700.

Elsewhere, the Denver Nuggets saw their title odds lengthen to 11-1 from +900 before the playoffs after dropping Game 2 against the Minnesota Timberwolves, who were 100-1 entering the fray, 150-1 after losing Game 1, and are 90-1 approaching Game 3. The Cleveland Cavaliers' odds (14-1) have improved slightly since the beginning of the postseason, but the New York Knicks (22-1) and Detroit Pistons (25-1) saw their odds lengthen after disappointing starts.

Odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook and are as of publication.

2025-26 NBA championship odds

Finals MVP odds leaderboard entering Round 1

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Thunder -115

Victor Wembanyama, Spurs +700

Jayson Tatum, Celtics 12-1

Nikola Jokic, Nuggets 12-1

Jaylen Brown, Celtics 14-1

Jalen Brunson, Knicks 25-1

Donovan Mitchell, Cavaliers 25-1

Cade Cunningham, Pistons 28-1

Jalen Williams, Thunder 35-1

Chet Holmgren, Thunder 35-1

James Harden, Cavaliers 45-1

Jamal Murray, Nuggets 60-1

Jalen Duren, Pistons 90-1

Luka Doncic, Lakers 100-1

Karl-Anthony Towns, Knicks 100-1

De'Aaron Fox, Spurs 100-1

Stephon Castle, Spurs 100-1

LeBron James, Lakers 120-1

Evan Mobley, Cavaliers 120-1

Anthony Edwards, Timberwolves 140-1

Derrick White, Celtics 150-1

Jalen Johnson, Hawks 180-1

Tyrese Maxey, 76ers 200-1

Kevin Durant, Rockets 250-1

Payton Pritchard, Celtics 250-1

Julius Randle, Timberwolves 300-1

Joel Embiid, 76ers 300-1

Jarrett Allen, Cavaliers 300-1

Austin Reaves, Lakers 300-1

Alperen Sengun, Rockets 300-1

Aaron Gordon, Nuggets 300-1

Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Hawks 300-1

Ausar Thompson, Pistons 350-1

Mikal Bridges, Knicks 500-1

Josh Hart, Knicks 500-1

Deni Avdija, Blazers 500-1

Amen Thompson, Rockets 500-1

OG Anunoby, Knicks 500-1

Paolo Banchero, Magic 600-1

Rudy Gobert, Timberwolves 700-1

Desmond Bane, Magic 800-1

Scottie Barnes, Raptors 800-1

CJ McCollum, Hawks 800-1

RJ Barrett, Raptors 1000-1

Paul George, 76ers 1000-1

VJ Edgecombe, 76ers 1000-1

Dyson Daniels, Hawks 1500-1

Brandon Ingram, Raptors 1500-1

Franz Wagner, Magic 2000-1

Devin Booker, Suns 2000-1

Jabari Smith Jr., Rockets 2000-1

Dillon Brooks, Suns 3000-1

Jalen Green, Suns 3000-1

Immanuel Quickley, Raptors 3000-1