NBA Champion Odds: Spurs, Thunder Favored in Early 2027 Title Battle
The Thunder and Spurs enter the 2026-27 NBA season as championship favorites after battling in last year's Western Conference Finals, while the 76ers have emerged as a major contender following a blockbuster offseason. Can the defending champion Knicks repeat, or will Philadelphia's new superteam shake up the title race? Check out the latest NBA Championship odds and contenders for the 2026-27 season.
Peter Alexis - October 22, 2026, 9:30 AM EDT
4 Minute ReadNBA Winner Odds: Can Anyone Stop OKC, Spurs in Title Race?
The Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs enter the new NBA season as the clear championship favorites, with both teams priced near +275. Oklahoma City finished with the league's best record last season, but San Antonio eliminated the Thunder in seven games before falling to the New York Knicks in the NBA Finals.
The Eastern Conference has undergone a significant transformation, highlighted by Philadelphia acquiring LeBron James and Jaylen Brown to join Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. Meanwhile, the defending champion Knicks return much of their championship roster, while Boston, Toronto and Miami are among the contenders entering the season with major changes.
2026-27 NBA Champion Odds
NBA Winner Odds Breakdown
Oklahoma City Thunder +275 Click here to get the best odds at DraftKings Sportsbook
Oklahoma City finished with an NBA-best 64-18 record last season before losing to San Antonio in seven games in the Western Conference Finals. The Thunder remain one of the league's deepest teams behind two-time defending MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren.
The offseason departures of Luguentz Dort, Aaron Wiggins and Isaiah Joe created some questions about the supporting rotation. However, Oklahoma City's young core remains intact, with Ajay Mitchell and Jared McCain positioned for larger contributions.
The Thunder opened the season with a convincing 116-104 victory over the Spurs, getting 32 points from Gilgeous-Alexander and 20 from McCain. After winning the 2025 championship and falling one series short of another Finals appearance in 2026, Oklahoma City remains the team to beat in the West.
San Antonio Spurs +280 Click here to get the best odds at DraftKings Sportsbook
San Antonio enjoyed a remarkable 2025-26 campaign, finishing 62-20 and reaching the NBA Finals before falling to New York in five games. Victor Wembanyama averaged 25.0 points, 11.5 rebounds and 3.1 blocks while establishing himself as the league's premier defensive force.
The Spurs added veteran Tobias Harris to a talented young group featuring De'Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper. Another year of development from their younger players should make San Antonio even more dangerous offensively.
However, the Spurs opened the new season with a 116-104 home loss to Oklahoma City, as Wembanyama struggled to find his shooting rhythm. The championship experience gained last spring could prove invaluable, but San Antonio must overcome a loaded Western Conference to return to the Finals.
Philadelphia 76ers +900 Click here to get the best odds at DraftKings Sportsbook
Philadelphia finished 45-37 last season before falling to New York in the Eastern Conference semifinals. The 76ers subsequently transformed their championship outlook by acquiring Jaylen Brown from Boston and signing LeBron James to join Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey.
The revamped roster features four established stars alongside promising young guard VJ Edgecombe, giving Philadelphia one of the most talented starting groups in basketball. However, managing Embiid's health and balancing offensive responsibilities will be important throughout the season.
The 76ers opened with a 106-100 victory over the defending champion Knicks, led by Maxey's 28 points, Brown's 19 and James' 14. Philadelphia's championship odds have shortened dramatically following its offseason moves, with the team now positioned as one of the leading Eastern Conference contenders.
New York Knicks +1000 Click here to get the best odds at DraftKings Sportsbook
The Knicks captured their first NBA championship since 1973 last season, finishing 53-29 before defeating San Antonio in five games in the Finals. Jalen Brunson earned Finals MVP honors after averaging 32.6 points in the championship series.
New York retained nearly its entire championship rotation, including Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby and Josh Hart. Veteran Andre Drummond replaces Mitchell Robinson, who departed for Boston, creating a potential adjustment defensively.
The Knicks opened their title defense with a 106-100 loss to Philadelphia despite 21 points from Brunson and a double-double from Towns. New York's continuity remains a significant advantage, although the strengthened Eastern Conference makes another championship run increasingly difficult.
Boston Celtics +1800 Click here to get the best odds at DraftKings Sportsbook
Boston finished 56-26 last season despite Jayson Tatum missing most of the regular season while recovering from his Achilles injury. The Celtics subsequently suffered a disappointing first-round playoff elimination against Philadelphia.
The biggest offseason development was the departure of Jaylen Brown, who was traded to the 76ers for Paul George and draft compensation. Boston also added Mitchell Robinson and veteran Mike Conley, reshaping its supporting cast around Tatum.
George delivered an impressive 38-point debut in Tuesday's 121-113 loss to Detroit, although Tatum struggled with 13 points on 6-of-23 shooting. If Tatum returns to his previous All-NBA form and George remains productive, Boston has the experience and defensive foundation to compete for another championship.
Toronto Raptors +2500 Click here to get the best odds at DraftKings Sportsbook
Toronto finished 46-36 last season, securing the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference before losing in the first round of the playoffs. Scottie Barnes continued developing into an All-Star-caliber centerpiece, helping the Raptors establish one of the conference's stronger defensive units.
The Raptors made a major offseason splash by reacquiring Kawhi Leonard from the Clippers, sending Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick and draft assets to Los Angeles. Leonard averaged 27.9 points last season and returns to the franchise he led to the 2019 championship.
Leonard's arrival gives Toronto a proven postseason scorer alongside Barnes, RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley. His health and the team's ability to maintain its defensive identity will determine whether the Raptors can emerge as a legitimate Eastern Conference contender.
Minnesota Timberwolves +2500 Click here to get the best odds at DraftKings Sportsbook
Minnesota finished 49-33 last season before falling in the Western Conference semifinals, ending its streak of consecutive conference finals appearances. Anthony Edwards averaged a career-high 28.8 points while continuing his development into one of the league's most explosive scorers.
The Timberwolves reshaped their roster by acquiring LaMelo Ball and Jonathan Kuminga while parting ways with Julius Randle and Naz Reid. Ball gives Minnesota another elite playmaker, although the changes leave the frontcourt thinner around Rudy Gobert.
The Edwards-Ball partnership offers significant offensive upside, particularly with Ball taking on additional ball-handling responsibilities. However, Minnesota's championship chances will depend on maintaining its defensive identity and finding consistent production from its reworked frontcourt.
Denver Nuggets +2800 Click here to get the best odds at DraftKings Sportsbook
Denver finished 54-28 last season but suffered another disappointing early playoff exit, falling in the first round. Nikola Jokic averaged 27.7 points, 12.9 rebounds and 10.7 assists, while Jamal Murray produced a career-high 25.4 points per game.
The Nuggets added veteran scorer DeMar DeRozan during the offseason, providing another offensive weapon alongside Jokic, Murray and Aaron Gordon. However, losing Peyton Watson, Bruce Brown and Tim Hardaway Jr. creates questions about the team's defensive depth.
Denver remains capable of producing one of the NBA's most efficient offenses whenever Jokic is on the floor. At +2800, the Nuggets have a more attractive price than several other Western Conference contenders, although their defense must improve considerably to support another championship run.
Detroit Pistons +3000 Click here to get the best odds at DraftKings Sportsbook
Detroit emerged as one of the NBA's biggest surprises last season, finishing 60-22 and securing the Eastern Conference's top seed. Cade Cunningham led the Pistons' resurgence, although their playoff run ended with a Game 7 loss to Cleveland in the conference semifinals.
The Pistons added John Collins, Isaiah Joe and Taurean Prince during the offseason while losing Tobias Harris, Isaiah Stewart and Caris LeVert. Joe's perimeter shooting addresses a major weakness for a team that ranked near the bottom of the NBA in three-point production.
Detroit opened with a 121-113 comeback victory over Boston, getting 22 points apiece from Cunningham and Jalen Duren. After establishing itself as a regular-season powerhouse, the next challenge is translating that success into a deeper postseason run.
Cleveland Cavaliers +3000 Click here to get the best odds at DraftKings Sportsbook
Cleveland finished 52-30 last season and reached the Eastern Conference Finals before being swept by the eventual champion Knicks. Donovan Mitchell remained the team's primary scoring option, while James Harden helped elevate the Cavaliers' offensive playmaking.
The Cavaliers retained their core of Mitchell, Harden, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen while adding versatile forward Peyton Watson. Cleveland's front office has prioritized continuity, banking on improved chemistry and another developmental step from Mobley.
Despite reaching the conference finals, Cleveland enters the season behind several Eastern Conference rivals in championship betting. The Cavaliers have enough talent to contend, but improving their consistency against elite opponents remains essential.
Miami Heat +3000 Click here to get the best odds at DraftKings Sportsbook
Miami finished 43-39 last season and failed to advance beyond the play-in tournament, creating pressure for a significant roster overhaul. The Heat responded with one of the offseason's biggest moves, acquiring two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo from Milwaukee.
Miami also added Bobby Portis, Klay Thompson and Tim Hardaway Jr., surrounding Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo with additional shooting and veteran experience. The new frontcourt combination offers tremendous defensive versatility, although spacing could become a concern when both stars share the floor.
Antetokounmpo's arrival immediately transforms Miami's ceiling and gives Erik Spoelstra a legitimate superstar capable of leading a championship run. At +3000, the Heat represent an intriguing longer-priced contender if their revamped roster develops chemistry and stays healthy.
NBA ODDS
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