The New York Knicks are NBA Champions! After decades of misery and underachievement, the Knicks climbed the NBA mountain and stand above the rest. The Champs claimed dominion over the San Antonio Spurs, mounting come-from-behind victories in four of the five games and securing their first Larry O’Brien Trophy in over 50 years.
Recency bias is always a factor at the conclusion of the season, and that’s particularly true in BetMGM’s latest NBA Championship odds board. Let’s recap how the Knicks got here and look ahead to the 2027 offerings!
Knicks Unexpected Domination
At the start of the NBA Finals, BetMGM was rooting for a Knicks win. The Spurs were the biggest remaining liability, and the hefty chalk to claim victory over their Eastern Conference counterparts. A few comeback wins and large wagers later, the sportsbook had reversed liability and was left rooting for the Spurs.
Previously, BetMGM had taken a $20,000 bet on New York to win it all, yielding a massive $440,000 payout. Despite the potential exposure, they were still comfortable opening the Knicks as +170 underdogs versus the Spurs. By Game 3, the script had flipped and New York was priced as the betting chalk.
Sharp and public bettors alike got a piece of the action, leaving BetMGM to lick it’s wounds by the end of the series.
Knicks 2027 Outlook
As is the case after most championship wins, bettors were quick to pounce on the Knicks to repeat as champions. New York opened at a mid-range +700, already attracting a big piece of the 2027 NBA Championship pie. So far, New York ranks first in ticket count, being written on 14.1% of the bets. Moreover, their 18.5% handle represents the second-highest share and accounts for some more large money wagers.
The Knicks deserve credit for their magical championship run; however, replicating that success in 2026-27 won’t come easily. They needed four come-from-behind wins to secure the title this year, and they will enter next season with an even bigger target on their collective backs.
Some bettors may see value now, but don’t expect the Knicks to sustain that success throughout the playoffs next year.
Thunder Rolling In
The Oklahoma City Thunder were dethroned by the Spurs in the Western Conference Finals. Still, their ongoing dominance is presumed in the futures market.
The once-removed champs opened as the betting favorite again, at a nearly identical price as last season. After their 2025 title, the Thunder were priced as +240 chalk to repeats as champions. While they came up short of their goal this season, they opened as +260 favorites.
That short price did nothing to deter betting action, with OKC already commanding the lion’s share of wagers. Their 11.5% ticket count is the third-highest mark in the league, whereas their 24.2% is the best in class by a wide margin and over double their ticket market share.
Relocked and reloaded, the Thunder will be ready to roll next season.
Spurs Back in the Saddle
The emergence of Victor Wembanyama has lended credence to the Spurs’ championship aspirations. So much so, San Antonio opened just behind the Thunder on BetMGM’s futures board.
This year’s NBA’s finalists are marginally behind OKC on the futures board, currently listed at +270. With a slightly superior 12.2% ticket count, the betting public has faith in San Antonio’s long-term outlook. While the Spurs’ 17.2% handle is weel short of the Thunder’s mark, it does indicate betting support from every realm of the market.
Hard lessons are learned in defeat, and the Spurs will be ready to climb back into the saddle in 2026-27.
Other Notable Contenders
The Knicks, Thunder, and Spurs are the premier contenders for next year’s NBA crown, but take note of these teams who are already commanding a notable presence in the futures market.
The Detroit Pistons had an unceremonious playoff exit, getting knocked out by the Cavaliers in Round 2. The Eastern Conference regular season champions are a distant +3300 dark horse to contend next season, earning the fourth-highest ticket count on the 2027 futures board.
Close behind the Pistons, sit the Denver Nuggets. While it’s been three years since they claimed their first title in franchise history, bettors are anticipating ongoing success for the Nuggets next season. They have accumulated a 9.2% ticket count, albeit with a slightly reduced 6.8% handle. At +2000, there’s value to be had on the Nuggets.
Finally, the Boston Celtics are still viewed as a championship contender. They opened with identical +700 odds as the champion Knicks, with considerably less of the market share. As it stands, the Celtics have a 7.2% ticket count which outpaces their 5.9% handle. While they suffered an untimely playoff exit this year, BetMGM is optimistic about the Celtics’ chances of avenging their loss with a deep run next season.
New to sports betting? First, explore our Introduction to Sports Betting. Then check out our recommendations at Flip The Switch for online sportsbooks, along with offers to get started. And if you’re not an avid sports fan, you can still find some fun and unusual bets to enjoy!
