With the last quarter of the season upon us after the All-Star Break, the Phoenix Suns are the betting favorite at the top of the NBA futures board to win the 2022 NBA championship at +400 odds.
DraftKings updated their 2022 NBA championship odds, and the Golden State Warriors are right behind the Suns at +425 to win the title.
| NBA FUTURES: 2022 CHAMPIONSHIP ODDS |
- Phoenix Suns +400
- Golden State Warriors +425
- Brooklyn Nets +475
- Philadelphia 76ers +700
- Milwaukee Bucks +700
- Miami Heat +1000
- Utah Jazz +1700
- Boston Celtics +2500
- Memphis Grizzlies +2500
- Chicago Bulls +3000
- Denver Nuggets +3500
- Dallas Mavericks +4000
- LA Lakers +4500
- Cleveland Cavs +3500
- LA Clippers +6000
- Toronto Raptors +10000
- Atlanta Hawks +13000
- Minnesota Timberwolves +15000
- Charlotte Hornets +20000
- New Orleans Pelicans +50000
The Brooklyn Nets were the championship favorite for most of the season up until the big trade with the Philadelphia 76ers. The Nets traded away James Harden for Ben Simmons, and the Nets saw their title odds drop to +475. After the 76ers acquired James Harden, they saw their odds bump to +700.
East: Wide Open
Only seven games separate the top seed from the #8 seed in the Eastern Conference playoff sprint. The Miami Heat and Chicago Bulls have an identical record of 38-21 and they’re jockeying for the #1 seed. The Philadelphia 76ers (35-23) are clustered with two other teams that are 2.5 games off the lead. That includes the Cleveland Cavs (35-23) and defending champion Milwaukee Bucks (36-24). The Boston Celtics (34-26) and Toronto Raptors (32-35) are in the next tier, but only a couple games ahead of the Nets.
The Bulls were in the top slot in the Eastern Conference for most of the first half of the season thanks to a heck of a season from DeMar DeRozan. Bettors and bookies were not so keen on the Bulls, despite the fact they weathered injuries to key players and had one of the worst COVID outbreaks in the league. They probably deserve a little bit better than +3000 odds, but the money has spoken.
The Miami Heat saw their odds tick up to +1000. You really don’t want to face Jimmy Butler and Erik Spoelstra in the playoffs.
The Milwaukee Bucks shook off a championship hangover earlier in the season and have been steady in the second half of the season. They’re not ready to relinquish their title so easy, which is why the Bucks are +700 odds.
West: Coin Flip
In the Western Conference, seven games separate the top two teams unlike the top eight in the Eastern Conference. The Phoenix Suns (48-10) are the best team in the NBA this season. They opened an impressive 6.5-game lead over the Golden State Warriors in second place. However, the Suns will be tested in their last 24 games of the regular season. They lost Chris Paul to a fractured thumb, but expect him back in time for the postseason. The Suns spun it in a positive way; CP3 is on the older side and the time off will allow him to rest up for a deep postseason run.
The Golden State Warriors held down the #2 seed without Draymond Green in the lineup the last 20 or so games. He’s expected to miss another month of action. The Warriors just need him healthy for the postseason. By that time, Klay Thompson will be back to his old form. In the meantime, Steph Curry might’ve broke out of his shooting slump after winning the MVP at the All-Star Game with 30 points and 16 3-pointers.
The Suns at +400 odds and the Warriors at +425 odds are the top two teams on the NBA futures board, and they’ve been the top two teams since the start of 2022. Several insiders think whomever wins the Western Conference will go on to win the championship, so it’s a coin flip between the Suns and Warriors.