2021-22 NBA Championship Futures Update
Heading into Christmas, the Brooklyn Nets remain heavy favorites in the 2021-22 NBA championship futures odds.
At Bovada Sportsbook, the Nets are +250 on the NBA futures board. That puts them well ahead of the Golden State Warriors in second at +600 and the Milwaukee Bucks in third at +700.
Nets maintain top spot in odds to win NBA championship
Brooklyn owns the best record in the Eastern Conference even though the unvaccinated Kyrie Irving has yet to play a game this season. Kevin Durant, James Harden and a rejuvenated LaMarcus Aldridge have carried the load for Brooklyn so far.
There have been reports this week that the Nets may start allowing Irving to play in road games where he is eligible. That would add another weapon to Brooklyn’s arsenal, especially in the playoffs.
The Warriors have had a massive turnaround this season. After bowing out in the play-in tournament last year, Golden State has the second-best record in the NBA behind the sharpshooting of Stephen Curry.
Warriors poised to welcome Thompson back to lineup
Like the Nets, the Warriors are also expecting some reinforcements with Klay Thompson due back sometime in the new year. It’s also worth noting that in the lone meeting this season between Golden State and Brooklyn, the Warriors defeated the Nets 117-99 as a 2.5-point underdog.
The Bucks, the defending NBA champions, will likely once again go as far as Giannis Antetokounmpo can take them. Right now, they own the third-best record in the East but beat Brooklyn in their only matchup so far this season. The teams will square off again on January 7.
Rounding out the top five as the only other teams with triple-digit odds in NBA championship futures are the Phoenix Suns at +800 and the Utah Jazz at +900.
NBA-leading Suns fourth on championship oddsboard
The Suns own the NBA’s best record and posted 18 straight wins after starting the season 1-3. Right now, they have only five losses on the season, although one of the losses came against the Warriors, whom they may run into in the playoffs later this season.
The Jazz are third in the West behind Golden State and Phoenix. Utah has hit a little rough patch lately, losing two of its last three games. The Jazz haven’t faced Brooklyn, Golden State or Phoenix yet this season, but that’ll change on New Year’s Day when they host the Warriors.
If you’re looking for a value bet on the futures, it may be the Chicago Bulls at +3000. Chicago is second in the East and has its own pretty fearsome foursome in DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine, Nikola Vucevic and Lonzo Ball. The Bulls have two wins over the Nets this season and will face Brooklyn again on January 12.
The odds on a few other notable teams include the Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat, both at +1200, the Philadelphia 76ers at +2200 and the Los Angeles Clippers at +2500.