Who Is Favored in the NBA Finals?

A few teams have separated themselves from the chasing pack in the NBA rankings, becoming the clear cut 2024 NBA Finals favorites. Just 4 teams are coming in with +1700 or shorter odds, and they appear to be the legitimate title challengers in 2024. While an underdog could always defy the odds, these favorites are predicted to still be playing meaningful basketball as the playoffs heat up. The yearly question of ‘who will win the NBA Finals?’ is once again in the headlines, and there are several teams that will be confident that they will be the ones competing in the 2024 NBA Finals.

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Who is Most Likely to Win the NBA Finals in 2024?

Boston Celtics +230

The Celtics have emerged as the 2024 NBA Finals favorites, and are a stunning -110 to win the Eastern Conference. Boston made a run to the NBA Finals in 2022, falling short against the Golden State Warriors. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are in their respective primes, and with lockdown guard Jrue Holiday assisting at  the defensive end of the court, it’s tough to imagine anyone stepping in the way of the Celtics in the Eastern Conference. 

Boston is on track to secure home court advantage throughout the postseason, and with a 29-3 home record this season, they will be very confident they can defend their home court. They have offensive weapons, a reliable defense, and enough depth to survive 2 months of NBA playoffs. 

Denver Nuggets +370

The Nuggets won the NBA Finals last season, as Nikola Jokic finally added a championship ring to his mantle. Denver proved they have what it takes to dominate in the postseason as long as they stay healthy. Jokic’s ability to not only score the basketball, but also set up his teammates is why he’s the favorite to win his third regular season MVP award. There are plenty of capable shooters in Denver that can knock down open looks, and the big man has the skill to find them when it matters most. 

The Western Conference is brimming with contenders, so it’s hard to justify these odds with the Nuggets. It would be easy to predict a repeat title for the Nuggets, as they certainly have a roster capable of doing so. However, with so many other contenders with much better odds, there is no reason to go anywhere near Denver at this price. 

LA Clippers +500

The Clippers have a quartet of superstars, such as Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden, who all have had several All-Star appearances throughout their illustrious careers. While it’s hard to argue that the Clippers don’t deserve to be among the 2024 NBA title favorites, we haven’t seen them build the chemistry needed to go on a deep title run. In order to win an NBA championship, teams must have a balance of superstars and gritty role players who are willing to do whatever it takes to succeed. There is no shortage of superstars in LA, and as they continue to build up some grit, the Clippers will be legitimately challenging for the 2024 NBA championship. 

Milwaukee Bucks +720

The Bucks will always be ready to challenge for a title, and this is the longest odds we’ve gotten on them in several years. Giannis Antetokounmpo is a monster on both ends of the court, and with defensive coach Doc Rivers at the helm, the Bucks are legitimate threats to win the 2024 NBA Finals. The offensive injection the Bucks got with the arrival of Damian Lillard in the offseason has had them near the top of the NBA Finals favorites all season long, and after a shaky start to the season on the defensive end, Milwaukee appears to have turned things around. 

The decision to let Jrue Holiday go to the Boston Celtics may be one that comes back to bite them when they inevitably go toe-to-toe with Boston deep in the playoffs. The +720 odds are very tempting, and in an Eastern Conference with few other challengers aside from the Celtics, the Bucks hold great value to make a deep playoff run. 

Who Won the NBA Championship in 2023?

The 2023 NBA championship was contested between the Denver Nuggets and the Miami Heat. After splitting the first two games 1-1, the Denver Nuggets won 3 straight games to lift the Larry O’Brien trophy in 2023. The Denver Nuggets won the 2023 NBA championship with ease, dropping just a single game to the Miami Heat. 

Nikola Jokic won NBA Finals MVP and was the odds-on favorite to do so before the Finals got underway. Miami was the first 8 seed to reach the NBA Finals, and Denver was clearly the better team throughout the series. 

When is the NBA Finals Scheduled in 2024?

The 2024 NBA Finals will begin on June 6th and run until June 14th at the earliest, and June 23rd at the latest. This is the latest the Finals have been scheduled for several years, thanks to the introduction of the In-Season Tournament shifting the calendar back a couple weeks. 

Is the NBA Finals Every Year?

The NBA Finals take place every year, usually kicking off in early June. They have been held every single year since 1947,  and  the NBA Finals MVP award has been given out yearly since 1969. 

Of the 30 teams in the NBA, there have been 20 different winners dating back to 1947, with the 2023 Denver Nuggets and the 2019 Toronto Raptors being the two teams to most recently lift their first NBA title.  

2024 NBA Final Championship Odds

When Do the 2024 NBA Finals Start?

The 2024 NBA Finals start on June 6th, 2024, and will take place on the home-court of the higher remaining seed of the two NBA finalists.