NBA Finals Winner Specials Odds: Picks, Best Bets, and Analysis
By Sam Cox in NBA Basketball
Published:
- DraftKings is providing NBA Finals winner specials on the Conference of the winner, Division and State
- The Western Conference is narrowly favored over the East to produce the 2023 NBA champion
- Which NBA Finals winner specials provide the best value?Â
Among an array of NBA Finals futures markets, DraftKings is providing some NBA odds specials on the 2022-23 champion. Instead of backing a specific team or Finals matchup, these markets look at the Conference, Division or State of the 2023 NBA Champion.
This is a way to place a wager on NBA championship odds even if none of the individual teams are appealing at their current price. Grouping teams geographically opens up more options.
For instance, if you’re convinced the Clippers and Warriors are the two best teams heading into next season, this is a means to cover both bases without placing two separate wagers on team futures.
NBA Finals Winner Specials
| Conference to win the NBA Finals | Odds |
|---|---|
| Western Conference | -120 |
| Eastern Conference | +100 |
| Division to win the NBA Finals | Odds |
| Pacific Division | +155 |
| Atlantic Division | +220 |
| Central Division | +600 |
| Southwest Division | +800 |
| Southeast Division | +1000 |
| Northwest Division | +1000 |
| State to win the NBA Finals | Odds |
| Field | -155 |
| California | +200 |
| New York | +1100 |
| Florida | +1200 |
| Texas | +1700 |
Odds as of Aug 05 at DraftKings Sportsbook. Use this DraftKings Sportsbook promo code before betting.
Analysis of NBA Finals Winner Specials
The Western Conference has won 15 of the 23 NBA Finals since the turn of the century, which contributes to the slender advantage in the Conference market. It has been something of a fightback from the Eastern Conference in recent seasons, though, with two titles in the last four years. The East has the title favorite Boston Celtics and a healthy Milwaukee Bucks, who lifted the Larry O’Brien Trophy in 2021.
Of the two, backing the Eastern Conference to produce the champion is the better bet. The East might not have the depth of contenders that the West does, but it’s feasible that the Celtics and Bucks will be the two strongest teams next season. Of course, it has recently become apparent that Boston is at the forefront of the Kevin Durant sweepstakes, too.
Unsurprisingly, California is the clear favorite among states to produce a champion.
The Golden State has the West’s two preseason NBA betting favorites in the Warriors and Clippers, plus the added bonus of the Lakers. While the 17-time champions are a long way from contention as it stands, a significant trade either before the season or during the campaign is very likely. Acquiring Myles Turner and Buddy Hield from Indiana would raise their ceiling, as would landing Kyrie Irving from Brooklyn.
It remains possible the Lakers make multiple moves, having been linked with Eric Gordon alongside Irving, Turner and Hield.
THE WORLD NEEDS KYRIE AND LEBRON ON THE LAKERS TOGETHER 🔥pic.twitter.com/WBAICwhuhx
— Lakers Lead (@LakersLead) August 3, 2022
California possessing two sure-fire title contenders and a wild card in the Lakers makes them worth a punt at +200. It’s not worth considering New York, even if the Knicks land Donovan Mitchell and the Nets run it back. Wagering on Florida at +1200 is pointless when the Heat are +1400, and the same goes for Texas (+1700) with the Mavericks (+2000).
Best NBA Finals Winner Special Bet
The Division to win the NBA Finals market is where the best bet lies. Featuring the favored Celtics, the much-improved Sixers and the Durant-pursuing Raptors, the Atlantic Division is going to entice plenty of bettors.
The +220 is still on the short side, however.
Boston is +450 to win the title, and rightly so. The Sixers are still a question mark, particularly surrounding James Harden’s conditioning through a full season. Toronto, as currently constructed, is maybe a second-round team. Backing the Atlantic only makes sense if you’re convinced Harden can reverse the decline we saw last season or Tyrese Maxey is going to take another leap. Or, alternatively, you are all-in on the Raptors dealing for Durant.
Betting on the Central is just a wager on the Bucks (Milwaukee is +750 at DraftKings, the Central is +600). The Grizzlies and Mavericks are each out at +2000 for the title, and the Pelicans are +4000 — +800 on the Southwest is far too short.
Once again, we come back to the big three from California, but this time we get to throw in the 2020-21 Western Conference champion Phoenix Suns. Phoenix looks to have slipped out of Durant contention, and suspicions linger that their title window has closed, but they are still in at +1000 for the title. The Pacific provides the three title favorites in the West plus a dice roll on a Lakers team with LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
Phoenix makes it worth taking +155 on the Pacific over +200 on California — this is the standout bet among NBA Finals winner specials.
- Best Bet: Pacific Division (+155)
Sports Writer
Sam Cox is a freelance writer and sports junkie, who has spent the past several years immersed in the online gaming industry. He has worked with 888sport, Oddschecker, and Colossus Bets to name a few. Based in the UK, Sam also runs Franchise Sports with his brother.
