It’s become a custom every decade or so to say, but it’s true this time around: The young crop of NBA talent is as good as it’s ever been. The likes of Giannis, Tatum, Doncic, Zion, Morant, Trae, Jokic, and Embiid, have the league set up for future success. But the veterans—Steph, LeBron, AD, KD, CP3, Kawhi, and others—may not be ready to give way to the young guns just yet.

It's setting up for what will be an enthralling 2022-23 NBA betting season. The Celtics, Mavericks, and Grizzlies arrived on the national stage last season, while the Warriors staved them all off to earn a fourth title in seven seasons. The Lakers, Nets, and Clippers all hope to shake off drama and injury from a season ago to be in contention come late May.

A host of others have title aspirations in what is one of the most open fields in recent memory: The Celtics are +500 favorites on some NBA futures markets, the longest favorites to begin a season since at least 1984. At DraftKings, the LA Clippers are favorites at +550, while Boston is at +600. It's super close at the top.

We’ll break down everything bettors need to know about this wide-open season, including our favorite NBA expert picks to win it all, individual awards, and player and team props to back.

Let's take a look at the current odds available on teams to win the 2022-2023 NBA title:

Odds via DraftKings and BetMGM and accurate as of publication.

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NBA 2022-2023 Best Futures Bets To Back Today

Milwaukee Bucks, +800 at DraftKings

Let’s run through some quick facts: The Bucks are 164-71 over the last three seasons when Giannis Antetokounmpo plays (a 57.5-win pace) and 17-20 when he does not (a 37.5-win pace). Antetokounmpo won MVP in 2019 and 2020 and had better numbers in 2022 (finishing second in the race to Nikola Jokic). The Bucks took the Celtics to seven games last season despite not having All-Star wing Khris Middleton, who is now in a contract year. The core from the 2021 title team returns in full, including Jrue Holiday as arguably the league’s best third cog.

What does it add up to? The Bucks reclaiming the throne in June. Injuries won’t derail them this time around—and it’s scary to think that Antetokounmpo is still just 27 years old and getting better.

LA Lakers, +2500 at FanDuel

There’s a serious discrepancy on sports betting apps, which are all over the board on the Lakers (they are as low as +1800 at Caesars Sportsbook). LeBron James and Anthony Davis is still an elite 1-2 combination provided they can both stay healthy and play 75+ games, and we can’t overlook the additions of Patrick Beverley and Kendrick Nunn (who missed all of last season) in the backcourt. If Russell Westbrook can even provide a sliver of his old self, Los Angeles can contend.

Also, don’t overlook the possibility of a Myles Turner/Buddy Hield trade getting done with Indiana at some point in the season. Even if you’re not a believer in the Lakers, their odds would take a serious jump if and when that happens. They aren’t the favorites by a long shot, but there’s value here.

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Cleveland Cavaliers, +3300 at Caesars

Looking for a longshot? How about a team that was on pace to win 52 games at the All-Star break with two young All-Stars and a future All-Pro—and added a three-time All-Star in his prime this offseason. A core of Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen is legitimate—and the bench isn’t half-bad, either.If Mobley makes the jump many expect him to, the defense will remain a top-5 unit. Add in Mitchell’s offensive prowess to boost last year’s 20th ranked group and you have a team that—even without LeBron James—could contend for a title in Cleveland. They may be a year or two away, but they’re worth a sprinkle of a bet at these current odds.

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Our Favorite NBA Season-Long Team & Player Props To Back Today

Pelicans To Make Playoffs, -165 at DraftKings

The Pelicans became the first team in NBA history to make the playoffs as a No. 9 seed, winning two play-in games to get there. Zion Williamson is healthy, and a core of him, Brandon Ingram, Jonas Valanciunas, and CJ McCollum will make some noise. What we love most about New Orleans (beyond Williamson’s health) is the great depth that GM David Griffin is building: Jose Alvarado, Herbert Jones, Dyson Daniels, and Jaxson Hayes all have great upside. New Orleans will get in, perhaps as high as a six seed depending on Williamson’s ability to play 70+ games.

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Bucks Eastern Conference Seeding Under 3.5, -120 at DraftKings

They’re our pick on betting sites to win it all, so naturally we feel comfortable with them earning a top three seed in the East. Their biggest competition is obvious: Boston, Brooklyn, Philadelphia, and Miami. But to win this they’ll need to be better than just two of them—consider that Milwaukee has finished third or better each of the last four years. We believe a rejuvenated Giannis and a contract-year Middleton pushes them toward the top of the East.

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Jayson Tatum Over 26.9 PPG, -115 at DraftKings

He’s becoming a true superstar before our very eyes, so naturally we believe he’ll increase his points per game for a sixth consecutive season. This is a bet on him increasing his per game total from last season (26.9), and we believe he’ll do it for a few reasons: Robert Williams (10.0 points) will miss the first few months of the season, putting an even bigger burden on Tatum in the early going. Tatum averaged 26.9 points despite regressing to 35% from beyond the arc (he was nearly a 40% shooter through his first four seasons), so we see that rounding back into form and him flirting with 29 points per game.

Nets Highest Scoring Team, +370 at DraftKings

We’re bullish on the Nets, who despite all of last year’s headaches averaged 112.9 points—ninth most in the league. They’ll get Kyrie Irving back full-time, Ben Simmons will be integrated as an elite facilitator, and Kevin Durant is…Kevin Durant. Brooklyn isn’t going to win with its defense anytime soon, meaning road to victory is scoring in the 115s each night. Best-case scenario feels like a pipedream given some of the headcases in Brooklyn, but at +370 it’s worth betting on.

Chris Paul Under 10.0 Assists, -110 at Caesars

Chris Paul led the NBA in assists last season with 10.8 helpers per game. But we can’t help shake the feeling that last year’s postseason run was the beginning of the end for CP3 as an elite contributor. After slicing up the Pelicans to the tune of 11.3 assists per game, he tallied 3, 8, 7, 4, 10, 4, and 4 assists against a Dallas Mavericks defense that he carved up for 11, 14, and 14 dimes in the regular season. Maybe Paul just couldn’t get it going—or maybe he’s 37 years old and just surpassed 45,000 career minutes. We’re betting against Paul, who can still contribute to a 50-win team with fewer than 10 helpers per game.

NBA 2022-23 Best Awards Futures Markets To Back

Rookie Of The Year: Jabari Smith

Best ROY Bet: +550 at BetMGM

Paolo Banchero is the rightful favorite in this category, but consider that no top pick has won this award since Ben Simmons in 2018. We’re looking for value, and we think we’ve found it in Houston. Jabari Smith has a path to 30 minutes every night after the team traded Christian Wood in the offseason, and he will form a solid duo next to Jalen Green in what should be a fun Rockets offense. Smith will dazzle on both ends of the floor, and he’ll score media points for his unique style and sweet stroke from a 6-foot-10 big. Rookie of the Year is a volume game, and Smith will rack up plenty of it.

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Coach Of The Year: Willie Green

Best COY Bet: +1500 at Caesars Sportsbook

This is one of the most difficult futures to handicap, so we’ll look for value. In a best-case scenario, Zion Williamson plays 70+ games and becomes an MVP candidate. He, alongside Brandon Ingram and CJ McCollum, leads the Pelicans to a top-5 offense and a good enough defense that they make a Mavs/Grizzlies-like jump and contend for a top-4 seed in the West. Willie Green will get the credit if that happens—this award is usually given out to a team that makes the jump from good to great.

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Most Improved Player: Tyrese Maxey

Best MIP Bet: +1800 at DraftKings

There’s a trend with Most Improved Player that’s been uncovered over the last decade: Scoring. From 1986 to 2013, just eight of the winners reached 20 points per game to win the award. Beginning with Goran Dragic in 2014 and through Ja Morant in 2022, eight of the nine winners have reached 20+ points per game. So we’re looking for a player who is going to break through in the scoring department, and we’ve pegged Tyrese Maxey, the third cog in a Sixers offense who averaged 17.5 points on impressive 48/42/86 shooting a season ago. We see him stealing usage from Tobias Harris and breaking out in Year 3, giving him excellent value.

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NBA MVP: Luka Doncic

Best MVP Bet: +500 at Caesars Sportsbook

It’s a boring pick, but it’s the right one. Doncic was otherworldly in his third consecutive All-NBA First Team campaign, averaging 28.4 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 8.7 assists for the 52-win Mavericks. With Jalen Brunson in the Big Apple, Doncic will take on (somehow) an even larger role that should mean even more volume for a Dallas team that made the West Finals last season. Giannis and Jokic have owned the MVP award the last four seasons, but there’s a new international sheriff in town. Doncic is going to finish his Hall of Fame career with multiple MVPs, and the first one will be in 2023.

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