The Denver Nuggets have been crowned the 2023 NBA Finals champions. So, on to 2024! 

Now, sports betting apps have tabbed the Nuggets as favorites to repeat as champions, installing them at +475 in NBA futures odds. 

Only three other teams are posted at under +1200 NBA odds to win it all: the Boston Celtics (+550), Milwaukee Bucks (+650) and Phoenix Suns (+850). 

Bookies.com handicapper Adam Thompson crushed NBA betting in 2022-23, hitting on a whopping 64.8% of NBA picks since December of the 2022-23 season. 

Here, before the NBA Draft and any free agency or trades, he reveals his top five NBA futures plays to lock in, or at least keep an eye on, before lines shift. 

5 Best NBA Championship Futures Bets

Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook. Read our DraftKings Review.

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Milwaukee Bucks

Giannis and Co. earned the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference, only to run into a Heat buzzsaw in a shocking Round 1 ouster. Mike Budenholzer was fired for a litany of rough decisions through the Miami series, the latest in a line of upset playoff defeats as a top seed. 

Milwaukee has decisions to make with Khris Middleton and Brook Lopez, but it should be all-in as long as Giannis is still around – which is only guaranteed for two more seasons. Boston’s future is just as cloudy with Jaylen Brown’s max contract decision looming. 

Odds: +650 at DraftKings Sportsbook

Los Angeles Clippers

Will Kawhi Leonard and Paul George ever be truly healthy again? Will Russell Westbrook be back? If the answer ends up being yes to both questions, the Clippers can play with anyone and beat anyone. 

The team went 5-2 when its top-five players all played and 23-13 (.638) win just Kawhi and PG suited up. That win percentage would have put them No. 2 in the West. This is a speculative, value-laden choice for now. 

Odds: +1700 at DraftKings Sportsbook

Miami Heat 

Miami barely snuck into the postseason, needing to beat Chicago in a play-in game just to secure the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference. Erik Spoelstra and Jimmy Butler took over from there, however, wiping out the Bucks, Knicks, and Celtics before falling to Nikola Jokic and a destiny-laden Nuggets squad, all without No. 3 scorer Tyler Herro. 

Everyone of note is under contract for next season, but expect the Heat to find an upgrade at point guard. It’s the best position to be seeking this offseason. They do that, and they’re a legit contender again. 

Odds: +2000 at DraftKings Sportsbook

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New Orleans Pelicans 

The Pelicans’ roster could be called a poor man’s superteam. Pound-for-pound, CJ McCollum, Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram, and Jonas Valanciunas is a fantastic lineup. 

Health, obviously, has eluded Zion his entire short career; he’s managed just 29 games over the last two seasons. Ingram has logged 45 and 55 games in the last two years, too. So again, like the Clippers, we’re playing the optimist and betting on health. It’s risky, but each of these four can get about 75 or more games, it’s a contender. 

Odds: +3500 at DraftKings Sportsbook

San Antonio Spurs 

Teams don’t go from worst to first in the NBA, but teams don’t add players like Victor Wembanyama very often. The Spurs not only will add one of the great prospects of all time, they rank No. 3 in available cap space this offseason. 

Nobody knows how Victor will handle NBA-level talent over an 82-game season. But coach Gregg Popovich turns 75 this coming season and isn’t interested in another rebuild. San Antonio is going to try and win this thing now. 

Odds: +20000 at DraftKings Sportsbook

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