With a twilight-stage Gregg Popovich shepherding San Antonio and Slovenian superstar Luka Doncic dominating in Dallas, the Mavericks have replaced the Spurs as the premier NBA title contender from Texas for the next decade.
Now if Texas passes a mobile sports betting bill in 2023, as expected, you’ll be able to bet at legal online sportsbooks on which team will win the NBA title. In that case, betting on the NBA is bound to be big, particularly throughout the playoffs and NBA Finals.
Here’s a complete guide to betting on the NBA Finals in Texas, plus live NBA Finals odds direct from legal online sportsbooks.
2022-23 NBA Championship odds
Here are the latest NBA Finals odds from the top online sportsbooks in Texas (when legalized). Click on any odds to go to the sportsbooks and register a new account.
Best NBA Finals betting app
DraftKings is one of the best online sportsbooks for betting on the NBA Finals, and it’ll come to Texas when it legally can. It has competitive NBA lines, dependable software and a variety of NBA Finals promos.
Previously, DK gave 100-1 odds on $1 series bets for all four teams in the Eastern and Western Conference Finals. Once DraftKings Sportsbook lands in Texas, it’s sure to be among the best destinations for NBA Playoffs and NBA Finals betting.
Current NBA Finals contenders
These teams are the current favorites to win the 2023 NBA Finals:
Golden State Warriors ()
The defending champs have already won four titles with Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green in charge. The young stars that helped get them over the hump again in 2022, Andrew Wiggins and Jordan Poole, are only getting better. James Wiseman, Moses Moody and Jonathan Kuminga add to the fresh legs as well.
Milwaukee Bucks ()
As long as two-time MVP and 2021 Finals MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo is on the roster, the Bucks are Eastern Conference contenders. If Khris Middleton stays healthy, they’re NBA Finals contenders too.
Boston Celtics ()
The NBA Finals runner-up is always a favorite to win it all the very next year. The question is, can the Celtics’ big three of Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Marcus Smart become NBA champions?
Los Angeles Clippers ()
Two-time NBA Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard makes the Clippers a threat any time he’s on the court. Adding John Wall to a lineup featuring Paul George and Reggie Jackson will make them legit title contenders if everyone can gel.
Dallas Mavericks ()
Luka Doncic probably can’t win a title alone. If Dallas can find him the help he needs through trades or free agency, these long NBA Championship winner odds will nosedive. Check tonight’s Mavs odds here.
- Check current Rockets finals odds
- Check current Spurs finals odds
How does NBA Playoffs betting work?
The NBA Playoffs see the top 16 teams in the league, eight from each conference, compete for the title through a four-round elimination tournament.
In recent years, a play-in tournament has been added to determine each conference’s No. 7 and 8 seeds. Teams are seeded in a bracket and face off in best-of-seven series each round until two remain in each conference. These two meet in the Conference Finals, and the winners go on to the NBA Finals. Each series follows a 2-2-1-1-1 format, with home court advantage going to the team with the best record.
Betting starts in the offseason with NBA Finals futures where you can bet on any team to win the NBA Finals. The odds change all year long based on each team’s performance and overall chances of winning. That means the prices on the real contenders are better earlier in the season than late.
Once the playoffs start, you’ll see more of the standard wagers like NBA spread betting and moneyline.
Here’s a look at even more betting opportunities surrounding the playoffs and finals:
Other types of NBA Finals and NBA Playoffs bets
- Game Lines: Moneylines, spreads, and totals for each game in the NBA Playoffs
- Props: Over/unders on team and player stats for each game in the NBA Playoffs
- Live Betting: Live lines during each playoff game
- Series Bets: Moneylines and spreads for each playoff series, including the NBA Finals
Odds boosts and promos
Online sportsbooks—like DraftKings, FanDuel or BetMGM—run all kinds of promos surrounding the NBA Playoffs and NBA Finals.
These might include reload bonuses, matching deposits, odds and profit boosts on series and game bets, and even giveaways that provide huge odds on NBA Finals props.
NBA Finals results
Here’s a look at the past 10 NBA Finals series:
| Year | Champion | Series Record | Opponent |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Golden State Warriors | 4-2 | Boston Celtics |
| 2021 | Milwaukee Bucks | 4-2 | Phoenix Suns |
| 2020 | Los Angeles Lakers | 4-2 | Miami Heat |
| 2019 | Toronto Raptors | 4-2 | Golden State Warriors |
| 2018 | Golden State Warriors | 4-0 | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| 2017 | Golden State Warriors | 4-1 | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| 2016 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 4-3 | Golden State Warriors |
| 2015 | Golden State Warriors | 4-2 | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| 2014 | San Antonio Spurs | 4-1 | Miami Heat |
| 2013 | Miami Heat | 4-3 | San Antonio Spurs |