Tip-off for another exciting NBA season is now just over one month away, and hoops heads throughout the country are preparing for the on-court action. As many fans know already, pre-season is one of the best times to lock in wagers, and this page details the best long shot bets to win the NBA Finals.
It won’t be long before training camps begin, and NBA bettors have the chance to wager on championship picks with lucrative odds. Check out these three dark horse picks to win the NBA Finals to bet on the best value in the field.
Best Long Shot Bets to Win the 2025-2026 NBA Finals
The new NBA season will officially get underway on October 21st, and before it tips off, basketball bettors can wager on futures markets with juicy pre-season odds. For fans looking to bet with longer odds, you’ve come to the right place.
Get three of the best long shot picks to win the NBA Finals as we inch closer to the start of the 2025-26 season.
Odds on this page are provided by DraftKings Sportsbook. New users can sign-up with the DraftKings promo code to score $200 in bonus bets (instantly) when they wager just $5.
Los Angeles Lakers (+1400)
With the seventh-best odds (+1400) to win the NBA Finals, the Los Angeles Lakers have a legitimate chance to cash futures tickets this season. The star power of LeBron James and Luka Doncic is simply undeniable, and the chemistry should look much better this season.
Remember, Luka was shockingly dealt to Los Angeles in a February deal during last season. While the trade was overwhelmingly graded as a win for the Lakers, the on-court fit never quite took hold with rookie head coach JJ Redick trying to figure it out on the fly amidst a Playoff push.
LA was 15-8 in games that Doncic and James played last season. Now with a full offseason and training camp underneath them, fans can expect to see the team many envisioned when the trade initially went through. Reports also suggest the Lakers could be aiming to trade for Andrew Wiggins of the Miami Heat. This would give LA even more perimeter defense as well as a proven third option offensively.
Golden State Warriors (+1800)
Highlighting the eighth-best odds (+1800) to win the 2025-26 NBA title, the Golden State Warriors are likely to be a popular bet this season. Last season, the Warriors looked to be coming to the end of the road of their once-dominant dynasty. Of course, that was before they traded for Jimmy Butler and completely rejuvenated their outlook and fought their way into the Playoffs.
Unfortunately, Golden State was ravaged by injuries (mainly the loss of Steph Curry) as the Playoffs wore on, which was a major part of their second-round crash out vs. the Timberwolves. And while injury is a heightened risk for aging players like Curry, Butler, and Draymond Green, the on-court action (when healthy) was extremely impressive last season.
The Warriors went 22-5 in games where Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler both played last season. With their stars now healthy from a long offseason rest, expect to see the Warriors back in the championship hunt this year.
Dallas Mavericks (+3000)
Currently holding the eleventh-best odds (+3000) to win the NBA championship, the Dallas Mavericks are a totally legitimate dart throw for long-shot bettors this season. The Mavericks never really got to see the team they envisioned after the Luka Doncic trade last season, as Anthony Davis suffered an aductor strain shortly after the deal, and later dealt with an eye injury (detached retina) that required off-season surgery. Mavs star point guard Kyrie Irving also suffered a torn ACL that shut down his 2024-25 campaign.
However, the Mavs received a huge stroke of luck in the NBA Draft Lottery, landing the no. 1 overall pick, which they used to draft Cooper Flagg, the reigning College Basketball Player of the Year. Flagg now joins a team already ripe with frontcourt size and defense around him, which should help ease his transition to the NBA. The sharpshooting Klay Thompson will be an important player for the Mavs this season, as his floor-spacing abilities will be paramount.
Dallas extended forward P.J. Washington and signed guard D’Angelo Russell this offseason to fill out the roster. And don’t forget, they are expecting Kyrie Irving back in the January-February window, which could be a massive boost for the second half of the season. Don’t be surprised if Dallas makes some noise this year as a legitimate title threat in the West.
