Could the NBA See A New Champion This Year?
Basketball/Sports

Could the NBA See A New Champion This Year?

As the NBA season progresses, several teams are still seeking their first championship title, with varying odds.

As this NBA season nears its conclusion, it’s possible that nine franchises might be left without a championship title.

Currently, ten teams have yet to lift the coveted Larry O’Brien Trophy, including the Indiana Pacers and Minnesota Timberwolves.

The Thunder are still seeking their first win since relocating from Seattle, where they won a title back in 1979. Meanwhile, the Knicks have two championships under their belt from the years 1970 and 1973.

DraftKings Sportsbook recently updated its odds for a first-time NBA Finals champion as of May 19.

First-time NBA Finals champion (Pacers or Wolves)

  • Yes: +245 (bet $10 to win $34.50 total)
  • No: -310 (bet $10 to win $13.23 total)

Beyond Indiana and Minnesota, the other teams still hunting for their first titles include Charlotte, Utah, LA Clippers, Brooklyn, Memphis, New Orleans, Orlando, and Phoenix.

The Thunder are currently the favorites to win this season at -145 odds, followed by the Knicks (+450), Timberwolves (+550), and Pacers (+600).

As for the NHL, the Winnipeg Jets were eliminated in the Western Conference semifinals, ensuring that there would be no first-time champion in the playoffs.

The franchises without a Stanley Cup include Vancouver, San Jose, Nashville, Columbus, Minnesota, Seattle, Ottawa, and Utah (formerly Arizona).

Switching over to the NFL, here are the odds for teams that have yet to secure a Super Bowl win as we approach the 2025 season:

  • Bills: +700 (bet $10 to win $80 total)
  • Lions: +1000 (bet $10 to win $110 total)
  • Bengals: +2000 (bet $10 to win $210 total)
  • Chargers: +2800 (bet $10 to win $290 total)
  • Vikings: +3000 (bet $10 to win $310 total)
  • Texans: +4000 (bet $10 to win $410 total)
  • Cardinals: +6000 (bet $10 to win $610 total)
  • Jaguars: +8000 (bet $10 to win $810 total)
  • Falcons: +8000 (bet $10 to win $810 total)
  • Panthers: +14000 (bet $10 to win $1,410 total)
  • Titans: +18000 (bet $10 to win $1,810 total)
  • Browns: +25000 (bet $10 to win $2,510 total)

The Bills are tied for the second-best odds (with the Ravens), behind only the reigning champions, the Eagles (+650), and just ahead of the defending AFC champions, the Chiefs (+750).

The Lions made it to the NFC title game in 2023, while the Bills reached the AFC title game in both 2020 and 2024. The Bengals were Super Bowl contenders in 2021, ultimately falling to the Los Angeles Rams.

In MLB news, here are the 2025 title odds for teams without a World Series victory:

  • Mariners: +1600 (bet $10 to win $170 total)
  • Padres: +2200 (bet $10 to win $230 total)
  • Rays: +6000 (bet $10 to win $610 total)
  • Brewers: +8000 (bet $10 to win $810 total)
  • Rockies: +50000 (bet $10 to win $5,010 total)

The Mariners stand at seventh on the board, with the Padres ranked eleventh. Seattle has reached the playoffs just once since 2001, suffering a defeat to the Astros in the 2022 AL Division series. The Padres made postseason appearances in 2020, 2022, and 2024, losing to Philly in the 2022 NLCS.

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