NBA odds: Best sleeper picks for 2024-2025 championship

Posted by author October 21, 2024 NBA

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Take a deep breath. Get that whiff of fresh NBA season in your lungs.

This is the only time of year where every fan has reason to be optimistic. Of course, some fans have more reason than others. But even if you don’t believe your favorite team can win a championship this season, there’s optimism that they’ll be better than last year or that your team’s rookie will break out.

Then, there are the teams whose fans have optimistic, if not unrealistic, championship hopes. They may have just squeaked into the playoffs a season ago or even missed them entirely, but after a great offseason and a stellar draft, fans are starting to wonder if something magical could happen. It may be a longshot, but there’s always a chance that it comes to be. Who’s to say it won’t?

Here are the best sleeper picks for the 2024-25 NBA championship.

2024-25 NBA season predictions: USA TODAY picks for champion, MVP, rookie, coach of year

2024-25 NBA Championship Odds:

*All odds via BetMGM

Boston Celtics (+325)
Oklahoma City Thunder (+500)
New York Knicks (+650)
Philadelphia 76ers (+1000)
Denver Nuggets (+1100)
Dallas Mavericks (+1200)
Minnesota Timberwolves (+1200)
Milwaukee Bucks (+1400)
Phoenix Suns (+2000)
Cleveland Cavaliers (+3500)
Memphis Grizzlies (+3500)
Orlando Magic (+4000)
Golden State Warriors (+4000)
Los Angeles Lakers (+4000)
Miami Heat (+5000)
New Orleans Pelicans (+5000)
Indiana Pacers (+6600)
Sacramento Kings (+6600)
Houston Rockets (+8000)
Los Angeles Clippers (+12500)
San Antonio Spurs (+15000)
Atlanta Hawks (+50000)
Utah Jazz (+50000)
Brooklyn Nets (+100000)
Charlotte Hornets (+100000)
Chicago Bulls (+100000)
Detroit Pistons (+100000)
Toronto Raptors (+100000)
Washington Wizards (+100000)
Portland Trail Blazers (+100000)

Best NBA championship sleeper picks

New Orleans Pelicans (+5000)

Although the team has a massive hole at center, moving Zion to the 5 in certain situations could make for a change that actually helps the Pelicans moving forward. Of course, most of the Pelicans’ hopes for a championship lie in how well Dejounte Murray meshes with the rest of the team. At +5000 odds though, the Pelicans could be one of the sneakier championship picks if Murray does indeed work out.

Houston Rockets (+8000)

Let’s not forget how hot the Houston Rockets got at the end of last season. This is a very young, very talented team with a lot of draft capital. If the Rockets get off to a hot start, they could absolutely spend some of their resources to acquire a legitimate star at the deadline. It would be a massive jump for Houston, but not one that is impossible to imagine.

Indiana Pacers (+6600)

Sure, the Pacers were a bit of a Cinderella story a season ago, but they are running it back with the same roster that reached the Eastern Conference Finals a year ago. If Tyrese Haliburton can stay healthy when it matters most, perhaps this team could make a similar run in this year’s playoffs. Currently going at odds lower than teams like the Golden State Warriors, who didn’t even make the playoffs last year (although they did improve this offseason), the Pacers are pretty good bang for your buck if you believe in their core.

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