The NBA season tips-off on October 22nd with the New York Knicks @ Boston Celtics and Minnesota Timberwolves @ Los Angeles Lakers and we can’t wait to hit the floor with our best bets for the year.
Our courtside crystal-ball gazer Peter Sharland has broken down the outright markets for his best bets.
NBA 2024-25 Season Outright Tips
NBA Champion – Dallas Mavericks
Dark Horses – Orlando Magic
Regular Season MVP – Luka Doncic
Rookie of the Year – Alex Sarr, Matas Buzelis
Coach of the Year – Nick Nurse, Chris Finch
The NBA is back!
After 16 years of waiting the Boston Celtics finally lifted the Larry Bird trophy once again last season and went back to being the outright record-holders for the most NBA Championships with 18.
The Celtics downed Luka Doncic’s Dallas Mavericks in just five games as the talented young core finally had “that moment” that truly cemented them not only in Boston sports history, but in basketball history.
But all of that is history, quite literally, and now 31 teams will do their best to take that title away. How many can do it? In fact can anyone do it? That’s what we’re here to talk about.
NBA Champion – Dallas Mavericks
Let’s start with the Celtics who are currently priced around 16/5 and frankly still might offer excellent value ahead of the start of the season. The Celtics didn’t lose anyone major, extended both Jayson Tatum and Derrick White and are now finally seeing the benefit of the way the front office built the roster. The Celtics are all set up to be the next NBA dynasty.
But what if they’re not? Don’t forget we have had six different winners in the past six NBA seasons and we could have another.
In that case the Oklahoma City Thunder seem best placed at over 6/1 to lift their first title since. The Thunder didn’t get that superstar that many thought they would but anyone who thinks they didn’t have the best offseason of any of the contenders is kidding themselves. The Thunder traded for Alex Caruso in one of the best moves of the summer, added Isiah Hartenstein and managed to extend Aaron Wiggins and Isiah Joe on team-friendly deals.
If you want something a bit tastier we like the Dallas Mavericks. In theory they have shipped out Tim Hardaway Jr, Derrick Jones Jr and Josh Green and replaced them with Quentin Grimes, Naji Marshall and Klay Thompson. Yes, you are betting on 2023-24 being a blip on the radar for Grimes and for Thompson to thrive again post injury. But it’s hard not to look at this and end up thinking that Dallas have probably marginally improved their defence whilst majorly improving their shooting and spacing thereby assembling a team that feels far better equipped to take on Boston.
In terms of longer shots, picking someone like the Bucks or the Nuggets can never qualify as a dark horse pick. So let’s get spicy with some each-way prices.
Dark Horses – Orlando Magic
If you believe in the Orlando Magic’s young core, particularly Paolo Banchero taking yet another leap alongside the uber-smart signing of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope then you can talk yourself into them being this year’s Thunder at a big price.
Yes, the Warriors have lost Klay Thompson and Chris Paul. Yes, they couldn’t close a deal on Lauri Markkanen before his blockbuster extension in Utah. But there have been some smart moves and the fire will be real in Golden State this season. Steph Curry at 40/1 or so? We don’t hate it.
You’re telling me the Pels have added Dejounte Murray to Herb Jones, Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson? If we’re talking teams that might come from nowhere the New Orleans Pelicans cannot be counted out.
Regular Season MVP – Luka Doncic
The Knicks are primed for a big year after an active off-season and trade deadline and playing at the Garden could propel Jalen Brunson to true stardom.
Want an outside bet? What happens if Victor Wembanyama takes a massive second-year leap and pushes the Spurs into the playoffs? Well at 18/1 something very good could happen for someone…
But Luka Doncic seems primed to finally win an MVP and has the shortest odds of anyone alongside Nikola Jokic. The Mavs have improved and they are hungry for the final step. It’s hard to bet against Doncic going crazy especially on a summer of rest after Slovenia missed the Olympics.
Rookie of the Year – Alex Sarr, Matas Buzelis
This race is going to be tight because there are so few rookies who are going to play meaningful minutes. For that reason Zach Edey at 9/2 is hard to ignore given how quickly he could become the starting center in Memphis.
However Alex Sarr and Matas Buzelis, both at around 8/1, might offer some really interesting value. Sarr should start regularly on a young Wizards team and if, as we expect, Chicago is at the start of a rebuild they are going to want to get Buzelis as much time as possible.
Coach of the Year – Nick Nurse, Chris Finch
It has been over 50 years since the New York Knicks last won the title but there are a lot of people who think this year could be the year. So it’s not too hard to work out why Tom Thibodeau is the betting favourite.
Outside bets include JJ Reddick at over 20/1 if he proves a lot of people wrong and keep an eye on Mike Brown at an even longer price if the Sacramento Kings take a huge step forward in the West.
But we really like Nick Nurse and Chris Finch hovering around 10/1 as both the 76ers and the Timberwolves seem poised to be right at the top of their respective divisions.
NBA 2024-25 Season Outright Tips
NBA Champion – Dallas Mavericks
Dark Horses – New Orleans Pelicans
Regular Season MVP – Luka Doncic
Rookie of the Year – Alex Sarr, Matas Buzelis
Coach of the Year – Nick Nurse, Chris Finch
Read More
- Get the latest NBA Basketball odds on PaddyPower.com
- Check out the latest NBA Tips from Paddy Power News
- Basketball Betting Strategies: Three Tips for NBA Bettors
- How to bet on basketball: Your complete guide
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