To no one’s surprise, the Los Angeles Lakers have been pegged by oddsmakers to win the 2021 NBA title, per BetOnline.ag.
And perhaps even less surprisingly, the likes of the Los Angeles Clippers and Milwaukee Bucks are expected to be the biggest challengers.
Interestingly, the same holds true of the Golden State Warriors — who just happened to finish with the league’s worst record this past season. Of course, the Warriors are also expected to have the band back together again, with a healthy Steph Curry and Klay Thompson, as well as Andrew Wiggins, and the second overall draft pick.
But none of those guys are LeBron James, and even though James will turn 36-years old before the expected start date of the 2020-21 season (sometime in January or February), he still very clearly is still near the top of his game.
Hence, the Lakers remain the favorites.
Here are the complete early odds for the 2020-21 season, with teams also listed by conference:
OVERALL ODDS
Los Angeles Lakers 4/1
Los Angeles Clippers 5/1
Golden State Warriors 9/1
Milwaukee Bucks 9/1
Boston Celtics 12/1
Brooklyn Nets 12/1
Miami Heat 14/1
Toronto Raptors 16/1
Denver Nuggets 20/1
Houston Rockets 22/1
Dallas Mavericks 25/1
Philadelphia 76ers 33/1
Portland Trail Blazers 33/1
New Orleans Pelicans 40/1
Phoenix Suns 40/1
Utah Jazz 40/1
Oklahoma City Thunder 66/1
Memphis Grizzlies 75/1
Atlanta Hawks 100/1
Chicago Bulls 100/1
Indiana Pacers 100/1
Washington Wizards 100/1
Cleveland Cavaliers 250/1
Detroit Pistons 250/1
Minnesota Timberwolves 250/1
Orlando Magic 250/1
Sacramento Kings 250/1
San Antonio Spurs 250/1
New York Knicks 300/1
Charlotte Hornets 500/1
EASTERN CONFERENCE ODDS
Milwaukee Bucks 7/2
Boston Celtics 15/4
Brooklyn Nets 15/4
Miami Heat 6/1
Toronto Raptors 15/2
Philadelphia 76ers 12/1
Atlanta Hawks 33/1
Chicago Bulls 33/1
Indiana Pacers 33/1
Washington Wizards 33/1
Orlando Magic 100/1
Cleveland Cavaliers 125/1
Detroit Pistons 125/1
New York Knicks 125/1
Charlotte Hornets 175/1
WESTERN CONFERENCE ODDS
Los Angeles Lakers 11/4
Los Angeles Clippers 3/1
Golden State Warriors 5/1
Denver Nuggets 12/1
Houston Rockets 12/1
Dallas Mavericks 16/1
Portland Trail Blazers 18/1
New Orleans Pelicans 25/1
Utah Jazz 25/1
Phoenix Suns 28/1
Oklahoma Thunder 40/1
Memphis Grizzlies 50/1
Minnesota Timberwolves 125/1
Sacramento Kings 125/1
San Antonio Spurs 125/1
