Thunder, Celtics favorites to win NBA title; public likes Lakers - ESPN

The Oklahoma City Thunder and reigning champion Boston Celtics are the consensus favorites to win this season's title, showing +180 and +190 odds, respectively, at ESPN BET as the NBA postseason is set to begin.

However, the Los Angeles Lakers, arguably the league's buzziest team since their stunning trade for Luka Doncic in February, lurk just below and are easily the betting public's favorite squad.

The Lakers are +1300 to win the 2025 NBA Finals, fourth on ESPN BET's odds board, but have attracted a leading 16.7% of bets and 19.5% of handle at the sportsbook. Other sportsbooks report similar metrics, with FanDuel reporting a whopping 27% of money backing LeBron James and company, while BetMGM names them as its second largest liability.

«In terms of liability, it's the Lakers and then everyone else,» ESPN BET director of North American sports trading Adrian Horton said over email. «They were attracting interest over the first half of the season, but it's really kicked into high gear since the Luka trade. As the team continues to perform and the betting public continues to back them, we'll be pulling against the Lakers in just about every playoff scenario.»

The book further reports that L.A. has taken a leading 23.9% of bets and 27.6% of handle since acquiring Doncic on Feb. 1.

The Celtics, the favorites to begin the 2024-25 campaign after going wire-to-wire as favorites last season, are still garnering their fair share of action, with DraftKings reporting more wagers (34%) and handle (24%) backing them than anyone else.

Oklahoma City, who locked up the NBA's best record during the regular season, were second fiddle to Boston in the odds all season before narrowly pulling ahead on the eve of the playoffs. Action is