With the soccer, professional boxing and American Football seasons now in full flight, attention turns to basketball. The sport’s main attraction, the National Basketball Association, prepares for its 80th season, and a competitive renewal is guaranteed.
Coaches and managers of the top teams have made their moves, attracting the best players and the next generation of exciting talent. The TV broadcasters have set their schedule, while officials have enjoyed a rest and return ready for another chaotic few months. All that’s left for armchair fans to do is study the stats, make their predictions, and bet on the NBA.
Which team will blaze a trail of glory towards the title? You can study the stats, read the form, capture the most generous odds and place your bets on the Gamblr app now. We offer outright markets, betting on every game, specials, and even a welcome bonus free bet for all new customers. Keep reading for details on how to pick a winner.
NBA 2025/26 dates for your diary
Regular season starts: Tuesday, 21st October 2025
Emirates NBA Cup: Friday, 31st October 2025
NBA Berlin games: Thursday, 15th January 2026
NBA London games: Sunday, 18th January 2026
NBA rivals week: Tuesday, 20th – Saturday, 24th January 2026
NBA trade deadline: Thursday, 5th February 2026
NBA All-Star weekend: Friday, 13th February – Sunday, 15th February 2026
End of regular season: Sunday, 12th April 2026
Roster for playoffs: Monday, 13th April 2026
NBA playoffs: Saturday, 18th April 2026
NBA Finals: Thursday, 4th June 2026
Official broadcasters
Here is a list of the official NBA broadcasters covering the 2025/26 season in your region.
United States: Disney, ESPN, ABC, NBC, Peacock, Amazon Prime.
United Kingdom: Sky Sports, Amazon Prime.
Canada: TSN, Sportsnet, NBA TV Canada.
Australia and New Zealand: ESPN, Kayo Sports.
NBA Finals 2026 betting odds
Oklahoma City Thunder @ 3.45
Denver Nuggets @ 7.4
Cleveland Cavaliers @ 9.0
New York Knicks @ 9.4
Houston Rockets @ 11.0
The odds displayed above come from the Gamblr mobile app and are correct at the time of writing. Please remember sportsbook odds are subject to change.
Favourites
As you can see from the list of current betting odds posted above, there is one standout favourite in the outright market. Traders have high hopes for Oklahoma City Thunder, pinning them to the head of the market. Thunder are chalked up as the most likely winner of the NBA Finals next year, ahead of their nearest rivals, the Denver Nuggets.
Here are three reasons to support the favourites.
Oklahoma City Thunder: They boast an exciting and talented young roster, striking a balance between youth and ambition, and skill and maturity. Thunder have an elite defence that’ll come into its own when the team is playing playoff basketball. Lastly, Oklahoma have power and flexibility in the draft, something many of their rivals can’t compete with, and that’ll make the difference.
Denver Nuggets: There’s one name that will attract bettors to Denver, and that’s the one and only Nikola Jokic. Many of the club fans and followers of the NBA rate Jokic as the best basketball player in the world, able to turn games in his favour. Denver’s playoff experience is another attraction. They’ve been there and done it many times in the past. That’s worth its weight in gold. Thirdly, a solid defence should ensure they’re involved in the playoffs and can keep their best performances for 2026.
Underdogs
Let’s now look at the three underdogs listed above. The Cleveland Cavaliers, New York Knicks, and the Houston Rockets aren’t outsiders needing a sporting miracle to challenge. Instead, they are capable of winning the NBA Finals. They’ll require a rub of the green, but that’s reflected in the odds.
Cleveland Cavaliers: Another team with a solid and proven defence. A capable frontcourt defence is often a solid foundation for launching a playoff bid. Most pundits expect Cleveland to make the playoffs, and it’s then up to the players to blaze their way to the Finals.
New York Knicks: The Knicks already had one of the best defences in the league, and they strengthened over the summer. Fans can’t wait to see the bigger and more talented New York Knicks team in action. It’s an underdog full of promise, but will the players stand up and deliver when it matters most? The odds make it worth finding out.
Houston Rockets: The Rockets have been investing in youth for a few seasons now, and many experts believe that this talented young crop is about to reach its peak and embark on a winning run. What they lack in experience, Houston makes up for with ambition, hunger, and skill. If they can start the season well and add confidence in the opening weeks, their outright betting odds will tumble as we head towards the new year.
You can stick to one team and bet on them to win the NBA Finals, but I suggest splitting your stake to cover a favourite and an outsider. I like the odds and chances of the Denver Nuggets and the Houston Rockets. We’re relying on Houston’s young players living up to the hype, but they’re well worth a shot.
How to claim a free bet on NBA 2025/26 at Gamblr
In addition to our competition-beating betting odds and a wide range of interesting markets on the NBA this season, Gamblr also gives all new players a welcome bonus.
Create an account at Gamblr today, make your first deposit and place a qualifying bet on sports. When your first wager results, the free bet tokens appear in your balance, ready to use on the NBA and many other popular competitions.
Gamblr’s welcome bonus is a deposit-matched free bet. That means when you sign up, deposit funds and wager on sports, you’ll get the same back as a free bet, up to the value of $5000. The higher your first bet, the more generous your bet credits. Claim your share now.