Lakers, Nets lead 2022 NBA title odds

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 18: James Harden #13 of the Brooklyn Nets dribbles the ball against LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the first quarter at Staples Center on February 18, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images/AFP

The Milwaukee Bucks and Phoenix Suns are looking up at the favorites to win the 2021-22 NBA title according to early odds released by sportsbooks on Tuesday.

Leading the pack as the favorite for the Larry O’Brien Trophy next summer are the Brooklyn Nets at +210. The Nets lost a seven-game series to the eventual-champion Bucks in the Eastern Conference semifinals last month.

The Suns eliminated the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round of this year’s Western Conference playoffs, but it’s LeBron James’ team that has the best title odds in the West for next season, according to DraftKings.

PointsBet rates the top three in the same order — Nets (+250), Lakers (+650) and Bucks (+800) — and the Golden State Warriors are even with the Suns in a tie for fourth at +900.

At +475 via DraftKings, the Lakers are ahead of the Los Angeles Clippers (+800), Golden State Warriors (+1200) and Suns (+1400). Golden State missed the playoffs due to a loss to the Lakers and the Memphis Grizzlies in the play-in tournament, but the Warriors expect the return of shooting guard Klay Thompson and have the No. 7 pick in the 2021 draft.

The Suns eliminated the Clippers in the 2021 conference finals.

Philadelphia was the top seed in the Eastern Conference entering the 2021 playoffs, but the 76ers are just +1600 at DraftKings to claim the championship with tumult on the roster and the future of 25-year-old point guard Ben Simmons unclear. The Sixers lost to the Atlanta Hawks in a second-round series last month.

Bringing up the rear on the DraftKings NBA title odds board, the Detroit Pistons own the No. 1 pick in next week’s draft and share +50000 odds with the Orlando Magic, Cleveland Cavaliers, Oklahoma City Thunder and Houston Rockets.

Complete odds for the 2021-22 NBA title from DraftKings:

Nets +210

Lakers +475

Bucks +800

Clippers +800

Warriors +1200

Suns +1400

Jazz +1500

76ers +1600

Nuggets +2000

Mavericks +2800

Hawks +3500

Heat +3500

Celtics +5000

Trail Blazers +5000

Raptors +8000

Pelicans +8000

Grizzlies +10000

Knicks +10000

Pacers +10000

Bulls +10000

Hornets +10000

Wizards +15000

Timberwolves +25000

Spurs +25000

Kings +25000

Pistons +50000

Cavaliers +50000

Rockets +50000

Thunder +50000

Magic +50000