The new NBA season is here, and let’s just say everyone is chasing Oklahoma City. The defending champs didn’t just win last season, they steamrolled the league, racking up 68 wins and the title behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s scoring title and MVP run. Now they’re the clear favorites to go back-to-back, something no team’s done since the 2018 Warriors.
Sit back and relax as the bet wizard takes you through their quest to bring a second banner to Oklahoma as well as other basketball predictions that you should bet on for added value this season.
Most Valuable Player
This year’s MVP race looks like it’s going to be a wild one and it’s shaping up as another tight battle between Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokić, with Luka Dončić, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Anthony Edwards not far behind.
Starting at the top, the reigning MVP, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, is looking to make history as just the 14th player ever to win back-to-back MVPs. He’s coming off a monster season where he won the scoring title, regular-season MVP, Finals MVP, and the championship; something we’ve seen only a handful of times in NBA history. He’s the current favourite, and it’s easy to see why: 32.7PPG, elite efficiency, clutch performances, and now the confidence of a defending champion. If OKC stays near the top of the West, this might be his award to lose.
Nikola Jokić is always in these conversations for a reason. The three-time MVP is chasing his fourth trophy and remains the league’s most complete big man, capable of dominating basketball games with ease. He’s been the best player in the league statistically for the past five years, and his on/off-court impact in Denver is ridiculous (+16.4 net rating or better for four straight seasons). The Nuggets improved their roster this offseason, adding depth and better shooters to help him shine even more. After finishing 2nd in the MVP voting last season despite averaging a triple-double, Jokić could easily reclaim the throne if Denver finishes as a top-two seed this season.
Then there’s Luka Dončić, who’s entering a new era in Los Angeles. Now leading the Lakers full-time with LeBron James taking a step back, Luka has a golden opportunity to grab his first MVP. He’s been in the conversation for years but never quite had the perfect storm of team success and availability. His new focus on leadership and fitness (plus the bright lights of LA) could change that narrative. If he plays 70+ games and the Lakers dominate, it’s hard to imagine voters not rewarding him. The Slovenian has gotten off to an excellent start already - We have the best odds for this on BetKing, and our online betting community should take a swing at it.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, the two-time MVP, remains a constant threat. He’s coming off a 30-11-6 season while shooting 60% from the field. With Damian Lillard gone, the Bucks’ success will rest squarely on Giannis’ shoulders and that could actually work in his favour. He’s been a finalist for seven straight years, and there’s no reason to think he’ll slow down anytime soon.
Finally, Anthony Edwards might be the dark horse here as he aims to become the first American MVP since James Harden in 2018. If Minnesota builds on last year and remains a real Western Conference contender, Ant’s blend of confidence, scoring, and leadership will make him impossible to ignore.
Believe that.
Rookie of the Year
There’s really no debate… Cooper Flagg is the clear favorite to win Rookie of the Year. The No. 1 overall pick lands in the perfect situation: a Dallas team that’s actually trying to win and will rely on him heavily from Day 1. That combo of talent and opportunity is exactly what wins this award. Unlike other awards, there’s no 65-game minimum for ROY eligibility, and team success doesn’t matter. All he needs to do is fill the stat sheet, and he’s going to have every opportunity to do just that.
Flagg enters the league already polished beyond his years. At Duke, he averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.4 blocks per game, showing off his all-around game and two-way versatility. With Kyrie Irving expected to miss time, Flagg will handle plenty of on-ball creation duties, meaning he’ll get the stats Rookie of the Year voters love.
NBA Champion
OKC Thunder are the betting favourites to win the title after bringing back the same perfect mix of youth, depth, and defense that made them untouchable last season. Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams are still getting better, Isaiah Hartenstein adds toughness inside, and Lu Dort and Alex Caruso keep terrorizing ball-handlers. The Thunder were No. 1 in defensive rating and top-three in offense…that’s dynasty-level balance. As long as they stay healthy, they’re built to repeat.
Their biggest threat, of course, is Nikola Jokić and the Denver Nuggets. Denver pushed OKC to seven games last postseason despite being banged up, and they reloaded over the summer. Swapping out Michael Porter Jr. for Cam Johnson boosted their defense, while Bruce Brown, Tim Hardaway Jr., and Jonas Valančiūnas add solid depth. If Denver’s new pieces click under new coach David Adelman, the champs might actually have a fight on their hands. For a chance to get over 7x your betting stake, this is clearly our bet of the day.
Over in the East, things get spicy between the Cavs and Knicks. The Cleveland Cavaliers quietly finished as the top seed last year and brought back nearly everyone. Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland form an elite backcourt, while Evan Mobley (reigning Defensive Player of the Year) could take the leap that puts them over the hump. The Cavs can score with anyone; now they just need the defensive consistency to survive May and June.
The Knicks, meanwhile, are built for a big run. After parting ways with Tom Thibodeau, they handed the clipboard to Mike Brown, who’s expected to freshen things up. With Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges, and OG Anunoby leading the charge, New York has one of the league’s most complete rosters. They already had a top-five offense last year, now the goal is to lock in defensively. If that happens, don’t be shocked to see the Knicks in June.
Then there’s Houston, suddenly relevant again after landing Kevin Durant. Pairing KD’s championship experience with young stars like Alperen Şengün and Amen Thompson gives the Rockets legit upside, but chemistry and injuries (especially with Fred VanVleet out for the year) could hold them back early.
In the next tier, the Timberwolves, Warriors, Bucks, Mavericks and Clippers are lurking. Minnesota’s been to two straight West Finals and has one of the stingiest defenses in the league. If Anthony Edwards levels up again, watch out! The Clippers, meanwhile, might be the most unpredictable team in basketball; a loaded roster of hungry veterans (Chris Paul, Bradley Beal, Brook Lopez, John Collins) shadowed by Kawhi Leonard’s ongoing investigation drama. Then there’s Steph Curry (Warriors) and Giannis (Bucks) who are just too great to ever get counted out. Finally, the Mavericks… wouldn’t it be the craziest storyline if they somehow won the title in Luka Doncic’s first full season away from the team?
Winning Conference
This feels like a math pick. The Western Conference has the best teams in the league including the top two favourites; the Thunder and Nuggets. I think it’s safe to say they’re likely going to produce the winner this year.
Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY)
There are a few players I expect to be in the mix; Bam Adebayo, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Draymond Green, and last season’s winner, Evan Mobley. However, If Victor Wembanyama stays healthy and hits the 65-game mark, it’s hard to see anyone else taking the Defensive Player of the Year award.
It’s been a while since the Spurs had a top-10 defense; not since the Kawhi days. But with Victor Wembanyama leading the charge, that drought might finally end. The 7-foot-4 phenom is about to turn the paint into a no-fly zone, and the numbers back it up. Last season, opponents shot just 49.4% at the rim when guarded by Wemby, the best in the NBA among players who contested at least 100 shots.
When Wemby played, the Spurs’ opponents hit only 62.4% at the rim. With Kornet in Boston, that number was even lower (61.1%). Add in young defensive wings like Sochan, Castle, and Bryant, plus veterans like Barnes, Vassell, and Johnson, and this team has the tools to funnel everything toward their twin towers and erase mistakes.
Wemby’s defensive stats from last season were ridiculous: 3.8 blocks, 1.1 steals, and 2.8 defensive win shares. He even held opponents to 38.9% shooting on shots from 5–9 feet, compared to last year’s DPOY Evan Mobley at 46.7%. When he was on the floor, the Spurs played like a top-10 defense; when he sat, they were the worst in the league.
Coach of the Year
Coach of the Year usually goes to the coach whose team beats expectations, which is why I was shocked (and honestly annoyed) when Cleveland’s Kenny Atkinson won it last year. I felt Detroit’s J.B. Bickerstaff deserved it more for ending the Pistons’ 15-year playoff drought. That was a bigger deal than an already stacked Cavs team finishing first. Alright, mini-rant over.
This season, I’ve got three names in mind. First, Joe Mazzulla. His Celtics have been gutted; veterans like Horford, Holiday, and Porziņģis are gone, and Tatum will miss seven months (maybe even the entire season) with an Achilles injury. Everyone expects Boston to tank, but that’s not Mazzulla’s style. He’s built for challenges.
Then there’s Mitch Johnson (Spurs) and Ime Udoka (Rockets). Johnson took over for Popovich after his mild stroke and went 32–45, even though Wembanyama missed half the season with a shoulder issue. At the time he went down, Wemby was putting up 24.3 points, 11 rebounds, and leading the league in blocks. With him healthy and a stronger roster, Johnson could surprise people.
Ime Udoka, meanwhile, led Houston to the #2 seed last year before falling to the Warriors in seven. Now with Kevin Durant, the Rockets are title contenders, and anything short of a deep playoff run (maybe even a conference final) would be disappointing. And if there’s something about Ime Udoka, it's that doesn’t disappoint people he’s not in a relationship with.
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