2026 NBA title odds: Thunder favored to repeat, Haliburton injury impacts board

After the Thunder captured their first NBA championship in franchise history Sunday, they're +220 favorites on theScore Bet/ESPN Bet to go back-to-back in 2026, the shortest preseason odds since the 2018-19 Warriors.

The Thunder's core, including Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, will return next season. Gilgeous-Alexander was the first player to win the regular-season MVP and Finals MVP awards in the same season since LeBron James in 2013.

Oklahoma City's remarkable depth led the team to a title. And next year, it'll run it back with a similar squad in hopes of becoming the first team to defend their championship in eight years.

2026 NBA title odds

*Odds longer than 100-1 not listed

The NBA has significantly more roster continuity than college basketball, but it's still hard to predict how teams will look when training camp opens in October. An influx of player movement this summer could shake up the board. We've already seen the Kevin Durant and Desmond Bane trades dramatically shift the odds for the Rockets (from +1800 to +850) and Magic (from +4000 to +1500).

Then, there's the Giannis Antetokounmpo factor. He's signaled that he's more likely to stay with the Bucks than ask to leave, but teams will be circling like sharks if he does become available. That would likely lead to an odds jump for the team that lands Antetokounmpo.

Heading into Game 7 of the NBA Finals, the Pacers had the second-best odds to win next year's title at +850. Then cruelty struck. Indiana's improbable and inspiring run ended in the most devastating way possible when Tyrese Haliburton injured his Achilles in the opening quarter. There's a chance he'll miss all of next season. The Pacers fell to +4000 after the injury occurred.

The Celtics are also further down the oddsboard because of an Achilles injury to Jayson Tatum, who will presumably miss next season. It's almost impossible to imagine the Pacers or Celtics, the latter of whom are expected to move some key starters, competing for a championship without their best players.

That leaves the East wide open. The Cavaliers and Knicks have shorter championship odds now than before Haliburton's injury. The Cavaliers won 64 regular-season games before bowing out in the second round, while the Knicks made their first conference finals in 25 years. And the Cavaliers' and Knicks' cores should look fairly similar next season.

The Magic, 76ers, and even the Pistons could all compete in a weakened Eastern Conference. Philadelphia is in win-now mode, and Orlando went all-in by trading for Bane.

The West is significantly more crowded and competitive than the East. The Rockets have the second-best odds after the Thunder now that a future Hall of Famer in Durant has joined the squad. The Lakers have the next-best odds despite important offseason decisions lurking. The Nuggets will always be in the mix with the NBA's best player, Nikola Jokic, and the Timberwolves recently capped off back-to-back Western Conference finals appearances. The Warriors, Clippers, and Spurs could sneak up the oddsboard when the season approaches with quality offseason moves.

As it stands right now, though, the Thunder are primed to return to glory next year.

Sam Oshtry is a sports writer at theScore. You can follow him on X @soshtry for more betting coverage.