According to BetMGM, an NBA bettor has placed a $100,000 wager on the Los Angeles Lakers to win the 2025 NBA Finals at +1000 odds. Such a bet would net the gambler $1.1 million.
Lakers Have An Implied Win Probability Of 9.09%
Odds of +1000 indicate bettors would win $1,000 if they place a $100 bet and the bet is successful. This is an implied win probability of 9.09%. It should go without saying that long odds mean betting on an underdog.
Each of the last two champions were one seeds — the Boston Celtics in 2024 and Denver Nuggets in 2023. This year’s top seeds include the Cleveland Cavaliers (64-18) and Oklahoma City Thunder (68-14).
Who's winning the NBA Championship? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/40B87m2Ari
— BetMGM 🦁 (@BetMGM) April 18, 2025
According to ESPN Stats & Information, 52 of 78 (66.7%) all-time NBA champs were also their conference’s top seed. Having said that, five underdogs in the past 32 years have gone on to win the championship:
- 2014-15 Golden State Warriors (+2800)
- 2010-11 Dallas Mavericks (+2000)
- 2018-19 Toronto Raptors (+1850)
- 2003-04 Detroit Pistons (+1500)
- 1993-94 Houston Rockets (+1200)
Luka Doncic Trade Boosted The Lakers’ Title Odds
The Dallas Mavericks stunned the NBA community in February when they pulled the trigger on a blockbuster trade that sent superstar Luka Doncic to the Lakers for Anthony Davis.
In the three-team trade, the Mavs dealt Doncic, Maxi Kleber, and Markieff Morris to the Lakers in exchange for Davis, Max Christie, and the Lakers’ 2029 first-round draft pick.
The Utah Jazz also received Jalen Hood-Schifino, the Los Angeles Clippers’ 2025 second-round draft pick, and Dallas’ 2025 second-round draft pick.
Prior to the trade, the Lakers had +4000 odds to win this season’s NBA championship, per DraftKings and FanDuel. Immediately after the move, sportsbooks upgraded the purple and gold’s odds to +2100.
The addition of one superstar player made all the difference for some gamblers in the betting community, considering the 25-year-old Doncic is a five-time All-Star and five-time All-NBA member.
Doncic Led The Mavs To The NBA Finals Last Season
Doncic led an otherwise average Mavs team to the NBA Finals last season, and the Slovenian sensation also won Rookie of the Year in 2019 after averaging 21.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, 6.0 assists, and 1.1 steals per game.
More importantly, Doncic finished third in the MVP voting last season after averaging 33.9 points, 9.2 rebounds, 9.8 assists per game, one of the greatest statistical seasons in league history.
Among players with at least 400 games, Doncic’s 28.6-point career average is third in NBA history behind only Michael Jordan and Wilt Chamberlain (both averaged 30.1 PPG).
Doncic also is one of only three players in NBA history with career averages of at least 25 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists per game. The other two are LeBron James and Oscar Robertson.
If there’s any team that could pull off an upset or two in this year’s NBA playoffs, a star-studded Lakers squad with James and Doncic could be the one.
Jose is an iGaming analyst with wide experience within the sector. He has been working as content writer on casino and betting websites for more than 10 years, contributing on websites like Pokerlistings, Casinobee, Betpack among others, sharing his insights and perspective for the future ofthe iGaming market.
