The 2025-26 NBA season tipped off on Oct. 21, and the odds for futures bets haven’t changed much in the first week. If you feel like you missed out on some value, I’ve got good news for you – you’re still in a good spot to make a profit.
Currently, OKC has the shortest odds (+240) of any team to win the NBA Championship, followed by the Denver Nuggets (+650), Cleveland Cavaliers (+850), and New York Knicks (+900). OKC opened the season with three straight wins, including a miraculous comeback on Opening Night against the Houston Rockets.
Since OKC is such a huge favorite, we’ll need to get a bit more creative in how we make a profit on these futures bets. There are a number of different futures markets besides predicting the NBA champion, and one of the most popular NBA futures betting markets is the over/under total on regular-season wins. Looking at these numbers, we can get a good idea of where teams will land when the playoffs come around.
Below, I will give my best three NBA futures to make a week into the season. These picks will focus on the Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets, and Atlanta Hawks.
What are the Best NBA Futures Bets to Place Before the Season Begins?
Oklahoma City Thunder: NBA Finals Winner (Open: +245, Now: +240)
The Thunder, fresh off a historic 68-14 season and their second NBA championship in 2025, are dominating early with a 2-0 start, including a thrilling double-overtime win over the Indiana Pacers (141-135) and a victory against the Houston Rockets. Their 62.5-win total coming into the season was the highest projection since the Warriors’ 67.5 in 2015-16 (who finished with 58).
Our goal here isn’t chasing wins, but rather seeing OKC hoist the Larry O’Brien Trophy again. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the 2025 NBA MVP, is torching defenses, averaging 40 points per game through the first two games, including a career-high 55 points (20-for-24 FG, 83.3% TS) with eight rebounds and five assists against the Pacers in the second game. Chet Holmgren, locked in with a $135 million extension, is anchoring the paint, averaging 24.7 PPG and 10 rebounds.
No team rivals OKC’s versatility up and down the roster. If the injury bug hits, their next-man-up mentality thrives, and that’s why 80% of NBA GMs pick them to repeat.
Houston Rockets: Under Regular Season Wins (Open: 53.5, Now: 51.5)
The Rockets are off to a rough start, sitting at 0-2 after a double-OT thriller against the defending champs and a four-point loss to the Detroit Pistons in their home opener. The season-ending ACL injury to Fred VanVleet leaves a gaping hole at point guard, and we shouldn’t expect 82 games out of Kevin Durant. Since the 2020-21 season, KD averages just under 55 games per year.
Alperen Sengun, the Rockets’ rising star, is factoring in all areas of the scoresheet, averaging 18.5 points and 10.5 rebounds through two games, while Amen Thompson, stepping into the point guard role, posts 15.0 points and 8.0 rebounds.
The Western Conference is loaded with heavy competition like OKC, the Warriors, Clippers, Lakers, and Timberwolves all capable of winning the West. Houston’s not tanking, far from it, but their high-powered offense isn’t producing wins yet. Projections peg them at 45-48 wins, a step back from their 52-30 finish last year, especially if Durant misses time or the young core struggles to gel.
Atlanta Hawks: Under Regular Season Wins (Open: 47.5, Now: 46.5)
The NBA trade gods could deliver if they strike early! Trae Young remains a scorching-hot name on the trade block, especially with contenders like the Celtics, Pacers, and Rockets reeling from season-altering injuries to their stars. If any of them dig a deeper hole, they might pounce for one of the NBA’s most fascinating players.
Atlanta swung big in the offseason, landing Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Luke Kennard, and Kristaps Porzingis. But there were plenty of losses as well: Clint Capela, Caris LeVert, Terance Mann, Larry Nance Jr, and Georges Niang. Those absences leave the Hawks thin on the defensive end, and Porzingis is already nursing an ankle injury. Even with Young still in the fold, the Hawks face a grind, and their honest projections now hover at 42-45 wins.
