NBA Predictions & Betting tips

The 2024/25 NBA season is set to tip off and SportyTrader's got you covered! Find our free prediction on which team will be crowned NBA champions along with additional betting information and advice. Our basketball betting experts are here to offer you full coverage of the entire 2024/25 season. Plenty of information for your sports betting!

NBA 2024/25 Presentation and Predictions

Basketball has seen a rapid rise in popularity over recent years and is now officially considered to be one of the top three biggest sports in the world. Fans are attracted to the fast-paced, high-octane nature of the sport which can produce some truly awe-inspiring moments. The National Basketball Association (NBA) is unquestionably the pinnacle of the game, with the world’s most elite talent all congregated across 30 franchises. These 30 teams in search of the famous Larry O’Brien trophy are divided into two conferences: the Eastern Conference and the Western Conference. Make sure you follow our expert basketball betting tips at Sportytrader this season.

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NBA Prediction: Who Will Win the 2024/25 NBA Championship?

After lifting the Larry O’Brien trophy last year, the Boston Celtics have understandably opened as the bookmakers’ favorites to repeat as NBA champions. They were hands down the best team in the league last year and will return the same core of Tatum, Brown, White and Porzingis.

With that being said, the price on Boston is quite low considering all that can happen during an NBA season. Therefore, another Eastern Conference team has captured our attention due to their big offseason moves. 

The Philadelphia 76ers have moved up to the third favorites at most betting sites to win the 2024/25 NBA championship. This is in large part down to the capture of former LA Clipper Paul George. The 34-year-old joins up with perennial MVP favorite Joel Embiid and breakout superstar Tyrese Maxey to form one of the best ‘big threes’ in the NBA.

The Sixers will be fighting for a top three seed in the East with the Celtics, Knicks and Bucks. They’re expected to improve on their 48 wins from last season and could present good value at the current price to be crowned NBA champions. Should Philadelphia stay reasonably healthy and perform up to their high expectations, these odds will likely be lower by the time the playoffs roll around.

Our prediction: the Philadelphia 76ers to be crowned 2024/25 NBA champions!

2024/25 NBA Prediction: Odds on the favorites for the title

• Boston Celtics - 4.00
• OKC Thunder - 8.50
• Philadelphia 76ers - 9.00
• Denver Nuggets - 9.50
• New York Knicks - 10.00
• Dallas Mavericks - 11.00
• Minnesota Timberwolves - 11.00
• Milwaukee Bucks - 13.00

Odds found at Bet365

See the latest NBA betting odds here!

NBA Prediction: Who Will Win the 2024/25 MVP Award?

Last season saw Nikola Jokic claim his third MVP award in the last four years, establishing the Nuggets’ player as one of the game’s all-time greats. Jokic joined the company of only eight other players in NBA history to have won three or more MVPs. Therefore, it’s not surprising to see the Serbian big man open as the oddsmakers’ favorite for the 2024/25 season.

However, as was the case in the 2022/23 season, it’s not too far-fetched to think that Jokic may have to battle against the dreaded voter fatigue if he is going to claim MVP honors for a fourth time.

Luka Doncic has been among the top three favorites to win the award for roughly the past five years, a testament to just how good the Slovenian superstar is despite being just 25 years old. Doncic is coming off his best season yet and marked a major achievement in his career as he led his Mavericks to the NBA Finals. The 2023/24 season saw Doncic post an absurd stat line of 33.9 points per game, 9.8 assists and 9.2 rebounds while boosting his three-point percentage to a career-high 38.2%.

If he can match or somehow even improve on the above numbers, he’s almost sure to win it. This is especially the case now that he has had some consistent postseason success.

Our prediction: Luka Doncic wins the 2024/25 regular season MVP award!

Current NBA MVP odds

• Nikola Jokic - 4.00
• Luka Doncic - 4.50
• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander - 6.00
• Giannis Antetokounmpo - 6.50
• Joel Embiid - 7.00
• Anthony Edwards - 13.00
• Jalen Brunson - 17.00
• Victor Wembanyama - 17.00
• Jayson Tatum - 21.00
• Ja Morant - 26.00

Odds found at Unibet

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NBA Prediction: Who Will Win the 2024/25 Defensive Player of the Year Award?

After a historic rookie season, second-year Spurs phenom Victor Wembanyama is looking well-poised to capture his first ever DPOY award. His main competition will likely be in the form of Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert who claimed the award last year, the fourth of his career. As might be the case with Nikola Jokic when it comes to the MVP award, voter fatigue could be at play in this category as well.

Gobert is tied with Ben Wallace and Dikembe Mutombo as the only three players in NBA history to have four DPOY awards. Another win for Gobert in this category and he would have a strong case for being the greatest defensive player in the history of the game.

Fans and voters alike might not be ready to have that conversation. They also might be ready to begin crowning the next generation, with the likes of Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren already two of the league's elite defensive players.

Wembanyama in particular put up some ridiculous numbers on the defensive side of the ball in his rookie year. He led the entire league in blocks last year at 3.6 per game, putting him well ahead of second-place's 2.4 blocks per game. The reigning Rookie of the Year also posted 1.2 steals per game and 4.4 defensive win shares, landing him on the All-Defensive First Team and saw him finish second in DPOY voting.

Our prediction: Victor Wembanyama wins 2024/25 Defensive Player of the Year!

NBA Defensive Player of the Year Odds

• Victor Wembanyama - 1.50
• Rudy Gobert - 11.00
• Bam Adebayo - 15.00
• Chet Holmgren - 15.00
• Jaren Jackson Jr. - 19.00
• Anthony Davis - 21.00
• Evan Mobley - 21.00
• Giannis Antetokounmpo - 29.00
• OG Anunoby - 34.00
• Joel Embiid - 41.00

Odds found at Bet365

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Beginner’s Guide to How the NBA Works

The NBA is relatively straightforward when it comes to betting and its markets are easy to understand when choosing a game. As in other sports, you can select the winner of a game and, if you are feeling especially bold, predict that the game will go to overtime (ie. betting on a tie). It’s important to keep in mind that there will always be a winner in the NBA, games cannot end in draws.

Similarly, it is possible to make predictions on how many points will be scored during a game, either individual team totals or the combined score between the two sides. In the NBA, it is quite common to see final scores end with 200 or more combined points as the league leans more and more into the three-point shot. This is certainly a viable opportunity to be aware of when making your picks. Care should be taken with the terms used for each event on the betting sites.

Likewise, the NBA also has the handicap, which is commonly referred to as the point spread. This serves to give an advantage or disadvantage to the teams in play based on the bookmakers’ perceived ranking of the competitors. For example, the Golden State Warriors may have odds on the moneyline of 1.50 to get the win against the Orlando Magic. However, as the favorites, they’ll be laying -4.5 points on the spread. In these cases, it is necessary to study the current situation of the two teams.

Bookmakers also offer betting markets for the number of points scored in each quarter or which team could lead after a given time (1Q, 2Q, halftime, etc.). It is also possible to bet on individual player props such as the top scorers of the duel, over/under on assist, rebounds, blocks, steals and more. These can be especially effective if bet on live.

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How do the NBA Playoffs work in 2024/25?

The NBA regular season is 82 games which involves all 30 teams (15 in the Eastern Conference and 15 in the Western Conference) battling for the 16 available playoff spots, awarded to the the top eight teams in each conference. Teams then compete in a best-of-seven playoff series with four total rounds to determine the eventual champion. 

Here's how seeding works at the end of the regular season:

• Teams that finish between first and sixth-place automatically qualify for the NBA Playoffs.
• Teams seeded seventh through 10th qualify for the play-in tournament
• Team's who finished 10th and worse are eliminated

Regarding the actual NBA Playoffs, here's the structure for each round:

• First round: First seed plays eighth seed, second seed plays seventh seed, etc.
• Winners of the first round advance to the Conference semifinals
• Conference Finals (four teams remaining in total)
• NBA Finals

All series are best-of-seven, meaning the first team to win four games wins the series. The NBA Playoffs are often eagerly awaited by fans as the intensity levels ramp up and each game is filled with drama. Want to get in on the action? Be sure to follow one of the links on this page to access a number of the world's best online sports betting sites!

Bet on the latest NBA odds here!

How to Make Good Predictions on NBA Games?

The NBA regular season in a marathon. With so many games, it’s important to follow some betting guidelines which should help to increase your chances of a successful bet. Our experts at SportyTrader have gathered five key pieces of advice to keep in mind when making your NBA predictions:

• Situational spots and team news
• Take into account the form a team’s star
• Analyze detailed statistics 
• Take stock of a team’s mental state
• Compare odds across bookmakers

Below we’ll take a look at each in more detail:

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1. Situational spots and team news

The NBA season sees teams play 82 regular season games followed by three rounds of best-of-seven playoff series before the NBA Finals. It’s a jam-packed schedule that spans the course of six months. With so many games to be played in a relatively short amount of time, it’s common that situations arise with teams playing on short rest. This rings even more true this season, as the NBA recently announced that each team will average 14.9 back-to-backs in the 2024/25 campaign, up from last year's 14 and 2022/23's 13.3. This means that teams will somewhat regularly play on consecutive nights, which often can have a significant impact on player and team performance.

You’ll want to be aware of these kinds of spots when analyzing an NBA game. Is a team playing the second leg of a back-to-back while their opponent comes into the game on three day’s rest? That’s the kind of situational factor that you have to account for. In a similar vein, you’ll want to keep up to date with the latest team news to stay on top of any potential injury announcements. Following a team's social media accounts is a great way to do this, as is regularly checking injury reports. The Bucks are going to look much different on the court if they are without the services of Giannis, for example. Keep in mind that all of the above will be reflected in the betting odds.

2. Take into account the form of a team’s star

It is worth considering the individual level of the stars of each team competing in the NBA, since a good performance could be enough to clinch a win. This is a league undoubtedly controlled by the star players. With only five players on the court at a time for each team, a truly elite player is naturally going to have more opportunity to shine.

For example, the relevance of Jayson Tatum on the Boston Celtics or Jimmy Butler on the Miami Heat always plays a huge part in the outcome of a game, either positively or negatively based on their performance. Long absences due to injuries are sometimes a problem. However, secondary stars, who help to bring out the best qualities of their teammates should also be taken into account: Kevin Durant and Devin Booker on the Phoenix Suns or Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokić on the Nuggets are clear evidence.

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3. Analyze detailed statistics

It is also key that a bettor study the previous statistics of an NBA team before making a prediction involving them. There are plenty of advanced statistics to dig into, which can help provide a more clear picture of just how a team is performing.

Of course, many will look at base-level stats such as points scored and points allowed. However, taking a look under the hood reveals useful information such as team pace (how many possessions a team has per 48 minutes), true shooting percentage, player-efficiency rating (PER), offensive and defensive rating among many others. The good news is that this information is widely available to be consumed! These can provide more sound predictions to be made as you will better understand how each team approaches the game.

For example, say you are looking to bet on a game’s points total. The team’s involved are the LA Lakers and the Golden State Warriors. You consult the pace statistic and note that these are two of the top three teams in the league in that regard. Logically, that means both teams play at a high tempo and get plenty of shot attempts up. A perfect recipe for betting on the over!

4. Take stock of a team’s mental state

Another value that holds a lot of weight during the NBA season is the mental state of the players. Bad streaks are difficult to bear for any team and if things are not solved, the pressure starts to generate mistakes among the players.

The crisis can then begin to manifest itself on the court in the form of cold shooting streaks and disjointed team chemistry to name a few. Likewise, situations that arise off the court in a player's personal life, or lack of personal care, also lead to a decrease in overall performance. For example, Ja Morant (Memphis Grizzlies) was out of action for a long time due to showing a firearm on his social media channels at a party. A team missing its star player and the face of the franchise is naturally going to have a significant effect on a team.

5. Compare odds across bookmakers

Last but certainly not least, you will want to make it a priority to compare the odds at different bookmakers. We can’t stress enough just how important this is; this one factor can often make the difference between some sports bettors ending up profitable or in the red! You should make it a habit to constantly look for the best available odds for the bet you are looking to make.  Consistently locking in the best possible price will provide an instant improvement to your ROI!

The best method to achieve this in the most efficient way is to sign-up with as many betting sites as you can. Having accounts across a multitude of different sportsbooks ensures you will have the access to the largest pool of available betting lines and thus ultimately find the best odds. That’s not the only benefit as you will also be able to take advantage of bookmaker’s welcome bonuses, many of which can see you receive a 100% matched first time deposit bonus! To see the best welcome bonuses on the internet, visit our best betting sites page.

Check out the latest odds at Vbet!

What Not to Do For Your NBA Predictions

To give yourself the best chance at improving your bottom line when it comes to betting on the National Basketball Association, there are a few pitfalls you will want to avoid. Here are some examples of what you should be cautious of:

• Not assessing the situational spot of the teams
• Disregarding the mental state and performance of a team’s star player.
• Not accounting for a team’s home vs away performances.
• Chasing your losses (ex. Betting triple your normal amount to ‘make up for’ two previous losses).
• Not practicing proper bankroll management (you should have a fixed bet amount within your overall betting funds). 
• Not comparing bookmakers to find the best possible odds on the market for your bet.
• Betting strictly on a team’s name and reputation and not accounting for recent performance and form.
• Only looking at final scores of previous games and not digging deeper into the underlying statistics.
• Disregarding the betting odds and not understanding the implied probability behind them.
• Blindly betting on your favorite team.

More than a few beginner and experienced bettors have fallen victim to one or multiple of the above habits. If you can eliminate them from your betting process and approach each game with clear, rational analysis, you’ll greatly increase your chances of turning a profit!

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NBA Prediction: Statistics You Need to Know

Statistics are a reflection of what happens on the court and in the NBA they carry significant weight when it comes to making predictions. Here is the record for the entire previous 2023-24 season:

2023-24 regular season:

• Overall scoring average: 114.2
• Three-point shooting efficiency per team: 36.6%
• Free throw efficiency per team: 78.4%
• Average rebounds per game: 43.5
• Average assists per game: 26.7
• Average blocks per game: 5.1
• Average number of fouls per game: 18.7
• Team with the highest scoring average: Indiana Pacers (123.3)
• Team with the highest three-point shooting efficiency: OKC Thunder (38.9%)
• Team with the highest free throw efficiency: Utah Jazz (83%)
• Team with the most rebounds per game: Golden State Warriors (46.7)
• Team with the most assists per game: Indiana Pacers (30.8)
• Team with the most blocks per game: Boston Celtics / OKC Thunder (6.6)
• Team with the most fouls per game: Indiana Pacers (21.4)

2023-24 Postseason

• Overall scoring average: 105.6
• Three-point shooting efficiency per team: 35.1%
• Free throw efficiency per team: 77.9%
• Average rebounds per game: 41.8
• Average number of assists per game: 23.2
• Average blocks per game: 4.8
• Average number of fouls per game: 19.1
• Team with the highest scoring average: Indiana Pacers (113.9)
• Team with the highest three-point shooting efficiency: Philadelphia 76ers (37.8%)
• Team with the the highest free throw efficiency: New Orleans Pelicans (85.9%)
• Team with the most rebounds per game: New Orleans Pelicans (45.5)
• Team with the most assists per game: Indiana Pacers (29.9)
• Team with the most blocks per game: Philadelphia 76ers (6.3)
• Team with the most fouls per game: Phoenix Suns (23.3)

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In Short: How to Make the Right NBA Predictions?

When making your NBA predictions, be sure to follow the tips and strategies laid out in this article. Remember to always account for a team’s schedule, the star players involved and their overall form, as well as the injury report from both teams. Analyze the matchup between the two teams and look to the underlying statistics to guide you. Of course, you should also do your best to follow the news for each team that you are interested in betting on.

If you find yourself short on time and don’t think you’ll be able to fully commit to analyzing an NBA game, or you simply would like to hear the advice of our tipsters, head over to our predictions page where you can find the latest betting tips by our experts!

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NBA: Best Odds

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