New York Knicks Disrespected in Opening Odds to Repeat and Win 2027 NBA Finals
New York Knicks Disrespected in Opening Odds to Repeat and Win 2027 NBA Finals
Breaking down the New York Knicks' odds to win the NBA Finals in the 2026-27 season.Peter Dewey|
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New York KnicksThe New York Knicks made one of the most impressive title runs in recent history, going 16-3 with the best net rating (plus-15.5) in playoff history to win the 2026 NBA Finals.
So, naturally, you'd expect New York to be in the mix as the favorite to win the title next season, right?
Wrong.
Oddsmakers have set the Knicks at +650 to win a second title in a row, behind the San Antonio Spurs (+250), Oklahoma City Thunder (+260) and Boston Celtics (+550). Even though New York beat the Spurs in five games in the 2026 Finals, oddsmakers aren't even giving the team the best odds to win the East in the 2026-27 season.
2027 NBA Finals Odds
Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook
- San Antonio Spurs: +250
- Oklahoma City Thunder: +260
- Boston Celtics: +550
- New York Knicks: +650
- Los Angeles Lakers: +2800
- Indiana Pacers: +2800
- Denver Nuggets: +2800
- Minnesota Timberwolves: +3000
- Detroit Pistons: +3000
- Cleveland Cavaliers: +3500
- Miami Heat: +4000
- Golden State Warriors: +4500
- Philadelphia 76ers: +5500
- Houston Rockets: +6000
- Los Angeles Clippers: +7500
- Orlando Magic: +8000
- Portland Trail Blazers: +9000
- Charlotte Hornets: +10000
- Atlanta Hawks: +10000
- Toronto Raptors: +10000
- Washington Wizards: +12000
- Phoenix Suns: +12000
- Dallas Mavericks: +12000
- Utah Jazz: +20000
- Brooklyn Nets: +25000
- New Orleans Pelicans: +25000
- Milwaukee Bucks: +25000
- Memphis Grizzlies: +50000
- Chicago Bulls: +70000
- Sacramento Kings: +100000
New York played a lot of the postseason with a chip on its shoulder, and it actually entered the 2026 playoffs with worse odds to win the title than it had before the season started. New York was +850 to win the Finals before the season and fell to +1800 before the playoffs. In fact, that number was even longer after it went down two games to one against the Atlanta Hawks in the first round.
Usually, the defending champion is amongst the top teams in the odds to win the title the next season, and the Knicks are. But, the fact that they're behind Boston (a first-round exit in the 2026 postseason to a team New York swept) and San Antonio by such a wide margin is pretty shocking.
The betting market is clearly expecting improvement from the C's, Thunder and Spurs in the offseason, while the Knicks have a real chance to run things back in the 2026-27 season.
New York's entire starting five -- Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby and Karl-Anthony Towns -- is under contract next season, and key bench pieces like Miles McBride and Jose Alvarado (player option) are either under contract or likely back on the team.
The big question will come with other bench players like Jordan Clarkson, Landry Shamet and Mitchell Robinson, who are all set to be unrestricted free agents. Robinson will likely command the most in free agency in the offseason, but he's a lifelong Knick that the team may want to bring back as the defensive anchor behind Towns.
Shamet and Clarkson both played the 2025-26 season on minimum deals, and it's possible the Knicks bring back at least one -- if not both -- of those veterans. New York wasn't a second apron team in the 2025-26 season, so it could decide to dip into that to keep this core intact.
Given the Knicks' dominance during their 2026 playoff run, it's a little surprising that they're fourth in the odds with most of this core still in its prime. However, history isn't on the side of a Knicks repeat.
There hasn't been a repeat champion since the Golden State Warriors in 2017 and 2018, and the Thunder (who were odds-on favorites to win for most o the 2026 playoffs) appeared to be the team best equipped to make that happen.
So, can the Knicks do it?
Bettors can get in early at +650, which is a pretty shocking number for a defending champ, but I'd recommend waiting on any NBA futures until we're much closer to the start of the regular season.
Odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.
If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.
Find Peter Dewey's NBA betting record here (futures included). You can also follow my daily plays on BetStamp here.
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Published Jun 15, 2026 | Modified Jun 15, 2026
PETER DEWEYPeter is a senior editor for Sports Illustrated Betting. He has worked as a writer and editor for BetSided, NBC Sports, the Connecticut Sun and the Meriden Record-Journal covering the NBA, WNBA, NFL, MLB, and more. A New York City resident, he is a hoops fanatic with a soft spot for his New York Knicks.
Follow @peterdewey2Home/Betting
Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
