NBA: Nuggets win Finals, 2023-2024 futures out

After a tumultuous and hilarious 2022-2023 NBA season, the Joker and the Denver Nuggets being crowned champions on Monday seems like the perfect ending. The Nuggets defeated the Miami Heat in game 5 of the NBA Finals on their home court to end the series. The final score was 89-94. Nikola Jokic won the Finals MVP award, averaging 30.2 points, 14 rebounds, and 7.2 assists for the series. Now that the season is over, NBA betting sites have released futures for the 2023-2024 NBA season.

Nuggets favoured to repeat

The 2022-2023 NBA champions are the early betting favourites at the start of this offseason. The Nuggets have +460 odds to win the title on Bet99, slightly ahead of the Boston Celtics at +480 odds. The Nuggets had a strong playoff run and were able to win every series, except one, in five or less games. Based on their run, the Nuggets look like a strong early pick to win the title again.

However, since the Warriors won back to back championships in 2017 and 2018, no team has even got back to the NBA Finals in consecutive years. There are still a lot of reasons to like the Nuggets. Jokic and Jamal Murray are in their 20s, all their starters are under contract for at least another season, and there isn’t a superteam standing in their way right now. Whether or not the Nuggets can avoid injuries like they did this year will likely play a huge role.

Miami Heat have the 11th best odds to win next year’s championship 

This Miami Heat team was one of the biggest surprises in NBA history. They were heavy underdogs to reach the finals. Now after proving a lot of doubters wrong with their playoff run, the Heat are heavy underdogs to win next year’s title. At +2000 on Bet99, the Heat have the 11th best odds. The Heat are below the Memphis Grizzlies, Los Angeles Clippers, and Dallas Mavericks.

Where are the Toronto Raptors?

NBA betting sites are giving the Raptors almost no shot to win next year’s championship. The Raptors have +6900 odds on Bet99, 18th on the list. The Raptors didn’t win the draft lottery, have a new coach, and Fred VanVleet is a free agent. Betting on the Toronto Raptors is a huge risk that probably won’t pay off. But if the east is anything like it was this year, they should have a small chance.

2023-2024 Rookie of the Year betting now available

Victor Wembanyama is now the betting favourite to win the 2023-2024 Rookie of the Year award. Wembanyama is expected to be the first pick in this year’s draft. He will most likely be in a San Antonio Spurs jersey when the season tips off. Wembanyama is a big favourite at -250 odds on Bet99. He was called “one of the greatest prospects in the history of team sports” by Adrian Wojnarwoski. He will win this award easily if he’s anything close, but an injury would change everything.

Oklahoma City’s Chet Holmgren, who missed the entire season due to injury, has the third best odds at +500. The 7’1 center was the second pick in last year’s draft. Scoot Henderson has the second best odds at +400.

The Rookie of the Year picture should become a little clearer after the NBA Draft on June 22 because we will know which team each player gets drafted to. This is a good opportunity to make a bet before the odds change, especially if you’re betting against Wembanyama.