The Milwaukee Bucks are typically among the preseason betting odds leaders to win the NBA’s Eastern Conference and the league championship. Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo is entering his eleventh year in the league, all as a member of Milwaukee’s roster.
During his decade-long tenure in Wisconsin, Antetokounmpo has won an NBA Championship in 2021, has become a two-time league MVP, has earned five first-team All-NBA selections, and is a seven-time NBA All-Star.
Point guard Damian Lillard has now been acquired by the Bucks, elevating their status even higher at 18+ NBA betting sites. Lillard will represent the most formidable number two that has ever played alongside Antetokounmpo.
The only thing missing from Lillard’s trophy cabinet is an NBA Championship Trophy. Current NBA futures place Milwaukee in the number one position, a mere twenty points ahead of the Boston Celtics.
2023-24 NBA Championship Futures
- Milwaukee Bucks +380
- Boston Celtics +400
- Denver Nuggets +550
- Phoenix Suns +650
- Golden State Warriors +1200
- Los Angeles Lakers +1200
- Los Angeles Clippers +1800
- Dallas Mavericks +2500
- Miami Heat +2500
- Philadelphia 76ers +2500
The Celtics also narrowly trail the Bucks in the odds to win the Eastern Conference in 2023-24. If these odds for betting on the NBA Playoffs are accurate, then Milwaukee and Boston will meet in the Eastern Conference Finals.
2023-24 NBA Eastern Conference Futures
- Milwaukee Bucks +155
- Boston Celtics +175
- Miami Heat +1000
- Cleveland Cavaliers +1100
- Philadelphia 76ers +1200
- New York Knicks +2000
Due to Antetokounmpo’s routine dominance, he is often featured near the top of the NBA MVP odds. This year is no different, as Giannis is ranked third behind the Denver Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic and the Dallas Mavericks’ Luka Doncic.
2023-24 NBA Regular Season MVP Odds
- Nikola Jokic (DEN) +425
- Luka Doncic (DAL) +550
- Giannis Antetokounmpo (MIL) +600
- Joel Embiid (PHI) +750
- Jayson Tatum (BOS) +850
- Anthony Edwards (MIN) +1400
- Kevin Durant (PHX) +1500
- Stephen Curry (GSW) +1500
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (OKC) +1600
- Devin Booker (PHX) +1800
- Damian Lillard (MIL) +2200
Lillard enters the NBA season ranked 11th in the Most Valuable Player odds, implying that the Bucks possess two of the top eleven overall players in the NBA. MVP odds-leader Nikola Jokic’s Nuggets possess the highest odds to make it to the NBA Finals out of the Western Conference.
2023-24 NBA Western Conference Futures
- Denver Nuggets +275
- Phoenix Suns +325
- Golden State Warriors +600
- Los Angeles Lakers +700
- Dallas Mavericks +1200
- L.A. Clippers +1200
The Phoenix Suns trail Denver by 50 points in the above NBA futures odds. Like the Bucks, the Suns also feature two players among the top MVP odds-getters on their roster. Forward Kevin Durant places seventh overall, while guard Devin Booker is ranked tenth.
The only question mark about the Suns and their ability to win a championship is the health of Durant. If KD can play a majority of the season, then they’ll have a much better shot at performing above what the current odds for NBA Championship betting suggest.
ESPN, Bovada (Bovada Review), CBS Sports
