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Before the season began, the Golden State Warriors were heavily favored to win the NBA Finals. The Warriors began the 2016-17 season as -150 favorites and remained on top of Las Vegas odds boards throughout the season, ESPN reports.
Despite LeBron James becoming the first player in NBA history to average a triple double in the Finals (33.6 points, 12.0 rebounds and 10.0 assists), his Cavs were only able to narrowly avoid a sweep to a Warriors team that otherwise remained undefeated throughout the playoffs.
When free agency hits July 1, Steph Curry is an unrestricted free agent and Kevin Durant has a player option, but both would be delusional to leave a juggernaut in sunny California. Vegas bookies know this. And that is precisely why this morning, the Warriors opened at -200 to win the NBA championship in 2018. In other words, you’d have to wager $200 to win $100.
“They’re going to be the highest favorite we’ve ever had going into a season, any team in any sport,” Jeff Sherman, NBA oddsmaker at the Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook, told ESPN.
The Cavs are by far and away the no. 2 favorite to win it all next year, the only other team with single digit odds at 3-1 through the SuperBook. The San Antonio Spurs are next at 12-1, followed by the Celtics at 15-1. Every other team is listed at 30-1 or more.
If you’re looking to get rich off a small investment, throw $100 on the Magic, Nets or Spurs and hope literally everyone in the league gets injured. They’re all currently listed at 1,000-1 odds.
[h/t ESPN]