New York Knicks Disrespected in Opening Odds to Repeat and Win 2027 NBA Finals

The 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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