groin injury, Lebron, LOS ANGELES, CA -MARCH 4, 2025: Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) reacts after his there-point shot put him at the 50,000 point mark, a record for the Lakers, in the first half against the New Orleans Pelicans at Crypto.com Arena on March 4, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
The Los Angeles Lakers have once again become the center of the NBA universe. With the blockbuster trade for Luka Don?i?, their championship odds have soared, making them one of the most heavily bet teams in the league.
At the start of the season, the Lakers were seen as a long shot, with their championship odds sitting at +2500. Their struggles even pushed them to +4000 at one point. However, the landscape shifted dramatically on February 1, when Los Angeles pulled off a stunning trade, sending Anthony Davis to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for Don?i?.
Immediately, sportsbooks adjusted the Lakers’ odds to +1600, anticipating a flood of bets. “We knew we were gonna take some bets, so we wanted to get ahead of it,” said Caesars Sports head of NBA trading David Lieberman.
Even before Don?i? made his Lakers debut on February 10, the team was heating up, going 9-1 in their previous ten games. Since his arrival, Los Angeles has been nearly unstoppable, winning 18 of their last 21 games, including a thrilling overtime victory against the New York Knicks.
“The Lakers were already our biggest liability before the Don?i? trade,” Lieberman noted. “Since the trade, that liability has only gotten bigger.”
Now, sportsbooks have the Lakers at +900 to win the NBA championship, trailing only the Boston Celtics (+190), Oklahoma City Thunder (+205), and Cleveland Cavaliers (+550).
While the Lakers are surging, the Western Conference remains a gauntlet. The Thunder have been dominant all season, the defending champion Nuggets remain a serious threat, and Golden State—bolstered by the addition of Jimmy Butler—is rapidly gaining momentum.
Still, Lieberman sees a clear path for the Lakers. “Luka beat the Thunder last year with a good-but-not-great Dallas team. Now, with LeBron James, he could get another crack at them.”
Oddsmakers currently list Oklahoma City as the -175 favorite to win the West, with the Lakers as the +375 second choice, followed by the Nuggets and Warriors at +650.
If the Lakers make it to the NBA Finals, they will likely face the Celtics, who boast a league-best 52-10 record.
“If Boston is healthy, I can’t see anyone beating them,” Lieberman admitted. “But it would be a great series. The Lakers could win, but it’d be a tougher matchup.”
Cleveland, however, could shake things up in the East. While the Cavaliers have been dominant, their ceiling may not be as high as Boston’s. If they reach the Finals instead, the Lakers’ chances of winning it all improve.
Regardless of the final outcome, one thing is certain—bettors are all-in on the Lakers. “The Lakers have been the most-bet team all year, and even more so since the trade,” Lieberman said.
With Luka and LeBron leading the charge, Los Angeles is once again at the center of the NBA title race. Now, the question remains: Can they complete the journey and capture championship glory?
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