The NBA is one of the greatest sports leagues in the world, and it is also a favorite among bettors. Getting to watch the best basketball players in the world while having a chance to wager on these games is naturally a huge draw. Bookmakers offer a variety of betting markets for the NBA season, and there are plenty of good odds available as well. Both new and experienced bettors are guaranteed to find valuable wagers.
If you want to get into NBA betting but don’t know how to get started, then we are here to offer a helping hand. Take a look at our guide on how to bet on the NBA and learn everything you need, from the betting markets available to how NBA betting lines work, how to read NBA odds, and the best NBA betting trends.
History of the NBA
The NBA was created in 1949 following the merger of the Basketball Association of America (BAA) and the National Basketball League (NBL), rebranding as the National Basketball Association (or simply NBA). The newly-established league had some rough early years, frequently losing franchises, dropping from 17 in 1949 to eight in 1955. But the NBA did manage to survive the shaky start, and the number of franchises started to grow again in 1961. The Charlotte Bobcats were the most recent expansion team to join the NBA, in 2004, taking the number of franchises to 30.
Over its history, the NBA has had a number of dynasties, dominating teams that piled up one championship after the other. The most famous NBA dynasty was, without question, Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls. From 1990 to 1998, the Bulls won an impressive six NBA championships. The Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Los Angeles Lakers’ dynasty reached eight finals between 1979 and 1989, winning five titles. More recently, the Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal Lakers won three titles in a four-year span from 2000 and 2004. And right now, the Golden State Warriors continue to build on theirs, having reached the finals six times since 2014 while capturing four titles.
The NBA regular season begins mid-October, with the 30 teams split into two conferences, East and West. These conferences are further split into three divisions each: Atlantic, Central, and Southeast for the Eastern Conference, and Northwest, Pacific, and Southwest for the Western Conference. Each NBA team plays a total of 82 games, including 16 within the division.
Division champions automatically secure the top 3 seeds of their respective conference for the playoffs, with the remaining seeds being determined by each team’s overall record. A total of ten teams qualify for the postseason in each conference. Since the 2020-21 season, the 7th through 10th-placed teams of each conference take part in a play-in round to determine the two remaining playoff spots. NBA playoff series are played in a best-of-seven format. The bracket does not get reseeded at the end of every round. The Eastern and Western Conference champions face off in the NBA Finals to determine the champion.
NBA Betting Explained
As you can see, there is always a lot going on in the NBA season. From division titles to the NBA championship and individual awards, bettors have a lot of options to wager on. Let’s take a look at some of the NBA betting markets available, and the best NBA betting trends.
Also learn about Point Spreads Betting Tips and Tricks
NBA Betting Tips
NBA Betting Examples
- 🏀 The Golden State Warriors and the Boston Celtics are listed as the early favorites to take the 2022-23 NBA titles. As the defending champions, it only makes sense for the Warriors to be the favorites for a repeat. And after losing the 2021-22 Finals in six games, the Celtics remain the top team in the Eastern Conference. Both the Warriors and the Celtics are listed at +600 to win the title, paying $600 for every $100 bet.
- 🏀 Miami Heat at Golden State Warriors NBA betting lines and odds, week 2 of the 2022-23 season: the Warriors were the favorites at -250, meaning that you would need to bet $250 to win back $100 in profit. The Heat were listed at +200, which means that a $100 bet would win $200. The point spread for the game was -6.5 for the Warriors at -105 and +6.5 for the Heat at -115. If the Warriors win by 7 or more, they cover the spread, and you would need to bet $105 for a $100 profit. Heat covers the spread if it loses by 6 or less or if it wins the game. You would need to bet $115 to win $100.
- 🏀 Here are the NBA betting lines and odds for some props from the same game: Bam Adebayo scoring a double-double, with yes at +140 and no at -200. Kevon Looney had an over/under of 5.5 points, paying +105 for the over and -140 for the under.
Pros vs Cons of NBA Betting
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Summary
If you like basketball betting, then NBA betting is an absolute must. Having a chance to wager on the best players in the world on a daily basis is great, and it gets even better thanks to the many betting markets, NBA betting lines, and competitive odds available. It’s a long season though, so be prepared for nights in which your bets do not go according to plan. To open up your wagering horizons more, you can look up our section on How to bet on College Basketball.
