NBA Betting

NBA Odds: A History of the League

If you are a fan of online sports betting, the NBA might be for you. But there was a time when the NBA championship odds were not even a thing. In August 1949, a three-year tussle between the BAA and NBL ended with the two merging to form the National Basketball Association – our beloved NBA.

As recently as 1976, the NBA and merged with the ABA, creating a fourth franchise in the NBA league. In terms of revenue, only the MLB and NFL beat the NBA in North America, but the stars of the sport are up there with any other. More of them shortly.

NBA History: Most successful teams

A recent surge of four NBA titles in the last eight seasons may make the Golden State Warriors the team of the present, but that hasn’t always been the case. In fact, there are two clear leaders in terms of most NBA titles, with the rest playing catch up. 

-Los Angeles Lakers (17 titles)

-Boston Celtics (17 titles)

-Golden State Warriors (7 titles)

-Chicago Bulls (6 titles)

-San Antonio Spurs (5 titles)

NBA Best Players in History

Where to begin with this? It’s a debate that rages on in homes, bars and sports teams around the globe – just who is the best NBA player of all time? Special mentions must go to the likes of Shaquille O’Neal, Larry Bird, Kobe Bryant and Magic Johnson, but the debate of who is NBA’s GOAT comes down to two men. First up…

Lebron James

Lebron’s career has been one of immense pressure from the very start. Not only did he live up to the hype, he went on to establish himself as arguably the greatest player the game has ever seen. His 2016 performance as the Cleveland Cavaliers fought back from 3-1 down against a formidable Golden State team cements his legacy, but there is so much more to shout about. A 4x NBA champion, 4x NBA Finals MVP, 4x NBA MVP and 18x All-Star pick, The King is every bit deserving to be in the conversation.

Michael Jordan

Any player that wins three NBA titles in a row, leaves to take on a new sport (baseball), and comes back to win another three-peat has to be considered the greatest player of all time. Doesn’t he? Michael Jordan is without doubt the face

NBA best bets: NBA Betting Tips

The NBA is one of the most popular sports in North America and growing, partly due to superstars that are accessible to fans through social media. The league is full of vibrant personalities and intriguing storylines that inevitably unfold each season. Not to mention the quality product on the court, featuring players that are more athletic and better skilled than they’ve ever been before, which makes for colourful highlights you can watch at the conclusion of the game. The contests are generally fast-paced and don’t drag on, which fans appreciate in the current climate of social media.

Due to the league enjoying great popularity among the public, NBA betting has been picking up steam as a result. It’s not uncommon to hear announcers and pundits discussing NBA odds during a game or series preview in all types of entertainment outlets: television, online, podcasts, you name it. With a plethora of NBA betting picks available to you at Bodog, from spread to live betting, this “how to bet on NBA basketball” guide will help you choose the best wagering strategy by explaining each bet type and the differences among them. Here’s NBA betting explained in detail.

Spread Betting on the NBA

The most popular bet in the sport is the NBA spread bet, which typically includes a favourite and an underdog. The favourite team in the contest will be given a point cushion by the oddsmakers called the “point spread” by which they’re expected to win. Point spread betting is popular because the odds of betting on either team are fairly even. The point spread compensates for the quality of either team and the likelihood of a certain team winning the contest.

Moneyline betting on the NBA

Betting on the NBA Moneyline is the most straightforward type of bet you can make, as you’re simply picking the winner of the game. In addition to its sheer simplicity, some bettors enjoy betting on the Moneyline because this is ultimately what the teams care about the most – winning the game. A team might not necessarily care about your point spread bet and could let a few points slide at the end of the contest if they hold a comfortable lead. However, they’ll be fighting hard to win the game itself if it’s close. 

Totals betting on the NBA

NBA totals betting, also called the NBA Over-Under betting, is another simple type of wager you can place where you’re picking whether the total number of points scored in a game or a half will be over or under a designated points total set by odds makers.

Futures betting on the NBA

Betting on NBA futures is exactly what it sounds like – you’re wagering on what will happen in the future. If you enjoy making predictions about how a certain team will perform and how far they’ll go, NBA futures odds betting might be for you. The most common type of NBA betting odds is picking division winners, Eastern and Western Conference champions, and, of course, the eventual NBA champion. At the beginning of the season, Bodog will give you an option to bet on every NBA team to win their division, conference, and championship. As the season progresses, some teams might be scratched from the list if it’s clear they’re out of the running for the title.

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Understanding NBA Season Props

If you enjoy betting on longer-term outcomes, NBA season props might interest you. This type of wager involves betting on the outcomes that will materialize (or not) at the conclusion of the regular season. These include NBA team props as well as NBA player props.

An example of a team prop bet would be wagering on a team’s win total for the season, or whether or not they’ll make the postseason. The Toronto Raptors’ line could be set at 52 total regular-season wins and you can bet the Over or the Under, depending on how well you think they’ll perform during the season. A player season prop could be tied to receiving a regular season award, such as the MVP or Rookie of the Year.

Understanding NBA Specials

NBA special prop bets could be anything not described above. For example, the sportsbook may have NBA betting odds on where a high-profile free agent, such as Lebron James, will land the following season. There may be a list of the favourite teams that the media and the people involved with the league have been discussing, as well as an ‘Other Team’ option for his destination.

Parlay Betting on the NBA

NBA parlays allow you to string together multiple individual bets under a single wager. Combining these bets yields a significantly higher return than placing the bets individually, as the winnings from one bet are subsequently reinvested into the next one. However, this type of wager is also riskier, as you have to hit on all of the individual legs of the parlay for the bet to be a winner.

You can parlay anywhere from two to 12 lines, including some props and future lines where applicable, into a single wager for a higher reward. If even a single individual bet within a parlay is not successful, the entire wager is lost. However, if one of the legs of the parlay ends in a push, or is graded no action while all the other components are winners, that leg of the parlay will be removed from the parlay and the other legs will stay in the parlay as winners (or an individual bet if all but one winning bet in a parlay is a push).

Teaser Betting on the NBA

NBA teaser betting is a mixture between buying points and parlay betting. You can add up to 10 individual bets in a teaser wager. Teaser betting allows you to adjust the point spread in your favour by 4, 4.5, or 5 points if you feel like you need a cushion for your bet. However, this comes with an extra cost, as you’ll have to pay more for the same reward than with a regular point spread bet. The premium you have to pay for the extra security increases as the teaser points increase.

Another option to consider are sweetheart teasers, which provide even more cushion than a regular teaser bet – 8 or 10 points. But again, this comes with an even higher cost. Depending on your betting strategy, you may opt for sweetheart teasers to increase your chances of winning.

Live Betting on the NBA

Live betting on the NBA is one of the most exciting ways to get in on the action. You can bet on most single-game events, including the Moneyline, the spread, total points, and even prop bets, while the game is unfolding. If you enjoy picking up on subtle clues during an NBA game that may foreshadow what will happen next, this betting option is right up your alley. You could take advantage of the ups and downs that occur during most NBA games by wagering on outcomes whose odds may be temporarily depressed. For example, if you know a team that gets down by 15 points in the second quarter has a knack for comebacks, you may choose to take a chance on that squad and reap higher profits if the comeback does transpire.

Each of these wagers is ideal for a certain bettor. Whether you like the thrill of high risk/high reward, or the security of betting on a sure winner, there’s something for you in our sportsbook. Have a look, play around with the Bet Slip, and compare payouts with different combinations. It’ll enhance the game-watching experience.