The Knicks’ unfathomable run to the 2026 NBA Finals culminated in yet another signature 37-point closeout win over the Cavaliers in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals.
Ahead of New York’s first Finals appearance in 27 years, oddsmakers didn’t foresee orange-and-blue skies, initially pricing the Knicks at 22-1 to win it all before Round 1 on BetMGM.
That puts them in league with the 2011 Mavericks, who were 18-1 before the playoffs started when they won it all.
Fast-forward through their historic playoff winning streak and, as of this writing, Jalen Brunson and Co. hold +225 odds to hoist the Larry O’Brien Trophy, behind Oklahoma City (+115) and ahead of San Antonio (+260).
The plot of this New York City basketball underdog story continues to thicken, but where do the Knicks rank among previous underdogs entering the Finals?
| Team | Preseason title odds | Round 1 odds | Odds entering Finals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bucks (2021) | +550 | +850 | +160 |
| Raptors (2019) | +1850 | +975 | +230 |
| Cavaliers (2016) | +280 | +475 | +180 |
| Heat (2012) | +225 | +200 | +155 |
| Mavericks (2011) | +2000 | +1800 | +155 |
| Celtics (2008) | +1000 | +180 | +160 |
| Heat (2006) | +350 | +500 | +130 |
| Pistons (2004) | +1500 | +700 | +500 |
According to Sports Odds History, the 2004 Pistons were the largest underdog (+500) entering the Finals to win an NBA championship.
The ’04 Detroit team ousted the three-peat Lakers in five games, defeating Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal in arguably one of the biggest Finals upsets in NBA history.
The 2019 Raptors had the second-longest odds and prevailed against a dominant Warriors team that was aiming for a three-peat.
Current Knicks forward OG Anunoby was part of that Raptors team, which included Kawhi Leonard, Kyle Lowry, Marc Gasol, and Pascal Siakam. Anunoby was injured for the playoff run, but Toronto entered the NBA Finals with +230 odds.
Brunson exhibits point-guard leadership qualities similar to those of Chauncey Billups in 2004 and Lowry in 2019, while one could argue that the Knicks’ wing depth, with Anunoby, Mikal Bridges, and Josh Hart in the mix, mirrors both of the aforementioned teams.
Brunson has +260 odds at DraftKings to add an NBA Finals MVP trophy to his Eastern Conference finals MVP. His odds are the second-shortest on the board behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (+120) and one step ahead of Victor Wembanyama (+300).
The books’ odds for the Knicks to win a title range from +210 (FanDuel) to +220 (bet365).
FanDuel’s hypothetical odds against the Spurs or the Thunder have New York as the underdog on the Game 1 spread and overall to win the series.
Fans and bettors alike, however, can identify 11 reasons the Knicks might secure an elusive NBA championship for midtown Manhattan, their first since 1973.
Mike Turay is a sports journalist and editor who closely follows the NBA, NFL, college sports and UFC. He has demonstrated expertise in both NBA and NFL player prop bets for nearly three years. Mike is also highly knowledgeable about the sportsbook offer landscape, frequently trying and reviewing the latest apps and sites.
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