The fourth edition of the NBA Cup is about to kick off, and DraftKings Sportsbook has the Oklahoma City Thunder sitting at +330 as the favorites to hoist the trophy. This isn’t just some side tournament either, because what’s happened in the past few years has everyone talking about how much this early-season hardware actually matters for the rest of the season.
History Says This Trophy Is No Joke
Listen, this NBA Cup might be new, but it’s already got some serious street cred. So far, we’ve had three different winners in three seasons. LeBron James’ Lakers grabbed the inaugural cup, then Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Bucks took Year 2, and Jalen Brunson’s Knicks cleaned up in Year 3. What’s wild is the pattern emerging: the Western Conference team that played in the NBA Cup championship the last two seasons also ended up making it all the way to the NBA Finals. And if that wasn’t enough, last season, the New York Knicks didn’t just win the Cup, they went on to win the actual NBA Finals too. Talk about a warm-up. And get this: the Cup MVPs so far, James, Antetokounmpo, and Brunson, each already had at least one NBA title and an NBA Finals MVP under their belts before adding this to their resume. That tells you what kind of talent plays for this thing.
The Field Is Loaded, But One Team Leads The Pack
Okay, so with the Thunder leading the pack for the overall trophy at +330, they’re clearly the team to beat right out of the gate. But the San Antonio Spurs aren’t far behind them at +370. This thing could get interesting fast. Looking at the full list of contenders, you’ve got the Boston Celtics at +1000, the Philadelphia 76ers at +1300, and last year’s winners, the Knicks, at +1400. Even the Pistons are in the mix at +1500, same as the Raptors and Nuggets at +1800. It’s a packed field, and these early tournament games are gonna be a grind. When you dive into the group odds, it’s clear the oddsmakers see some early dominance. The Thunder are huge favorites in their group at -200, and the Spurs are also expected to win their group at -130. The Celtics are looking good to take their group at +110.
What’s At Stake When The Whistle Blows
The fourth NBA Cup is kicking off soon, and you know everyone’s gonna be watching to see if this crazy trend of Cup finalists making the NBA Finals keeps up. Are the Thunder about to set themselves up for a deep playoff run with an early trophy? Or will another team rise up and snag this thing? These early games aren’t just for bragging rights, they could actually be setting the tone for the entire season. Get ready, because it’s about to get real.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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