The wait is finally over. The 2026-27 NBA season tips off Tuesday with an opening-day tripleheader featuring the Boston Celtics vs. Detroit Pistons, Philadelphia 76ers vs. New York Knicks, and Oklahoma City Thunder vs. San Antonio Spurs.
The Knicks enter the season as defending NBA champions after defeating the Spurs in five games in the 2025-26 NBA Finals, but a busy offseason featuring blockbuster trades, major free-agent signings, and plenty of roster changes has reshaped the championship picture.
With basketball officially returning, we took a deep dive into the data at Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook to see which teams and players are generating the most interest in the available NBA futures markets.
From NBA championship odds and team win totals to MVP, Rookie of the Year, and season-long statistical leaders, here are some of the biggest betting trends entering the 2026-27 season.
All betting trends below are based on the number of tickets placed at Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook, including straight bets and parlay selections, through 8 a.m. ET on Oct. 20. Each ticket is counted once per selection, with voided and rejected wagers excluded. The data represents action across all Hard Rock Bet jurisdictions.
NBA Championship Futures: 76ers Lead the Way
The Knicks may be the defending champions, but they aren’t the team attracting the most bets to win the 2026-27 NBA title at Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook.
That distinction belongs to the Philadelphia 76ers, who have generated 33.1% of all championship futures tickets, nearly one-third of the market.
It’s worth noting that Hard Rock Bet is the only legal online sportsbook in Florida, so some of the betting data may be skewed toward the state’s two NBA teams, the Miami Heat and Orlando Magic.
Here are the nine most-bet teams to win the 2026-27 NBA championship:
Team | Share of NBA Title Tickets |
|---|---|
| Philadelphia 76ers | 33.1% |
| Miami Heat | 22% |
| San Antonio Spurs | 10.7% |
| Oklahoma City Thunder | 9.2% |
| New York Knicks | 3.6% |
| Golden State Warriors | 3.3% |
| Minnesota Timberwolves | 2.8% |
| Boston Celtics | 2.6% |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | 2.5% |
All other teams account for less than 1.5% of tickets individually.
Can the 76ers’ New Superteam Deliver a Championship?
It’s been a long time since the 76ers last lifted the Larry O’Brien Trophy, with Philadelphia’s most recent championship coming in 1983. However, there appears to be plenty of optimism surrounding the team heading into the new season.
The 76ers finished 45-37 last season and advanced to the Eastern Conference Semifinals before falling short of a deeper playoff run. They responded with one of the biggest offseason makeovers in the NBA, adding LeBron James in free agency and acquiring Jaylen Brown in a trade with the Celtics.
Those two join an already talented roster featuring former MVP Joel Embiid, All-NBA guard Tyrese Maxey, and rising young star VJ Edgecombe. Philadelphia also added Anfernee Simons and other depth pieces as it looks to contend for a championship.
There are certainly questions surrounding how quickly the new-look lineup will develop chemistry and whether Embiid can remain healthy throughout the season. The 76ers are also dealing with some early depth concerns, including a back injury that will sideline forward Dominick Barlow to begin the year.
Even so, Philadelphia has generated roughly 50% more championship tickets than second-place Miami and more than three times as many as San Antonio.
The 76ers will get an immediate test Tuesday night when they visit the defending champion Knicks at Madison Square Garden.
Giannis Antetokounmpo Has Miami Dreaming Big
The Miami Heat are another team entering a new era, and their offseason moves may explain why they’re attracting so much attention in the championship market.
Miami finished 43-39 last season and missed the playoffs after losing in the Play-In Tournament. However, the Heat made one of the biggest moves of the summer by acquiring two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo from the Milwaukee Bucks.
The blockbuster deal sent several players to Milwaukee, including Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr., and Kel’el Ware. Miami also added Klay Thompson, Bobby Portis, and Tim Hardaway Jr., while retaining Andrew Wiggins and Pelle Larsson.
Antetokounmpo now joins forces with Bam Adebayo to form one of the NBA’s most imposing frontcourts, giving head coach Erik Spoelstra plenty of talent to work with as Miami looks to return to championship contention. There may be an adjustment period with so many new faces, particularly on offense, but the combination of Antetokounmpo, Adebayo, and an experienced coaching staff has clearly generated plenty of interest entering the season.
The Heat account for 22% of all championship tickets, comfortably ahead of the rest of the field outside Philadelphia.
Spurs and Thunder Among the Most-Bet Western Conference Contenders
The Western Conference features several teams capable of making a championship run, but the Spurs and Thunder stand out in the early betting data. San Antonio is the third most-bet team to win the NBA championship with 10.7% of tickets after an impressive 2025-26 campaign that ended in the NBA Finals.
The Spurs finished 62-20 and defeated Oklahoma City in seven games in the Western Conference Finals before falling to New York in five games. Victor Wembanyama continues to establish himself as one of the league’s most dominant players, while Stephon Castle, Dylan Harper, and De’Aaron Fox give San Antonio an exciting supporting cast.
The Thunder, meanwhile, are fourth with 9.2% of championship tickets. Oklahoma City won the 2024-25 NBA championship and reached the Western Conference Finals last season before losing to San Antonio.
With Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren leading the way, the Thunder remain firmly in the championship conversation as they look to return to the NBA Finals.
NBA Win Total Betting Trends: Miami Drawing the Most Over Action
NBA win total futures allow players to wager on whether a team will finish the 82-game regular season with more or fewer wins than the number set. While some teams are expected to compete for a championship, others enter the season with lower expectations following roster changes, disappointing campaigns, or rebuilding efforts.
Here’s where some of the early action is going at Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook:
Most-Bet NBA Team to Go Over Its Win Total: Miami Heat
The Heat aren’t just drawing significant attention in the championship market. They’re also the most-bet team to exceed their projected regular season win total.
Miami’s win total is currently set at 46.5 wins, with the Over priced at -115 at Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook. The Heat have generated nearly twice as many Over tickets as the second most-bet team, Philadelphia.
After winning 43 games and missing the playoffs last season, Miami now enters the year with significantly higher expectations following the addition of Antetokounmpo and several other veterans. The question is whether Spoelstra can get all the new pieces working together quickly enough to help the Heat climb back toward the top of the Eastern Conference.
Most-Bet NBA Team to Go Under Its Win Total: Golden State Warriors
On the other side of the market, the Golden State Warriors are attracting the most bets to finish below their projected win total of 35.5 games.
The Warriors finished 37-45 last season and failed to reach the playoffs after being eliminated in the Play-In Tournament. Stephen Curry remains the face of the franchise, but Golden State is entering another season with questions surrounding its aging core and how much longer its championship window can remain open.
The Warriors retained head coach Steve Kerr and continue to feature Jimmy Butler and Kristaps Porziņģis alongside Curry. They also added young talent through the draft, including Yaxel Lendeborg, as they look to bounce back from a disappointing season.
The Under at 35.5 wins is priced at -115 at Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook. However, it’s worth noting that this market has attracted relatively little action compared to some of the more popular NBA futures.
2026-27 NBA MVP Betting Trends
The NBA MVP Award is one of the most prestigious individual honors in basketball, recognizing the league’s most valuable player during the regular season.
With another NBA season getting underway, several of the league’s biggest stars are looking to take home the award, but one young superstar is drawing the most attention at Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook.
Victor Wembanyama Leads Early NBA MVP Betting
Victor Wembanyama is the most-bet player to win the 2026-27 NBA MVP Award at Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook, ahead of Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Spurs superstar has already established himself as one of the NBA’s best two-way players, combining elite rim protection with an offensive skill set rarely seen from someone his size.
Wembanyama averaged 25 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 3.1 blocks during the 2025-26 regular season before helping San Antonio reach the NBA Finals. He also earned his first Defensive Player of the Year Award and finished third in MVP voting.
Despite falling short of a championship, Wembanyama showed he can lead a team deep into the playoffs. With the Spurs looking to build on last season’s success, there appears to be plenty of optimism that he could take home his first MVP Award in 2026-27.
Antetokounmpo is right behind him in betting popularity as he prepares for his first season in Miami. The two-time MVP will have an opportunity to make an immediate impact on a Heat team hoping to return to championship contention.
NBA Rookie of the Year: Caleb Wilson Drawing Heavy Interest
The 2026 NBA Draft featured several highly regarded prospects, but one rookie is generating significantly more betting attention than the rest of the field.
Caleb Wilson Leads Rookie of the Year Betting
Chicago Bulls forward Caleb Wilson is the most-bet player to win the 2026-27 NBA Rookie of the Year Award at Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook. Wilson was selected fourth overall in the 2026 NBA Draft after playing his college basketball at North Carolina.
Despite not being the first player off the board, Wilson has generated roughly three times as many Rookie of the Year tickets as Washington Wizards forward AJ Dybantsa. Dybantsa was selected first overall after a standout freshman season at BYU and entered the league as one of the most highly anticipated prospects in the draft.
Both rookies should have opportunities to make an impact on teams looking to develop young talent, but Wilson has clearly emerged as the more popular early selection in the Rookie of the Year market.
NBA Coach of the Year: Erik Spoelstra Leads Betting
There may not be a head coach in the NBA facing more pressure to deliver immediate results than Erik Spoelstra. After missing the playoffs last season, Miami made several significant roster changes, highlighted by the acquisition of Antetokounmpo. Now, Spoelstra is tasked with turning that collection of talent into a legitimate Eastern Conference contender.
The longtime Heat coach is the most-bet candidate to win the 2026-27 NBA Coach of the Year Award at Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook, generating nearly twice as many tickets as second-place Sean Sweeney. Sweeney is another name drawing notable attention in the market, but Spoelstra’s experience and Miami’s dramatically improved roster have made him the most popular early selection.
If the Heat can turn last season’s disappointing finish into a strong playoff campaign, Spoelstra could have a compelling case for the award.
NBA Sixth Man and Most Improved Player Betting Trends
Two other individual awards generating early interest are Sixth Man of the Year and Most Improved Player. Both markets feature some intriguing selections, including a young Spurs guard whose role has changed heading into opening night.
Dylan Harper Leads Sixth Man of the Year Betting, but There’s a Catch
Spurs guard Dylan Harper is the most-bet player to win the 2026-27 NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award, narrowly ahead of Oklahoma City Thunder guard Ajay Mitchell and Miami Heat guard Pelle Larsson.
However, there’s an important detail to consider. Harper has been named to San Antonio’s opening-night starting lineup after spending much of his rookie season coming off the bench. The 2025 second overall pick impressed during the preseason and will now have an opportunity to play a larger role alongside De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, and Wembanyama.
While Harper has generated the most Sixth Man tickets, players must come off the bench in more games than they start to qualify for the award. His new starting role could therefore create an eligibility issue if it continues throughout the season.
Pelle Larsson Among the Most Popular Most Improved Player Picks
Larsson is also attracting notable attention in the Most Improved Player market, where he holds a narrow lead over Harper in total tickets.
The Heat guard averaged 11.4 points per game last season while shooting 49.6% from the field, showing encouraging development during his second NBA campaign. Miami’s offseason additions could create more competition for minutes, but Larsson has already demonstrated that he can contribute offensively and provide valuable depth.
Harper, meanwhile, could see his production increase significantly if his new starting role with San Antonio translates into more minutes and opportunities.
NBA Statistical Leader Futures: Who Will Lead the League?
In addition to championship and individual award markets, Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook offers season-long statistical leader futures. Instead of wagering on a player’s performance in a single game, these markets allow players to predict who will lead the NBA in categories such as points, assists, rebounds, and made three-pointers during the regular season.
Here’s who is drawing the most betting attention in several major categories:
Most-Bet NBA Scoring Leader: Jayson Tatum
Boston Celtics superstar Jayson Tatum is the most-bet player to lead the NBA in scoring during the 2026-27 regular season, holding a comfortable lead over Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Dončić.
Tatum enters the season looking to help Boston return to championship contention after the Celtics finished 56-26 last year. Boston also underwent a notable offseason change, trading Jaylen Brown to Philadelphia in a deal that brought Paul George to the Celtics.
With Brown no longer alongside him, Tatum could have additional scoring opportunities as Boston adjusts to its new-look lineup. Dončić, meanwhile, remains one of the NBA’s most dangerous offensive players and another popular choice to lead the league in points.
Most-Bet NBA Assists Leader: LeBron James
LeBron James is the most-bet player to lead the NBA in assists this season, narrowly ahead of Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton.
James begins a new chapter in Philadelphia after joining the 76ers in free agency. With Embiid, Maxey, Brown, and Edgecombe around him, the four-time MVP will have no shortage of scoring options to distribute the ball to.
Haliburton is another natural candidate for the assists title, having established himself as one of the NBA’s premier playmakers. The Pacers guard missed the entire 2025-26 season after suffering a torn right Achilles tendon during Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
He also dealt with an ankle issue during this year’s preseason but returned to full practice and started Indiana‘s Oct. 13 exhibition against Oklahoma City, an encouraging sign as he looks to make his long-awaited regular season return.
Most-Bet NBA Rebounds Leader: Domantas Sabonis
Domantas Sabonis is the most-bet player to lead the NBA in rebounds during the 2026-27 regular season. The veteran big man has long been one of the league’s most productive rebounders, making him a familiar name in this market.
However, the rebounds leader market has attracted relatively little action so far, meaning Sabonis’ position atop the ticket rankings shouldn’t necessarily be interpreted as overwhelming support.
Most-Bet NBA Three-Pointers Leader: Kon Knueppel
Charlotte Hornets sharpshooter Kon Knueppel is the most-bet player to lead the NBA in made three-pointers this season. Knueppel established himself as one of the league’s most exciting young perimeter shooters during his rookie campaign, and there appears to be plenty of optimism that he can build on that success in year two.
With LaMelo Ball traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves this offseason, Knueppel could take on an even larger offensive role in Charlotte, potentially creating more opportunities for him to lead the league in made three-pointers.
Like the rebounds market, though, the three-pointers leader market has generated relatively little betting activity, so the early rankings could change considerably as the season progresses.
NBA Clutch Player of the Year: Brunson and Dončić Neck and Neck
The NBA Clutch Player of the Year Award recognizes the player who performs best in the biggest moments of close games. Knicks guard Jalen Brunson is technically the most-bet player to win the 2026-27 award at Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook, but he’s essentially tied with Luka Dončić.
Brunson has built a reputation as one of the league’s most reliable late-game performers, helping lead New York to the 2025-26 NBA championship while earning Finals MVP honors. Dončić is another player capable of taking over games in crunch time, making him a natural candidate for the award.
However, Clutch Player of the Year has attracted the least action among the markets highlighted in this article. With so few tickets separating Brunson and Dončić, it’s more accurate to view them as sharing the top spot in early betting interest rather than declaring a clear leader.
Explore NBA Futures Markets at Hard Rock Bet
The 2026-27 NBA season is finally here, and there’s no shortage of basketball betting markets available at Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook.
Whether you’re backing a team to win the NBA championship, predicting which players will take home individual awards, or wagering on regular season win totals and statistical leaders, there are plenty of opportunities to get involved throughout the season.
Head over to Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook to explore the available NBA futures and basketball betting markets, and follow how the odds and betting trends evolve as the season progresses.
Referenced odds are subject to change.
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