LeBron James’ injury has dealt a major blow to the Los Angeles Lakers’ championship hopes-and bettors are reacting fast. Following the announcement, the Lakers have dropped to the fifth favorite to win the NBA title, trailing far behind the current frontrunners, the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Luka Doncic’s arrival in Los Angeles last season raised expectations sky-high, with fans dreaming of the team’s first championship in five years. But things didn’t go as planned.
Despite a red-hot 10-2 start to the Doncic Era, the Lakers stumbled in the postseason, falling in five games to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round.
This season, with Doncic in better shape and fully integrated into the system, both fans and analysts had the Lakers pegged as serious contenders. But LeBron’s injury has dramatically shifted the narrative.
What are the Lakers’ odds now?
Last week, the Lakers announced that James would miss the first three to four weeks of the regular season due to sciatica-news that sent shockwaves through the betting world.
According to sportsbook Sky Bet, the Lakers now sit at 13/1 odds to win their 18th championship-well behind the Thunder, who are listed at 2/1.
Here’s how the current title odds stack up:
- Oklahoma City Thunder – 2/1
- Cleveland Cavaliers – 6/1
- Denver Nuggets – 13/2
- New York Knicks – 10/1
- Los Angeles Lakers – 13/1
Who’s the favorite for MVP?
Oddsmakers have a clear frontrunner for the 2025-2026 MVP: reigning winner Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Thunder, currently paying 6/4.
Here are the top contenders:
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Thunder) – 6/4
- Nikola Joki (Nuggets) – 11/4
- Luka Doni (Lakers) – 7/2
- Victor Wembanyama (Spurs) – 11/1
- Giannis Antetokounmpo (Bucks) – 11/1
With just a week until the regular season tips off, one thing is clear: LeBron James remains the heartbeat of the Lakers’ championship ambitions.
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