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The Golden State Warriors were the last team to repeat as NBA champions when they accomplished the feat in 2017 and 2018, and now Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks have a chance to do the same this coming season.

After their performance in the 2021 playoffs, one might think Milwaukee would be the betting favorite to repeat as NBA champs in 2022. But all the Bucks need to do is take a trip to their local sportsbook and check out the disrespectful title odds for some extra motivation heading into the season.

Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks have the tools to repeat as NBA champs

Giannis Antetokounmpo might want to pull up the betting odds to win the Eastern Conference in 2021.
Giannis Antetokounmpo celebrates with the Larry O’Brien trophy during the Milwaukee Bucks 2021 NBA Championship Victory Parade | Patrick McDermott/Getty Images

Milwaukee didn’t enter the 2021 NBA playoffs as the favorite to even make it out of the Eastern Conference, let alone win the title. As the No. 3 seed in the East, the Bucks were placed right in between the Brooklyn Nets and the Philadelphia 76ers on the odds board.

Those odds shifted dramatically when Kyrie Irving went down with an ankle injury in the first round and James Harden left Game 1 of the Bucks series with a pulled hamstring. Milwaukee eventually conquered the mighty Nets in seven games to move on to the Eastern Conference Finals, and the rest is history.

This season, the Bucks’ Big 3 of Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton, and Jrue Holiday will all be returning to the team. The Bucks lost P.J. Tucker and Bryn Forbes this offseason, but they were able to add Grayson Allen, George Hill, Rodney Hood, and Semi Ojeleye to take their place. They also re-signed Bobby Portis to a cheap, team-friendly deal.

There isn’t much of a difference between this year’s team and last year’s group, so back-to-back championships are there for the taking.

The Bucks should visit their local sportsbook for some extra motivation

Antetokounmpo and the Bucks already have plenty of internal motivation to repeat as NBA champs in 2022. After all, isn’t the main goal of every player in the league to win a title every year?

But if they need any more motivation to go back-to-back, the Bucks could simply mosey on down to the closest sportsbook and check out the 2022 NBA futures board. There, they would see Milwaukee isn’t the favorite to win the NBA title this season. In fact, it isn’t even the favorite to win the East.

Both the Nets (+220) and the Los Angeles Lakers (+380) have better odds to win it all in 2022 than the Bucks do (+900). The disrespect.

Check out the full list of odds below:

  • Brooklyn Nets: +220
  • Los Angeles Lakers: +380
  • Milwaukee Bucks: +900
  • Golden State Warriors: +1000
  • Phoenix Suns: +1600
  • Utah Jazz: +1700
  • Philadelphia 76ers: +1800
  • Los Angeles Clippers: +2200
  • Denver Nuggets: +2200
  • Dallas Mavericks: +2500
  • Miami Heat: +2800
  • Atlanta Hawks: +3500
  • Boston Celtics: +4000
  • Portland Trail Blazers: +6000
  • Chicago Bulls: +7000
  • New York Knicks: +9000
  • Memphis Grizzlies: +9000
  • New Orleans Pelicans: +9000
  • Indiana Pacers: +10000
  • Charlotte Hornets: +10000
  • Toronto Raptors: +15000
  • Washington Wizards: +18000
  • Sacramento Kings: +25000
  • San Antonio Spurs: +25000
  • Minnesota Timberwolves: +25000
  • Cleveland Cavaliers: +50000
  • Houston Rockets: +50000
  • Detroit Pistons: +50000
  • Orlando Magic: +50000
  • Oklahoma City Thunder: +50000

Do the Lakers and Nets deserve to be the top betting favorites?

It might seem odd to see the reigning NBA champions with the third-best odds to take home the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy this season, but are the prices warranted?

The Nets are finally healthy again and have the most lethal Big 3 in the NBA. Plus, they added seasoned veterans Patty Mills and Paul Millsap to the roster this offseason. Oh, and LaMarcus Aldridge is back in Brooklyn after a brief retirement stint.

As for the Lakers, you wouldn’t even be able to recognize their roster if you paid no attention to any offseason moves this summer. Russell Westbrook, Carmelo Anthony, DeAndre Jordan, Rajon Rondo, Trevor Ariza, Dwight, Howard, Wayne Ellington, and more have joined forces with LeBron James and Anthony Davis ahead of this season. Now that’s a scary group.

But until further notice, the Bucks are the NBA champs, and they’ll be the ones to beat in 2022.

All betting odds courtesy of DraftKings as of 9/14.

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Staff Writer

Jack Dougherty

Writing professionally since 2015, Jack Dougherty spent six years as a sportswriter with publications such as GoPSUSports.com, the Centre Daily Times, and the Associated Press before joining Sportscasting in 2020. He covers the NBA, the NFL, and the world of golf extensively and has added expertise on any team located in or around his hometown of Philadelphia. Yes, that includes the Philadelphia Eagles, the Philadelphia 76ers, and Philadelphia Phillies.

When Jack isn’t writing about sports, he’s watching them or playing them as he regularly heads to the gym for some pickup basketball or the golf course to hit the links. He’s also an avid participant in the sports betting scene who worked at a casino sportsbook for a year and learned the ins and outs of the industry before bringing his expertise to Sportscasting with one excellent gambling recommendation after another.