There may not be a lot of support in the betting markets for the New York Knicks to lift the Larry O’Brien Trophy this season, but that does not mean all hope is lost for Knicks fans.
According to current betting odds, the San Antonio Spurs enter the 2026 NBA Finals as roughly 2-to-1 favorites to win the championship. If the Spurs are able to finish the job, it would mark their first NBA title since 2014 and elevate superstar Victor Wembanyama to an entirely new level of stardom.
That star power is certainly part of the equation when looking at the betting lines. Wembanyama’s popularity, combined with San Antonio’s impressive series victory over Oklahoma City, has fueled plenty of public support for the Spurs. It is possible that support is justified, but it is also worth noting that betting markets can sometimes overreact to the most recent results.
The best-of-seven championship series gets underway Wednesday night at Frost Bank Center, and there are reasons to believe the Knicks could be undervalued heading into the matchup.
While San Antonio’s playoff success remains fresh in bettors’ minds, New York has quietly been just as dominant. The Knicks enter the Finals riding an 11-game postseason winning streak after sweeping both the Philadelphia 76ers and Cleveland Cavaliers. Their path to the championship round has been nothing short of impressive.
The recent history between the two franchises also suggests a more competitive matchup than the odds indicate. Dating back to 2022, the teams have split their regular-season meetings with a 4-4 record. They are also evenly matched against the spread during that span, posting identical 4-4 marks.
This series also serves as a rematch of the memorable 1999 NBA Finals, adding another layer of intrigue for basketball fans. While the Spurs deserve to be favored, some bettors believe the gap between these teams may not be as large as the odds suggest.
History provides another interesting angle. Several teams that entered the Finals undefeated in the playoffs, including the 2017 Golden State Warriors, 2001 Los Angeles Lakers, 1999 Spurs, and 1982 Lakers, were all installed as significant favorites. Despite New York’s dominant playoff run, the Knicks find themselves in the underdog role.
Whether they ultimately win the championship remains to be seen, but from a betting perspective, many Knicks supporters believe the current price offers intriguing value heading into the Finals.