Brooklyn Nets open as 2021-22 NBA title favorites; Lakers, Bucks next play NBA Finals MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo excited to win title with Middleton, Bucks (2:31) Giannis Antetokounmpo reflects on winning the NBA Finals with longtime teammate Khris Middleton and the rest of the organization. (2:31) Fresh off seeing an NBA champion crowned Tuesday night, oddsmakers have posted the Brooklyn Nets (+225) and Los Angeles Lakers (+400) as the betting favorites for the 2021-22 season. The champion Milwaukee Bucks, who wrapped up the franchise's first title since 1971 with a six-game Finals victory over the Phoenix Suns, have the next shortest odds at +900. "This season, the Nets and Lakers drew so much more money than any other team," Nick Bogdanovich, William Hill U.S. director of trading, told ESPN, reinforcing how liability on popular teams will always drive odds.