Basketball season is upon us and that means for sports bettors, another season of gambling.
The sports betting industry has gotten huge over the years. In 2021, the industry was worth over $76 billion. It could go up to $167 billion by 2029.
For those that are looking at betting on the NBA this year, you may still be trying to figure out what bets are going to suit you. What teams do you need to watch out for? Who will win the MVP?
Are there any dark horses for any awards? Here are five free sports picks for the NBA season.
1. Luka Doncic MVP +270
One bet that you should consider taking while you can get good odds is for Doncic to become an MVP this season. This kid is on the rise and is quickly becoming one of the biggest stars in the NBA.
Last year, he averaged over 28 points per game and nearly averaged nine assists per game. This year, he looks to top that, averaging 33.6 points per game through his first 11 games.
Doncic is entering his fifth year in the league and is just 23 years old. However, with the impact he has already made on the sport, it feels like he has been here longer.
The Mavericks are coming off of a good finish last season where they appeared in the Western Conference Finals. As a bonus, they upset the top-seeded Phoenix Suns along the way, who looked like they were going to run away with the west.
Now, Doncic is looking to take another step up in his career and win an MVP award.
2. J.B. Bickerstaff Coach of the Year +700
If you want something that can earn you a decent payday, perhaps consider backing the Cleveland Cavaliers’ Head Coach for the Coach of the Year award.
One thing that Bickerstaff has going for them is that the team seems to be responding to the new dynamic this year. They are 8-3 in their first 11 games and at this point, they are in third place in the Eastern Conference.
Cleveland made some noise in the off-season when they traded for Donovan Mitchell from the Utah Jazz. With Donovan’s leadership among the players for the Cavaliers along with savvy veterans like Kevin Love by his side, Cleveland could take a tremendous step up from their play-in series appearance last year.
3. Dallas Mavericks Southwest +135
You may not be the type of bettor that typically tries to predict divisions, but the southwest may be one that you will want to keep your eye on. Right now, the two teams that seem to be favored from here are the Dallas Mavericks and the Memphis Grizzlies.
Both teams seem to be on a similar path, rising up and are led by young superstars in Luka Doncic and Ja Morant respectively. However, at the time of writing, it is Dallas that is favored to win this division.
This may surprise some people because Memphis won this division last year and are currently ahead of Dallas in the standings. In the off-season, Memphis traded De’Anthony Melton and essentially received Danny Green and a draft pick in return.
Some concerns about their offense appear to be out there, but this could also be the perfect time for Doncic and the Mavericks to strike.
4. Cleveland Cavaliers Eastern Conference +850
This may seem like an extreme pick, but it is one that could be good value if you get in on it early enough. Through the first month of this season, the Cavaliers look to have remarkably improved from last year.
Players like Donovan Mitchell and Kevin Love are looking to take this team to the next level.
Who is in their way? The two biggest competitors from the East look to be the Milwaukee Bucks and the Boston Celtics.
These are the last two teams to win the conference. However, Boston is adjusting to a new Head Coach, so there are question marks for if they go back to the NBA Finals.
With that said, the Eastern Conference appears to be wide open this year, and the Cavaliers look to have some of the best value on the table among the top competitors.
5. Phoenix Suns NBA Champions +750
Finally, our pick to win the NBA title this season is the Phoenix Suns. You may ask why.
Well, one reason is that they have good value compared to some top competitors. Right now, you can get them at better odds than the Boston Celtics, Milwaukee Bucks, or the Golden State Warriors.
The second reason is that this feels like a redemption year. The core is still together and despite coming up short in the NBA Finals in 2021 and getting upset in 2022, this Suns team is still going to be relevant this year.
Do not be surprised if the results from the last two seasons motivates them to take that final step this season.
Get More Free Sports Picks
These are five of our free sports picks if you wish to bet on basketball this season. To recap, we are high on both the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Dallas Mavericks. Back Doncic for MVP and Bickerstaff for Coach of the Year.
As for the NBA Champion, the third time could be the charm this year with the Phoenix Suns coming close the last two years. Will they win it all?
More importantly, do you want more gambling tips? Click here to see some of our latest picks.
