The Next First-Time Champion: Who's Actually Close?

The 10 Franchises Still Chasing Ring #1

The ten franchises still chasing their first championship are the Brooklyn Nets, Charlotte Hornets, Indiana Pacers, LA Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves, New Orleans Pelicans, Orlando Magic, Phoenix Suns, and Utah Jazz.

Some of these teams are legitimate contenders. Others are in complete rebuild mode. The gap between the most likely first-time champion and the least likely is enormous.

Here's how the odds break down:

• Minnesota Timberwolves (+1,200 to +1,700)
• Orlando Magic (+1,800)
• Indiana Pacers (+15,000)
• Memphis Grizzlies (+25,000)
• LA Clippers (+50,000)
• Phoenix Suns (+75,000)
• Brooklyn Nets (+100,000)
• Charlotte Hornets (+100,000)
• Utah Jazz (+100,000)
• New Orleans Pelicans (unclear, but essentially +100,000 range)

The Timberwolves are the clear frontrunner. Everyone else is either rebuilding or stuck in mediocrity.

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Minnesota Timberwolves: The Most Legitimate Candidate

Minnesota Timberwolves (+1,200 to +1,700) remain the most structurally complete first-time champion candidate in the field.

Anthony Edwards at 24 and 29.3 PPG is the best player on any of these ten franchises in terms of current production. Their combination of Edwards, Gobert, and Julius Randle creates a legitimate two-way team capable of grinding through a playoff bracket.

They've already reached the Western Conference Finals. The building blocks of a title run are institutionally established:

• Edwards is already "that guy" (elite scorer, playoff performer, All-Star Game MVP)
• Rudy Gobert anchors one of the best defenses in the league
• Julius Randle adds size, playmaking, and scoring versatility
• They have playoff experience and know how to win tough series

The biggest obstacle for Minnesota is the Western Conference gauntlet. OKC, Denver, and the Lakers all stand in their way. But if Edwards continues developing and the Wolves stay healthy, they're the most likely team on this list to win a first championship within the next three years.

Want smarter picks without diving into spreadsheets? Hit the Content Lab for NBA betting angles, trends, and quick reads built for real fans.

Indiana Pacers: The Wildcard

Indiana Pacers (+15,000) are the wildcard. They went to the Finals last year as historic underdogs and nearly pulled off the greatest championship upset in NBA history.

Haliburton's Achilles injury derailed 2025-26, but if he returns fully healthy in 2026-27, they immediately re-enter the "first-time champion" conversation at potentially valuable odds.

Here's why the Pacers matter:

• They've already proven they can make the Finals (did it in 2025)
• Their pace-and-space system creates chaos that's hard to defend in seven-game series
• Rick Carlisle knows how to win a championship (won with Dallas in 2011)
• If Haliburton returns at 90% or better, they're a top-4 team in the East

The betting play here is waiting until summer 2026 to see how Haliburton's rehab progresses. If reports are positive and he's cleared for training camp, hammer the Pacers' 2026-27 championship futures before the market corrects. They could open at +8,000 or +10,000 if books are skeptical about his recovery, but if he's healthy, those odds are robbery.

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Orlando Magic: The Underrated Sleeper

Orlando Magic (+1,800) quietly sit as one of the most underrated teams on the board.

Paolo Banchero's development into a legitimate franchise cornerstone gives them a first-time champion profile that their market price doesn't fully reflect. The Magic are young, talented, and built around defense and length.

What makes Orlando dangerous:

• Banchero is averaging 25+ PPG and improving every month
• Franz Wagner is one of the best two-way wings in the league
• Their defense is elite (top-5 in the league)
• They're deep, disciplined, and well-coached

The biggest question for Orlando is whether they have enough offensive firepower to win four playoff series. Banchero is great, but can he be the best player on a championship team? That's the bet you're making at +1,800. If the answer is yes, those odds are a steal. If the answer is no, you're lighting money on fire.

If you're calling upsets in this article, go run it back in Gridzy.

The Teams Farthest Away

The Nets (+100,000), Hornets (+100,000), and Jazz (+100,000) are in active rebuild mode. Their championship probability is functionally zero in any near-term window.

The Suns (+75,000) are in complete teardown after the Durant trade, essentially starting over with no clear superstar on the roster. The Pelicans' situation with Zion is too medically volatile to treat as a contention timeline.

The Clippers (+50,000) are stuck in mediocrity with no clear path forward. They've never made the Finals despite decades of trying. At this point, betting the Clippers to win their first championship feels like throwing money away.

The Grizzlies (+25,000) have Ja Morant, but the roster around him is broken and the franchise seems directionless. Until Memphis figures out how to build a competent supporting cast, they're not serious contenders.

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The Bold First-Time Champion Pick

Anthony Edwards wins the Timberwolves their first title within the next three years. Here's why that's the smart bet.

His age (24), trajectory, team infrastructure, and the fact that the Western Conference will eventually have a window where OKC's dominance normalizes all point toward Minnesota as the next first-time champion.

At +1,200 and above, getting in on their futures before that window opens represents some of the cleanest long-term value on the board:

• Edwards is improving every season and just entering his prime
• The Wolves have the defensive foundation to win ugly in the playoffs
• Minnesota has playoff experience and knows what it takes to win tough series
• OKC won't be dominant forever (injuries, trades, and variance happen)

The smart play is betting Minnesota's championship futures for the next 2-3 seasons at current prices. If they don't win in 2025-26, roll the winnings into 2026-27 futures at even better odds. Compound the bet until they break through.

If you're betting this series, don't guess. The Content Lab has the matchup breakdowns ready.

How to Bet First-Time Champions

The strategy for betting first-time champions is simple. Focus on the teams with realistic paths to contention and ignore the rest.

• Minnesota (+1,200 to +1,700) is the safest bet. They're already close and just need a few breaks to go their way.
• Orlando (+1,800) is the value bet if you believe Banchero is a future top-10 player.
• Indiana (+15,000) is the lottery ticket if Haliburton comes back healthy.

Everyone else is either too far away or too broken to take seriously. Don't waste money on the Nets, Hornets, Jazz, Suns, Pelicans, or Clippers. They're not winning a championship anytime soon.

The emotional appeal of betting a franchise to win their first title is real. But don't let nostalgia override logic. Bet the teams that are actually close, not the teams you wish were close.