NBA Summer League 2023 odds, best bets: Thunder, Pistons, & Blazers favorites to win Las Vegas 2K24 championship

The 2023 NBA Summer League has been rolling all week, with 10 teams split between Salt Lake City and the California Classic. The real fun begins on Friday, when the NBA 2K24 Summer League tips off in Las Vegas. All 30 teams are competing, and everyone's eyes will be on the top lottery prizes from this stacked rookie class.

Will we see Chet Holmgren and the Thunder against Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs? Will Portland win a second straight Summer League title, this time with the help of Scoot Henderson? Are the stacked young Pistons ready to assert their will on the league?

We'll answer all those questions and more in our Las Vegas Summer League Championship betting guide as we break down the odds, best bets, and top sleepers.

MORE SUMMER LEAGUE BETTING: MVP odds, best bets

NBA Las Vegas Summer League 2023 Champion: Odds

All odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook

NBA Las Vegas Summer League 2023: Best bets

OKC Thunder (+700)

If they decide to really go for it, the Thunder have the best chances of winning the 2023 NBA Summer League Championship. They have a two-way star in 7-1 Chet Holmgren, a reigning All-Rookie First Teamer and defensive stud in Jalen Williams, and a slashing athletic force in point guard Tre Mann. OKC also arguably has the most depth in the tournament, with multiple members of its second unit possessing NBA experience.

We loved what we saw from Thunder Summer League coach David Akinyooye in Salt Lake City. He rolled out eight-man rotations and gave his key starters big minutes. That gives us the impression that Oklahoma City is not only using the summer to decide on final regular-season rosters, but it's also potentially gunning for the Summer League title.

If Holmgren plays well — and Jalen Williams plays at all — this team will be tough to beat. Jeremiah Robinson-Earl and rookies Keyontae Johnson and Cason Wallace could also get on the court, making the Thunder's status as contenders even stronger. Don't let Wemby-mania cloud your vision and underestimate the best overall squad from top to bottom. This is your best bet to win it all, and OKC's odds will only shorten as the public starts to realize it.

Detroit Pistons (+900)

The Pistons may not have as much established NBA talent as OKC, but their overall upside and ceiling might be just as high. Detroit's Summer League roster is a smorgasbord of lottery picks, highlighted by All-Rookie Second Team selections Jaden Ivey and Jalen Duren and 2023 fifth overall pick Ausar Thompson.

That's a talented nucleus on its own, with Ivey and Ausar as athletic of a pair of slashers as we'll see this summer and Duren one of the most dominant bigs in the field. Add solid wing scorer Isaiah Livers, rookie guard Marcus Sasser, and former No. 2 overall pick James Wiseman to the mix, and we're talking about a serious contender. 

Since Summer League gets so sloppy — and summer shooters can be rusty as a wheelbarrow in a Seattle backyard — the teams with solid combinations of interior size and athletic slashers often have legs up on the rest of the field. The Blazers and Knicks made it to the championship last year with their top respective scorers, Trendon Watford and Quentin Grimes, shooting poorly for much of the tournament. Bet on size, athleticism, and experience, and put a modest wager on Detroit. 

Portland Trail Blazers (+950)

Of course, we would be remiss if we didn't mention the defending Summer League-champion Blazers. They'll be rolling out another strong lineup this year, highlighted by No. 3 overall pick Scoot Henderson, a solid sleeper for Summer League MVP honors after averaging 16.5 points and 6.8 assists, and 5.3 boards in the G League last season.

Henderson will man the backcourt with third-year guard Keon Johnson, and Portland be brimming with wing talent with Shaedon Sharpe, Malachi Smith, Jabari Walker, and rookie sharpshooter Kris Murray. Portland also has three centers standing between 7-1 and 7-4. So, yeah, this squad could easily make some noise, run it back, and bring down its third Summer League title.

NBA Las Vegas Summer League 2023: Top value bets

Sacramento Kings (+1800)

The Kings messed around and got really good last season, with De'Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis leading Sacramento to a Game 7 against the Warriors in the opening round of the playoffs. Now they're looking for their second Summer League championship in three years and third since the tournament started in 2013.

Of course, they will be without 2022 Summer League standout Keegan Murray, who the Kings announced on Thursday will not be playing in Vegas. But plenty of talent remains on this Sacramento squad, including third-year forward Kessler Edwards and pure-scoring rookie guard Colby Jones.

Sacramento's past efforts in this tournament tell us that Summer League glory obviously means something to this organization and its ownership team. Don't be surprised to see the Kings lighting the beam after taking down the Summer League Championship once again.

Houston Rockets (+2000)

The Rockets entered the summer as one of the youngest squads in the NBA, so, naturally, they feature one of the higher-upside Summer League rosters in the tournament. No. 4 overall pick Amen Thompson will get the opportunity to run the offense for Ime Udoka assistant coach Ben Sullivan, and second-year wing Tari Eason will share front-court duties with 2023 first-round pick Cam Whitmore and '22 third overall pick Jabari Smith Jr. 

This might not always be a pretty half-court offense, but Houston certainly has the raw talent and athleticism to make some noise and keep its collective foot on the proverbial gas pedal. We're putting a modest $10 bet on Amen blessing these Rockets with Summer League glory come July 17th. 

NBA Las Vegas Summer League 2023: Best long shot

Milwaukee Bucks (+2500)

The Bucks pulled a move seldom exercised by NBA teams, naming new head coach Adrian Griffin the coach of their Summer League squad. This should not only help develop the Bucks' young assets quicker, but it will also likely make Milwaukee a considerable threat to go all the way in Las Vegas.

Milwaukee has plenty of talent on its roster, albeit not top-billed superstars from the rookie class like the aforementioned teams can boast. MarJon Beauchamp has solid handles, a smooth stroke, and great playmaking ability that will put him firmly in contention for Summer League MVP. Drew Timme, one of the more dominant big-man scorers in the NCAA last season, will likely be a force at this level, as well. Former Celtic Tacko Fall, a 7-6 center with an 8-4 wingspan, will also be huge on the boards. 

If the Bucks can get solid contributions from former Warrior Nico Mannion and 2022 G-League Most Improved Player Craig Randall II, don't be surprised if Milwaukee cruises right into contention and starts looking like a massive value at +2500. 

NBA Las Vegas Summer League 2023: Biggest fade

San Antonio Spurs (+1200)

Sportsbooks seem to be listing the Spurs just close enough to the top of odds boards to give the impression that they're good — but just long enough to avoid too much of a liability in case they really do end up being good. Spoiler alert: they're most likely going to be pretty bad. 

Sure, San Antonio has No. 1 pick and generational superstar Victor Wembanyama, and Malaki Branham has a massive ceiling as a pure scoring guard with a solid jumper. However, beyond that, this Spurs team is pretty shallow, and there's no guarantee Wemby will even play all the games or log big minutes when he does suit up.

Wembanyama boosted the estimated value of the San Antonio organization by half a billion dollars, so Gregg Popovich won't let his associate coaches burn him out or get him injured during 10 days of summer exhibition play. As tempting as it may be to bet on Wemby and the 2015 Summer League champion Spurs, stray from the crowd and fade them.