Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images. Pictured: Mikal Bridges #25 of the Phoenix Suns and Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns.
The Phoenix Suns are back in the NBA Finals for the first time since 1993. Even more impressive, the Suns had 40-1 title chances entering the season, which makes them the second-biggest preseason longshot to make the Finals in the past 30 seasons.
The Miami Heat (60-1) last season and New Jersey Nets (60-1) in 2002 are the only teams with longer odds entering the season, according to data from Sports Odds History.
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Longest Preseason Title Odds — NBA Finals Teams
| Preseason Odds | Won Title? | |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 Miami Heat | 60-1 | No |
| 2002 New Jersey Nets | 60-1 | No |
| 2021 Phoenix Suns | 40-1 | ? |
| 2008 Los Angeles Lakers | 30-1 | No |
| 2015 Golden State Warriors | 28-1 | Yes |
| 2011 Dallas Mavericks | 20-1 | Yes |
| 2009 Orlando Magic | 20-1 | No |
It’s been quite an unbelievable season for the Suns who hadn’t made the playoffs in 10 seasons. No team has made the NBA Finals after a postseason drought that long.
The Suns have been doubted at nearly every point in the season. Entering this season, Phoenix’s win total was listed at 37.5 games, which it surpassed by 13.5 wins. The Suns finished with the second-best record in the NBA (51-21) and the second-best record against the spread at 42-28-2.
Despite all their regular season success, the Suns were listed at 24-1 ahead of the playoffs and were the first No. 2 seed in 30 years to be underdogs in a first-round series. Yet they knocked off the Los Angeles Lakers and Clippers- — +500 and +600 to win the title before the playoffs, respectively — along with the league’s Most Valuable Player, Nikola Jokic, on their run to the Finals.
After a tumultuous season and playoffs, the Suns are in the NBA Finals and are the favorites to win the championship (listed at -190 on BetMGM).
The Suns are finally getting respect, and they now sit just four wins away from the ultimate prize.
