David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images. Pictured: Kevin Durant.
Jason Scott, the vice president of trading for BetMGM, likes what he sees when he looks at his NBA futures book.
More than 80% of the money that was bet on teams to win the title has gone bust. The top five most-bet teams — the Nets, Lakers, Nuggets, 76ers and Jazz — have all been eliminated before the conference finals.
“We’re a small loser on the Hawks alone, but the books as a whole is in terrific shape on NBA futures,” Scott said Monday afternoon.
It’s the same story almost anywhere you go.
Johnny Avello, head of DraftKings sportsbook, said roughly 78% of the money on teams to win the title has lost, with the Milwaukee Bucks on their own being a small loser.
“We were due,” Scott said. “We’ve gotten hammered recently with the favorites winning. The Dodgers hit. The Lakers hit. The Chiefs hit. I actually think people were playing the favorites more to win the title because it seemed easier.”
BetMGM’s MVP Finals futures book is also looking stellar.
That’s because 44.1% of the money was on three Brooklyn Nets — Kevin Durant (29.6%), James Harden (11.5%) and Kyrie Irving (3%).
The 76ers and the Nuggets being eliminated took out another 11.2%, with Joel Embiid (7.1%) and Nikola Jokic (4.1%) taking up a relatively large share.
A sportsbook having more than 50% of the money in-hand before a conference final is rare.