Texas NBA Landscape
No matter if you're just a general basketball fan or you closely follow one of the Texas NBA teams, there's plenty to pay attention to in the Lone Star State. Among US states, Texas is home to the second-most NBA teams, only behind the four that reside in California.
With that comes a rich basketball history, as the three teams have combined to bring eight NBA Finals trophies to the state, along with some of the most iconic players of all time. From guys like David Robertson, Hakeem Olajuwon, and Tim Duncan to Dirk Nowitzki, James Harden, and Jason Kidd, the state has seen a lot of good basketball throughout the years.
Texas NBA Season Outlook
The Houston Rockets are the clear contender of the three NBA Texas teams and won the Southwest division. It was a tough season for the Dallas Mavericks, especially after trading Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis. Lastly, the San Antonio Spurs are getting better and will continue to build around Victor Wembanyama and 2024-2025 Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle.
Betting On The NBA In Texas
Despite Texas NBA betting not being legal, paying attention to odds and betting markets can give you an idea of the expectations for each team. Familiarizing yourself with the types of bets you can place will also help you feel more comfortable placing wagers once sports betting in the state becomes a reality.
Championship Odds
Championship odds are exactly what they sound like. This market gives odds for each team to win the current season's NBA Championship. You can start placing bets on NBA Finals odds as early as June or July and throughout the postseason. These odds tend to fluctuate wildly during the season and will vary across operators, so it's always a good idea to check out multiple Texas betting apps to make sure you're getting the best odds.
Regular Season Odds
When it comes to futures markets, the most popular regular season betting option is wagering on a team's win total. Sportsbooks will set a number of total wins for each team for the season, and then you can bet on whether a certain team will have more or fewer wins than the betting line.
The Spurs' win total, for example, was set at 36.5 on FanDuel Texas Sportsbook. Only three other teams had a lower win total at the start of the 2023 NBA season.
Depth Chart & Lineups
The only betting market directly tied to depth charts and lineups is the NBA's "Sixth Man" Award. Whenever you're placing bets on a single game, however, it's crucial to know a team's depth chart in the event of an injury or everyone's favorite - "load management".
Playoff Chances
In addition to betting on a team's finals odds or win totals, you can also make wagers on whether or not a team makes the playoffs. Not only can you wager on your favorite team to make the playoffs, but you can also place bets on other teams to miss the playoffs.
Dallas Mavericks
Although the Mavericks only have one NBA Championship to their name, the team has consistently made the playoffs for the past 20 years. In fact, going all the way back to the 2000-2001 season, there have only been five times the Mavs have not made the playoffs.
Star player Luka DonÄiÄ will look to help start a new streak this year after missing the playoffs last year, and the team is off to a strong start. The Mavs lead the Southwest division and are third overall in the West as of mid-December.
Mavericks Championship Odds
The Mavericks' Championship odds place them around the middle when it comes to the best chances to win. While they are no longer top contenders, oddsmakers still believe a fully healthy squad can be dangerous.
Mavericks Odds
According to FanDuel, the Mavs' win total for the next season is not yet available. All in all, the Mavericks' odds will likely place them as playoff contenders.
Mavericks Depth Chart & Lineup
Dallas' front office did a great job of plugging holes in the Mavericks' depth chart last offseason but they will likely have to do more to build the roster around Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis.
Mavericks Playoff Chances
The Mavericks' playoff chances are off the board. Check back in late June for updated odds.
San Antonio Spurs
The days of the San Antonio Spurs dynasty seem like a distant memory as the franchise has gone four straight seasons without a playoff appearance and is likely destined for a fifth straight. In terms of playoff success, the Spurs haven't advanced past the first round since the 2016-2017 season.
It's not all doom and gloom, however, as the Spurs won the Wembanyama lottery this past summer, locking in what many are considering to be a generational talent and the most hyped prospect since LeBron James.
San Antonio Spurs Championship Odds
I'm not one to tell people how to spend their money, but if you're betting on the Spurs' Championship odds this season, you might as well take that money and flush it down the toilet. Better days are certainly ahead for the franchise that has a knack for uncovering and developing talent, but their finals odds are the longest across the league.
San Antonio Spurs Odds
The Spurs' season started out with low expectations, with just a 36.5 opening win total. But they could be even better next season, as Victor Wembanyama will be back, and Stephon Castle will be even more developed.
San Antonio Spurs Depth Chart & Lineup
If it hasn't become obvious yet, the Spurs' depth chart is highlighted by Wembanyama, who leads a very young group of ball players. If this group of players, consisting of guys like Castle, Devin Vassell, and Keldon Johnson, can continue to grow together, the future could be bright in San Antonio.
San Antonio Spurs Playoff Chances
Similar to their finals odds, the Spurs' playoff chances are more or less nonexistent. Their chances are so minuscule that you can't find playoff markets for the Spurs on FanDuel or DraftKings Texas Sportsbook.
Houston Rockets
Although Rockets fans enjoyed a stretch of eight-straight postseason appearances from 2013-2020, the team has dropped off significantly and has also dealt with the James Harden drama. Heading into this season, Houston has only won 59 of a possible 177 games across three seasons.
After making the playoffs as the second seed, the Rockets will hope to build off that next season.
Houston Rockets Championship Odds
Although the team's improvement this year is undeniable, they will need improvement from the shooters to cement themselves as title contenders.
Rockets Odds
The Rockets' odds are off the board after being eliminated by the Golden State Warriors. Check back in late June for updated odds.
Rockets Depth Chart & Lineup
The team saw a major shakeup to its roster with names like Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks added to the Rockets' starting lineup, with VanVleet signing a massive contract. Alperen Sengun has taken a huge step forward in his development, which has been key for this team early on.
Rockets Playoff Chances
The Rockets' playoff chances will likely be good next season. Check back around July for updated odds.
Bet on the NBA In Texas
Betting on the NBA is not legal in Texas and likely won't be until late 2025 at the very earliest. Although situations can change in the blink of an eye, NBA betting will likely be incredibly popular when the time comes. With names like Doncic and Wembanyama, the Texas basketball scene appears to be in good hands for years to come.
Texas NBA FAQs
No, NBA betting is not legal in Texas at the moment. Despite strong momentum and a sports betting bill passing the House in early 2023, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick completely shut down the issue before it was brought to the Senate.
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