The 2026 NBA playoffs get underway this week and defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder (+115) are favorites to repeat according to FanDuel, but the Boston Celtics (+550), San Antonio Spurs (+550), Cleveland Cavaliers (+1100) and Denver Nuggets (+1100) are also legitimate contenders.

The 2026 NBA regular season came to a conclusion last weekend and Oklahoma City Thunder star guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is favored to win the MVP for a second straight season, while Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic and San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama are finalists as well.

It was a dream come true to cover the Final Four and witnessing my hometown Michigan Wolverines win the national championship for the first time in nearly four decades was a truly surreal moment!