The National Basketball Association (NBA) is the most popular and well-known professional basketball league in the world. Since its inception in 1946, the NBA has become so popular that today, betting on the NBA is extremely popular amongst sportsbooks around the world. If you’re unfamiliar, betting on the NBA is where you make a wager on the players and teams of the NBA. The results of the games are determined by a point spread, and the team and player with the highest number of points at the end of the game is determined the winner. Betting on the NBA is widely accepted and very popular amongst sports fans, especially in the United States where the majority of the league’s games are played each year.
Why Do People Bet On The NBA?
The NBA is one of the most popular and legendary sports leagues in the world. Since its inception, the NBA has always been a popular sporting event to bet on because of its high scoring, fast-paced games. The NBA is also very competitive, which is why many games end in a tie. With a few games left to bet on this year, it would be a total surprise if the NBA didn’t end up in a tie at the end of the regular season. When that happens, the tension is typically turned into a wager towards the end of the season. The results of the games determine the champion, and the person who bets on the underdogs normally wins their wager.
The excitement and intense competition of the NBA makes it a popular choice amongst individuals looking to place wagers on a sporting event. In addition, the popularity of the NBA has opened the door for online sportsbooks to specialize in betting on this popular sporting league. With the 2020 season right around the corner, it’s time to explore how to bet on the NBA, and why you should consider doing so.
What Are The Most Popular Games To Bet On?
The NBA is a league that operates on a seasons-basis, which means games are only played in the spring and summer months. Since basketball is a year-round sport, the majority of the games are played in the warmer months, which is when betting on the NBA becomes extremely popular. The NBA usually plays between 30 and 35 regular season games per season, which means the majority of the bets are placed on the outcomes of those games. Since the majority of the bets are placed on relatively few games, it makes the betting experience much more unique and interesting.
Since the start of the season is roughly two months away, getting excited about the upcoming NBA season is a great way to prepare for placing bets on the league. To get a better idea of what to expect, here’s a breakdown of the most popular NBA games to bet on this year.
2020 NBA Draft
One of the most hotly contested events each year is the NBA Draft, or the annual selection of the next generation of NBA players. Last year, the draft was a total blowout, with the New York Knicks selecting Melo Trimble (ranked 27th) with the first overall pick, and the L.A. Clippers selecting Patrick Beverley (ranked 28th) with the second overall pick. The two combined for 19 points in the first half of the draft, and had a final score of 43-10 in favor of the New York Knicks.
This year, fans are expecting another competitive and interesting NBA Draft, which should make for another exciting season of betting on the league. Last year was one of the most interesting NBA Drafts in recent memory, as both the first and second pick in the draft scored 18 points in their respective opening round matchups. Fans can place bets on the winner of this year’s NBA Draft for the same reason they wager on the NBA as a whole — to find underdogs that other experts have overlooked, and to win when the odds are against you.
NBA Season
Another event that people look forward to each year is the NBA season. Like the NBA Draft, the regular season is another event where fans get to see all of their favorite players on display and compete for championships. The regular season is also where fans can make the most of their experience by placing wagers on games that they feel certain will end in a particular way. As soon as the season starts, fans can place a bet on whether the Chicago Bulls or the Los Angeles Lakers will win the NBA championship this year.
This year should be no different, as both teams are once again considered early championship favorites. The Lakers are coming off a season that was full of success, while the Bulls are looking to continue their climb towards the top of the standings. As an added bonus, Chicago is currently favored by -2 to – 3 points, according to the bookmakers, which means there’s definitely value to be had for those looking to bet on the outcome of this year’s NBA season.
2020 NBA Free Agency
Another big event that happens each year is the NBA Free Agency. Just like the other events mentioned so far, the NBA Free Agency is where fans get to see a lot of their favorite players during the offseason. The NBA Free Agency is also where teams can make big moves and add additional talent to their rosters. The most recent example of this is what happened last year with the Los Angeles Lakers. They used their cap space to sign LeBron James, who had spent the entirety of the previous season with the Los Angeles Clippers. The Lakers also signed Rajon Rondo, JaVale McGee, and Michael Beasley to support James in his quest for a sixth NBA championship.
With so much attention and emphasis on winning basketball games and championships, fans sometimes forget about the players and coaches that make the sport so great. Just as with other professional sports, the offseason is where the real competition happens, and the spotlight shifts to who will land the major endorsements and contracts. The 2020 NBA Free Agency should be no different.
Other Sports Betting Events
Apart from the events covered so far, there are a variety of other sports betting events that people can get excited about. There’s the MLB World Series (October), the Stanley Cup Final (April – June), the French Open (July), the Australian Open (January), and the U.S. Open (June).
Each of these sports have large international followings, which leads to a lot of interest and action from the international audience when they’re in contention for a title. The MLS Cup (October) is another big event that is closely followed and supported by many Americans, which is why it’s popular amongst those who wager on American football and basketball overseas. The NBA is so popular in North America that many sportsbooks even specialise in taking bets on this popular sporting league overseas. The MLB and NASCAR have also seen a rise in popularity overseas, and it’s an event that’s growing in popularity every year.
There are many reasons why the world’s richest sports league continues to grow in popularity each year. Last year, the league saw a rise in popularity due to a combination of external and internal factors. Internally, the league faced a lot of uncertainty due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as a number of high-profile defections that threatened the fabric and identity of the NBA. Externally, the popularity of rugby union and T20 challenges grew immensely during the pandemic, due to fans having more free time and access to the internet, as well as a greater appreciation for “unstructured” sports. The uncertainty and disruption the pandemic caused, as well as other factors, make it fair to say that 2020 was a really interesting and eventful year for the NBA.
It would be a shame if all the excitement and interest generated by the NBA over the last year was for naught, as the league can once again be overshadowed by a sport that they’re frequently overshadowed by — the NFL. Fortunately, that won’t happen as long as people keep getting excited about the NBA each year, as they have in the last few years, and as long as the league continues to attract big-name players each year.