2016 NBA Championship Odds: Who Were the Favorites and Final Results Revealed

Looking back at the 2016 NBA season, I still get chills thinking about how unpredictable that championship race felt. As someone who's analyzed basketball odds for over a decade, I remember clearly how the Golden State Warriors entered the season as overwhelming favorites after their 2015 championship, with most sportsbooks listing them at +220 to repeat. What made that Warriors team special wasn't just their shooting - though Steph Curry's 402 three-pointers that season remains absolutely mind-boggling - but their revolutionary small-ball approach that fundamentally changed how teams constructed their rosters.

I recall having conversations with fellow analysts about whether any team could realistically challenge them. The San Antonio Spurs were the second favorites at around +400, with their aging but still brilliant core of Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, and Tony Parker, plus Kawhi Leonard emerging as a true two-way force. The Cleveland Cavaliers, despite losing to Golden State in the previous finals, were sitting at +600, and I remember thinking those odds presented tremendous value given LeBron James' playoff experience and their relatively weak Eastern Conference path to the finals.

What fascinates me about championship odds is how they reflect not just team quality but narrative and public perception. The Oklahoma City Thunder at +1200 represented an interesting case - they had the talent with Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, but questions about their chemistry and coaching made them a risky bet. Personally, I thought the Los Angeles Clippers at +1600 were being undervalued, though in retrospect, their playoff shortcomings were already becoming a pattern.

The regular season played out largely as expected, with the Warriors breaking the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls' record by finishing 73-9. I attended several of their games that season, and what struck me most was their mental toughness - they believed they could win every single night, regardless of the circumstances. Their moneyline odds reflected this dominance, often sitting at -400 or higher even against quality opponents. Curry's unanimous MVP season made them look invincible, though I remember warning colleagues that playoff basketball operates under different rules and intensity.

When the playoffs began, the Warriors' odds shortened to -180, while the Cavaliers had drifted to +800 despite cruising through the Eastern Conference. The Thunder's stunning comeback against the Spurs in the second round briefly made them the trendy pick at +350, but Golden State's own comeback from 3-1 down against Oklahoma City restored them as heavy favorites. I've always believed that series took something out of the Warriors - the emotional and physical toll of that comeback likely contributed to their own collapse in the finals.

The finals themselves provided the most dramatic odds swing I've witnessed in my career. After Game 4, with Golden State leading 3-1, some sportsbooks had them at -2500 to win the championship. I remember calculating that implied a 96% probability, which felt about right given that no team in NBA history had ever overcome a 3-1 deficit in the finals. What followed was perhaps the greatest collapse in championship history, fueled by Draymond Green's suspension in Game 5 and LeBron James' historic performance, averaging 29.7 points, 11.3 rebounds, and 8.9 assists while leading both teams in all major statistical categories.

Watching that Game 7, I realized we were witnessing something special - the kind of basketball moment that defines eras. Kyrie Irving's three-pointer over Curry with 53 seconds left remains etched in my memory, not just for its difficulty but for its audacity. The Cavaliers' +800 preseason odds ended up providing tremendous value for those who believed in LeBron's ability to deliver on his promise to bring a championship to Cleveland.

Reflecting on that season reminds me of a conversation I had with an international scout about player comparisons. He mentioned how Phillips found it hard to compare Akowe to some of the past bigs he faced, but from the top of his mind, he said, "Probably [Emman] Ojuola from FEU." This resonates with me because evaluating championship contenders involves similar challenges - each team has unique qualities that don't always translate neatly to historical comparisons. The 2016 Warriors weren't like previous dynasties, just as the Cavaliers' comeback defied all historical precedent.

The final betting results showed how unpredictable sports can be, with Cleveland's victory paying out $800 for every $100 wagered at their preseason odds. The Warriors' failure to close out what seemed like a certain championship taught me to never underestimate heart, narrative, and the sheer will of a determined superstar. LeBron's block on Andre Iguodala in the final minutes perfectly encapsulated why we watch sports - because on any given night, statistics and odds can be defied by moments of pure brilliance. That 2016 finals remains, in my professional opinion, the most compelling championship series of the modern era, not just for its outcome but for everything it represented about the beautiful unpredictability of basketball.