Apr 18, 2025; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Anthony Davis (3) reacts during the second quarter against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

3 Sneaky NBA Title Contenders In 2025-26

Originally posted on Stadium Rant | By Charles North | Last updated Sep 4, 2025 12:24 PM ET

When it comes to the NBA championship, the favorites are obvious . The defending champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder, will be at the top of every ranking there is. The big question is, who is able to dethrone them? Here are three teams that can take down the Thunder and win the championship.

Dallas Mavericks

The Dallas Mavericks have been the most talked-about team for the past seven months. After trading Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers, general manager Nico Harrison became the most hated man in Dallas. It did not seem logical at the time, but maybe his plan is starting to come to fruition.

Anthony Davis will lead the Mavericks when healthy, but the team around him is built wonderfully. First overall pick Cooper Flagg will join Davis in the lineup along with many great role players.

Most of this pick depends on the health of star point guard Kyrie Irving. If he can get healthy in time for the playoffs, the Mavericks will have a fantastic eight-man rotation that can compete with the best of the best. Dallas has the 12th-lowest odds to win the championship.

Houston Rockets

May 2, 2025; San Francisco, California, USA; Houston Rockets forward Amen Thompson (1) meets with Houston Rockets head coach Ime Udoka during a break in the action against the Golden State Warriors in the fourth quarter of game six of the first round for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images

The Houston Rockets made the splash of the offseason when they acquired superstar Kevin Durant. This move finally shows that the Rockets are finished with their rebuild and prepared to compete.

Durant joins young stars Amen Thompson and Alperen Sengun as they look to get Houston its first championship since 1995. The Rockets currently have the fifth-best odds to win the championship.

Minnesota Timberwolves

Feb 6, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) celebrates after hitting his 1,000th career three-point basket during the fourth quarter against the Houston Rockets at Target Center. Edwards broke the record for the youngest player in NBA history to reach 1,000 career three-point baskets. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images

The Minnesota Timberwolves have been championship threats for a couple of years now, but with the continuing development of superstar Anthony Edwards, this may finally be their year. Their offseason was filled with retaining their own players, like Julius Randle and Naz Reid.

The Timberwolves did lose Nickeil Alexander-Walker to the Atlanta Hawks in free agency, but that shouldn’t deter anyone from picking them in a seven-game series. Minnesota currently has the 9th-lowest odds to win the NBA championship.

End Of My NBA Rant

These are three teams outside of the top three in odds to win the championship who could easily contend. The NBA is filled with injuries, which translates to opportunity for healthy teams. The development of young stars and additions of proven superstars make these three teams the best underdogs for the NBA championship.

This article first appeared on Stadium Rant and was syndicated with permission.

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