Oddsmakers are taking notice of the Nuggets. 

After falling to the eventual NBA champion Thunder in seven games during the semifinal round, Denver has positioned itself as one of the top contenders for the 2026 title. 

After a bevy of shrewd moves, the Nuggets jumped from +1600 odds before free agency to +700 to win it all next season, which is the second-best mark at BetMGM Sportsbook. 

“We love what the Nuggets did,” BetMGM trading manager Hal Egeland said in a statement.

“Every move they’ve made has been smart. The Nuggets are our most-bet team since free agency started.”

The Nuggets biggest move thus far this summer was a trade that sent Michael Porter Jr. and a 2032 first-round pick to the Nets in exchange for Cam Johnson, improving the team defensively without giving up much offensively.

That deal cleared enough cap space to allow Denver to sign former Nugget Bruce Brown and sharpshooter Tim Hardaway Jr. to free agent deals. 

The franchise also traded for big man Jonas Valanciunas, although he may leave the NBA to play in Greece. 

Oklahoma City, which is a +275 favorite to repeat as champions, is still the class of the league, but Denver is arguably better suited to compete with them next season than it was with its thin rotation during this past playoff run.

The Nuggets have an older roster, so it’s probably wise to stay away from their regular season win total. 

But once playoff time comes, the suddenly-deep Nikola Jokic and Co. are as sure of a playoff team as any. 

Take a flier on Denver to win the second title of the Jokic era. 

The play: Nuggets to win the 2026 NBA championship (+700, BetMGM Sportsbook)

Dylan Svoboda is a versatile writer and analyst across many sports. He’s particularly knowledgeable about the big three — MLB, the NFL and the NBA.