NBA Cup Opening Odds: Are Knicks Favored?

Even with success in a different kind of tournament, early odds for the NBA's new in-season competition don't favor the New York Knicks.

It's been a while since the New York Knicks banners at Madison Square Garden got any company. 

A new opportunity for such a drought to end was introduced over the weekend, as plans for an in-season competition that will come to be known as the NBA Cup were officially unveiled. With the 30 teams split into five-squad groups, select regular season games in November and knockout rounds will determine which four teams will make it to Las Vegas for the final stanzas.

BetOnline has released its opening odds for the upcoming competition and early fortune doesn't favor the New York Knicks: at 33-1, the Knicks are behind 13 other teams in the early going. Division rivals, the Boston Celtics, lead the way at 4-1 with the reigning NBA champions, the Denver Nuggets, close behind at 9-2.

It's perhaps surprising to see oddsmakers continue to underestimate the Knicks as they prepare to enter the 2023-24 season with almost every major contributor to a 47-win, Eastern Conference quarterfinal-triumphing effort coming back. But there's no doubt that the road to in-season glory could be a tough one: the Knicks' station, Group B in the East, features the Miami Heat and the Milwaukee Bucks, holders of three of the last four Eastern Conference titles. Though it also features rebuilding franchises from Charlotte and Washington, Group B is the only one that features a trio of postseason teams that did not require the Play-In Tournament to reach last year's playoffs. 

No Knicks are also listed among the contenders for the NBA Cup MVP, whose odds primarily favor Western Conference competition: Damian Lillard of the Portland Trail Blazers (4-1) is the current favorite, though his fate may lie on the opposite coast if and when his alleged trade request is fulfilled. 

Right behind him is NBA Finals MVP Nikola Jokić of Denver (5-1) while Stephen Curry (Golden State) and LeBron James (LA Lakers) are tied for third at 9-1 each. Future group competitor Giannis Antetokounmpo (11-1) of Milwaukee is the top Eastern Conference rep.    

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Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags

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