NBA Betting Guide

Basketball may not spring immediately to mind when it comes to sports gambling, at least not in the UK that is. It is, however, a hugely popular sport globally, that popularity piques the bookmakers’ interest and there are actually quite a large number of betting opportunities when it comes to basketball. This is especially true for games from the NBA, in this article we will look at the NBA, basketball in general and also betting markets that you may see available.

NBA Overview

The NBA, or National Basketball Association, is the premier basketball league in the world. Based in North Americas and consisting of 30 teams, the NBA attracts the best basketball players from all across the planet.

The NBA was established on June 6th 1946 in New York City, known then as the Basketball Association of America (BAA). It later changed to the National Basketball Association in 1949 following a merger with the rival National Basketball League. The original BAA had 11 teams competing, this has now, unsurprisingly, grown to include more. The modern-day NBA league is split into two conferences, with each conference containing three separate divisions. The two conferences in question are the Western Conference and the Eastern Conference, with the 30 teams split across each conference 50:50.

In the Western Conference the 15 teams play in the Northwest, Pacific and Southwest Divisions split as follows:

Northwest: Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Oklahoma City Thunder, Portland Trail Blazers, Utah Jazz

Pacific: Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix Suns, Sacramento Kings

Southwest: Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets, Memphis Grizzlies, New Orleans Pelicans, San Antonio Spurs

In the Eastern Conference the 15 teams play in the Northwest, Pacific and Southwest Divisions split as follows:

Atlantic: Boston Celtics, Brooklyn Nets, New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers, Toronto Raptors

Central: Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, Detroit Pistons, Indiana Pacers, Milwaukee Bucks

Southeast: Atlanta Hawks, Charlotte Hornets, Miami Heat, Orlando Magic, Washington Wizards

The NBA playing season runs from October to April, each team playing a massive 82 games across that period. At the end of the season, the top eight teams in each conference reach the playoffs, competing against each other in knock-out games. They fight their way through until there is one winner from the Western and one from the Eastern Conference. These two teams then face off in a best-of-seven NBA Finals.

NBA players are largely considered to be the best-paid athletes of any sport in the world and many become household names, even in households where basketball is not a watched sport - Michael Jordan for example. The top paid NBA players for 2019, according to Forbes magazine are:

#1 LeBron James

Salary (inc. bonuses): $35.7 million

Endorsement deals: $53 million

Total Earnings: $88.7 million

#2 Stephen Curry

Salary (inc. bonuses): $37.5 million

Endorsement deals: $42 million

Total Earnings: $79.5 million

#3 Kevin Durrant

Salary (inc. bonuses): $30 million

Endorsement deals: $35million

Total Earnings: $65 million

#4 Russell Westbrook

Salary (inc. bonuses): $35.7 million

Endorsement deals: $18 million

Total Earnings: $53.7 million

#5 James Harden

Salary (inc. bonuses): $30.4 million

Endorsement deals: $17 million

Total Earnings: $47.4 million

Basketball General Rules

Basketball was created in the US in 1891 and is considered today as one of the most popular sports to be played in the States. It is a team sport consisting of 2 rival teams with 5 players, playing each other on a rectangular court. The game is split into quarter time periods, each quarter lasting a duration of 15 minutes with the option of overtime if the scores are tied at full time. The aim of the game is to score more points than the opposition. Points are scored by shooting the ball through the hooped net situated at opposite ends of the court, located on a 10-foot high backboard. Teams get 2 points for a successful field goal (throwing the ball through the hoop) and 3 points if that goal is scored behind the three-point line. Players can also score via free throws, which are worth 1 point each and are awarded after a foul is committed. Players can move the ball down the court by passing it, or by dribbling with the ball by bouncing it on the ground as they run. Players are not permitted to take more than two steps without bouncing the ball, if they do a travelling violation is called and they will lose possession of the ball.

Betting on Basketball

There are many different potential markets that can be bet on within a game of basketball, it is not uncommon to see well over 100 different betting opportunities for a single game. Three of the more popular markets you may see are:

Moneyline: This is a simple two-way market betting on who you think will win the game. In the event of a tie, the majority of bookmakers will void/push your bet meaning that you will get your stake returned to you

Moneyline: This is a simple two-way market betting on who you think will win the game. In the event of a tie, the majority of bookmakers will void/push your bet meaning that you will get your stake returned to you

Spread: This is a style of handicap betting and will how a specific number of points that are added or subtracted from a team’s final score. For example -2.5 or +2.5. If you backed a team at -2.5 you would need that team to win by 3 points or more (as there are no 0.5 points) to win the bet.

Spread: This is a style of handicap betting and will how a specific number of points that are added or subtracted from a team’s final score. For example -2.5 or +2.5. If you backed a team at -2.5 you would need that team to win by 3 points or more (as there are no 0.5 points) to win the bet.

Total: This is quite simply how many points that you feel will be scored within the game. You will be able to either bet on over that amount or under that amount

Total: This is quite simply how many points that you feel will be scored within the game. You will be able to either bet on over that amount or under that amount

Matched Betting & Basketball

Throughout the season regular NBA free bet offers will get promoted. This makes basketball a great sport to bet on for matched betting. Matched Betting is a way of taking advantage of the hundreds of free bet offers dished out by bookies. Although it has betting in the name there is no real gambling involved as, unlike normal betting, we cover all possible outcomes of an event. This means regardless of the result we can make profit and turn those free bets into real cash!

Throughout the season regular NBA free bet offers will get promoted. This makes basketball a great sport to bet on for matched betting.

Keen to Get Involved?

The great news is you don’t need to be a sports fan or betting fanatic to sign up and use Profit Accumulator. Many of our members are not sports fans and had never placed a bet in their lives but that doesn’t stop them from making some tax-free cash.

For more info on what matched betting is, check out these articles: