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The NBA Draft is normally held in late June, not too long after an NBA Champion has been crowned. Even with the continued worldwide growth of professional basketball, the NBA Draft does not have the same devotion as their NFL counterparts, yet it far out-distances any other pro sports league.
As is the case with any growing sport and the accompanying proliferation of sports betting, there is a thirst (wisely or not) for more betting action. Top-rated sportsbooks are only too happy to accommodate this attitude, which is tempting enough to draw you in.
For most people reading this article, you are either new to this topic and an NBA fan or seeking more nuances about how to approach putting your money down on these kinds of wagers.
Throughout these articles at Bet University, we offer caution, not trying to hype something that could lose you money. We prefer to teach and help you understand how to develop skills, especially in something that happens once a year in any given sport.
With this in mind, here is a two-pronged approach.
Beginner Method To Bet the NBA Draft
The easiest way to begin the process is to select who will be the No. 1 pick on the draft. The betting odds are at any sportsbook and easy to locate during the NBA Finals.
Typically, there are two to four players who potentially could be the overall top pick and the odds will let you know who the favorite is in descending order. Here is an example.
- Player A +150
- Player B +300
- Player C +500
- Player D +1200
In this scenario, it is wise to focus on the Top 3 because the 4th option is a longer shot and this late into the draft process, the odds will be quite accurate. The reason for saying this is the team that has the No. 1 pick has information all over the internet from those who follow the NBA closely. That doesn’t mean they will always have the right answer, but if you diligently do your research, you can make an informed bet based on a consensus of what you have learned.
- Betting Tip: If Player A has minus odds (-110 or higher) and the second choice is +175 or higher, you can assume that Player A will be chosen first. Whether you bet that or not is up to you, but the payout is hardly enticing.
Another fun wager to consider is who would be the first guard, first forward, or first center picked. The process is essentially the same as the No. 1 pick, where a few different players are expected to fit each category and the research involves repeating the process, keeping everything less complicated for the new bettor.
Advanced Wagers for Those Who Follow the NBA and College Basketball Daily
For those betting on the NBA and college basketball on a daily basis, you presumably have greater knowledge and insights into what players from the college ranks would help the various NBA teams.
That is a tremendous help because understanding a team’s needs and who fits the criteria places you a step ahead of the regular crowd. You can take that knowledge and experience forward by reading national and local team pages to hone in as precise as possible information.
This can allow you to have a better understanding of say picks 2-to-5 and because you are a fan, you likely have info where you can find where the various foreign players will be drafted and which team are looking at those ballers.
Totals
Another draft wager is Over/Under draft positions by player.
This can be much more volatile outside the Top 5 to 10 players of Round One in any given year, depending on circumstances. What we mean by that statement is some years, the selections will go according to form and there is a consensus to back that up. In other drafts, maybe other than the Top 3 picks, the next 10 players could go in any order, which is disruptive and trades occur that create more uncertainty.
That is why if you are a live bettor, you can read the room and get information between picks as to what might happen next and take advantage of an opportunity wager that supplants making picks for draft positions ahead of time.
Above all, have fun and never overdo it!
