NBA 2025/26: Whose Championship Odds Have Shrunk Throughout the First Half of the Season?
The defending NBA champions haven’t missed a beat. Oklahoma City’s 36-8 record through mid-January has turned the regular season into something that feels less like a race and more like everyone else fighting for second place.
After being considered +230 shots in preseason, the popular Lucky-Rebel betting site now positions OKC as a mightily short +115 favourite to repeat as champions. And truth be told, they have played like a team that deserves top billing. But the more interesting story lives a tier below them, where a handful of franchises have forced oddsmakers to admit they misread the room.
The real story of the championship odds board is how those teams have dragged themselves from the long-shot margins to the centre of the conversation.
All Star Game 2026: a new formula for the match
The NBA superstars have been celebrated, once a year, in a game created to put them one against the other, East versus West, since 1951.
For 2026, the event will be held starting February 15. This year, the All Star Game has undergone a significant change in format, which we are about to explain. It is sure to be a great show, and since the best players in the NBA are competing, it is very difficult to predict a possible winner of the tournament.
For those who still want to bet on the event, though, it is possible to exploit the promotions that gaming platforms make available to users every month, such as the latest Paddy Power promo code. This one may come in handy for betting on the 2026 All Star Game, as well as on other basketball matches with uncertain outcomes, like many of the league’s best games are.
NBA news: LeBron James’ 22-year All-Star streak ends
LeBron James’ remarkable run as an automatic presence in the NBA All-Star starting lineup has come to an end, closing a historic chapter in league history.
In this article, Sports News Blitz’s Noa Ngcobo looks at how injuries, changing dynamics, and a new generation of stars combined to halt the Lakers icon’s 22-year All-Star starting streak.
2026 NBA All-Stars: Why the starters have been selected and who missed out
The NBA have announced the starters from both the Eastern and Western conferences for the 2026 All-Star game, set to take place in Los Angeles on February 15.
The five players deemed to have had the best season from each conference were selected by a split-voting system between fans (50%), players (25%), and media (25%).
Here, Sports News Blitz’s Oliver Powell takes a look at the 10 players voted as starters, plus some notable omissions.
NBA news: LeBron James’s agent faces backlash over Austin Reaves trade comments
What began as casual podcast speculation quickly turned into a real world NBA moment that exposed the fine line between media talk and locker room reality.
At the centre of it all was LeBron James’ longtime agent Rich Paul, Austin Reaves, one of the Lakers’ most important supporting players, and a trade idea that travelled far beyond its original context.
Here, Sports News Blitz’s Noah Ngcobo analyses the controversy surrounding Paul’s comments on Reaves.
NBA news: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jaylen Brown and the MVP favourites after Nikola Jokic’s injury
While he remains in first place on the MVP ladder, Nikola Jokic suffered a knee injury against the Miami Heat in December and is reported to be out until the end of January.
The Serbian’s absence has allowed other leading players in the league to make a worthy claim for the MVP award, with the likes of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander hitting form at the perfect time.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Finn Littlewood takes a look at the contenders in what is turning out to be an unpredictable MVP race.
NBA news: Trae Young trade to Washington Wizards sparks NBA deadline speculation
With the NBA trade deadline fast approaching, Trae Young’s move to Washington has the potential to set off a chain reaction across the league.
Last season, the NBA was rocked by one of the most eye-catching regular-season trades in recent memory, with the Los Angeles Lakers acquiring Luka Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for Anthony Davis.
With just under a month remaining until the trade deadline, the league has now seen its first major move of the season, as Trae Young heads to the Washington Wizards in a deal involving CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert.
Will teams look to make their own moves after Young’s mega move? Sports News Blitz writer Lorenzo Gagliotta finds out more.
NBA news: LeBron James’ TBD approach tested in Lakers loss to Spurs
LeBron James has never shied away from redefining expectations, even deep into a career that has already stretched further than any other in NBA history.
Now in his 23rd season and at 41 years old, the Los Angeles Lakers star has made it clear that availability, especially on consecutive nights, will be determined one game at a time.
Here, Sports News Blitz’s Noah Ngcobo assesses the Lakers’ new approach regarding the management of LeBron James.
LeBron James, Christmas day, and the weight of an NBA tradition
Christmas Day basketball has become one of the most recognisable dates on the NBA calendar, and once again, LeBron James found himself at the centre of it.
In this article, Sports News Blitz’s Noah Ngcobo looks at how the 40-year-old superstar continues to carry the expectations of a holiday built around the league’s biggest names.
NBA news: Another chapter in the LeBron James and Dillon Brooks rivalry
Whenever LeBron James and Dillon Brooks share the floor, tension follows.
In this article, Sports News Blitz’s Noah Ngcobo breaks down another heated encounter between the two.
NBA news: LeBron James’ agent Rich Paul shuts down trade speculation
LeBron James looks set to stay put in Los Angeles as trade talk fades.
The conversation around LeBron James and a possible midseason exit from the Los Angeles Lakers has reached a firm conclusion.
Rich Paul, the longtime agent and close adviser to James, made it clear that the veteran star will remain with the franchise through the end of the campaign, reports Sports News Blitz’s Noah Ngcobo.
NBA news: LeBron James sees 18-year streak end in LA Lakers victory over Toronto Raptors
LeBron James’ historic scoring streak may have ended in Toronto, but his late-game decision-making proved that his basketball instincts remain as sharp as ever.
In this article, Sports News Blitz’s Noah Ngcobo breaks down how James’ selfless play helped the Lakers secure a dramatic win despite the end of an 18-year run.
NBA opinion: Breaking his own records - LeBron James’ historic 23rd season
LeBron James returned to the hardwood after a 14-game absence caused by sciatica, and his re-entry into the season has been both measured and impressive.
Even in the early stages, he has managed to adjust to the flow of games without disrupting the dynamics of a young Lakers roster.
At 40 years old and in his 23rd professional season, James is proving that age does not define impact.
His presence alone commands attention, and he has shown he can still score, create opportunities, and maintain a level of precision that few athletes can match at this stage of their careers.
Sports News Blitz’s Noah Ngcobo offers his take on LeBron James’ admirable return.
NBA news: LeBron James returns for record-breaking season debut
LeBron James made history on Tuesday night, becoming the first player to compete in 23 consecutive NBA seasons, as the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Utah Jazz 140-126 at Crypto.com Arena.
The 40-year-old superstar, returning after missing the first 14 games due to sciatica, contributed 11 points, 12 assists and three rebounds in 30 minutes of action.
Sports News Blitz’s Noah Ngcobo discusses James’ Lakers return.
NBA news: LeBron James takes major step towards return with G League practice
LeBron James moved closer to his long-awaited return on Wednesday, November 12 as he joined the South Bay Lakers - the G League affiliate of the Los Angeles Lakers, for his first full practice of the season.
The NBA’s all-time leading scorer has been sidelined throughout the team’s first 11 games while recovering from sciatica affecting his right side.
Lakers head coach JJ Redick confirmed before the team’s match-up against the Oklahoma City Thunder that James was able to take part in transition drills before progressing to five-on-five halfcourt play.
Here, Sports News Blitz’s Noah Ngcobo outlines the timeline for James’ potential return.
NBA news: Luka Doncic’s record-breaking start fuels LA Lakers’ dominant run
Luka Doncic has launched his Los Angeles Lakers career in extraordinary fashion, crafting one of the most impressive starts in NBA history.
Here, Sports News Blitz’s Noah Ngcobo reflects on Doncic’s impact at the start of what looks to be an exciting season for the Slovenian.
NBA news: New LA Lakers star emerges in the absence of LeBron James and Luka Doncic
The Los Angeles Lakers began the new season without LeBron James and Luka Doncic, leaving many fans worried about how the team would cope without its two biggest stars.
Here, Sports News Blitz’s Noah Ngcobo looks at how another Lakers player has seized the moment to become the unexpected face of the Lakers’ early success.
NBA news: LeBron James’ absence looms large as LA Lakers fall against Golden State Warriors in opener
The Los Angeles Lakers opened their 2025/26 season on a disappointing note, falling 119-109 to the Golden State Warriors, reports Sports News Blitz’s Noah Ngcobo.
Missing from the court was LeBron James, who sat out due to a sciatica flare-up. The absence was historic, marking the first time in his 23-year career that he missed a season opener.
Coach JJ Redick admitted that playing without the team’s veteran leader was no easy task. “There were definitely moments where I wished LeBron was out there,” he said after the game.
The Lakers, now under the shared leadership of Redick and Luka Doncic, will have to navigate several weeks without their most experienced player, who is expected to remain sidelined until mid-November.
NBA’s Latest Innovations Will Boost the Global Profile of the Sport
The National Basketball Association (NBA) has launched an all-new NBA App and the reimagined NBA TV, which will offer non-stop basketball content to ensure fans keep up with all the action.
The new multi-platform streaming will be available to basketball fans in the United Kingdom, New Zealand and countries across the world.
NBA news: 2025/26 season predictions and betting tips
The 2025/26 NBA season tips off this week, which means it’s time for the tribalistic optimism that lasts until 0-2 to begin.
Every fan base thinks this is their year, and every GM is pretending that a mid-level signing has fixed all of their problems.
Half these predictions will age like milk; the rest might win you a beer. Either way, I’ll be here in April pretending I knew it all along.
Join Sports News Blitz’s George Dempsey as he runs the rule over the 2025/26 NBA season and offers up 10 betting predictions.