Are the Los Angeles Clippers Flying Under the Radar as Title Dark Horses?

Do the 2025-26 LA Clippers pose a real title threat? With a new look, it’s their health—not age—that may determine how far they can go.

Dangerous Underdogs

What to make of the Los Angeles Clippers? Though no longer sharing a building with the Lakers (or the Los Angeles Kings), the Clippers of Inglewood do share one thing with their friends in the Purple and Gold.

As of this late-July writing, both the Clippers and Lakers are priced at 16-1 (+1600) to win the NBA title in 2026 (Kings are 20-1 [+2000] to win the Stanley Cup, but that’s another story).

Back to the Clips of coach Tyronn Lue, the theme of this missive. LA has back-to-back 50-win seasons, which is good. LA hasn’t sniffed the second round of the NBA playoffs since 2021, which isn’t good. 

Seemingly a franchise built to win each season, there’s a grand total of one trip to the finals of the Western Conference (having lost to the Phoenix Suns in six games back in 21) 

There’s a different look to the 2025-26 version of the Clippers as they try to navigate a stacked conference in the hope of making the NBA Finals. LA is welcoming 32-year-old Bradley Beal and welcoming back 40-year-old Chris Paul.

Beal’s split (via a buyout) with the Phoenix Suns) eventually rerouted him to LA. The oft-injured guard is not the 30-point-per-game scorer he was with the Washington Wizards, but if healthy should offer another option, provided James Harden graciously surrenders the ball.

Paul, who spent six seasons (2011-12 to ‘16-’17) with LA, returns after making the rounds (Houston Rockets, Oklahoma City Thunder, Phoenix Suns, Golden State Warriors, and San Antonio Spurs). Props to Paul, appearing in all 82 games at the Alamo last season. 

Appearing in every game is a pipe dream if you’re 34-year-old Kawhi Leonard, who hasn’t played in more than 68 in any season (but one) since 2016-17.

Needless to say, this isn’t a young team (and gone to Miami is sharpshooter Noman Powell), so its window is open with even less of a crack than in past seasons.      

As was mentioned, LA is 16-1 (+1600) to win the next title, as per NBA championship futures odds. Are the Clippers a legit dark horse to hoist a first Larry O’Brien Trophy, or the usual tease?

Here’s a bit of miscellany on the subject of titles in the NBA…

Who Is Favored to Win the NBA Championship in 2025-26?

With July about to turn into August, it’s the defending-champion Oklahoma City Thunder as 11-4 (+275) choices to win it again. There’s a barbershop quartet (Cleveland Cavaliers, Denver Nuggets, Houston Rockets, and New York Knicks) at 8-1 (+800).

As was mentioned, the Los Angeles Clippers are currently listed at 16-1 (+1600).    

Who Is the Oldest Player Ever to Win an NBA Championship?

He was ‘The Chief’ as one of the cornerstones of the Boston Celtics during their Larry Bird/Kevin McHale-led heydays of the 1980s into the early 90s. Robert Parish manned the pivot with distinction over a 21-year, Hall of Fame career, playing a remarkable 1,611 games. 

That’s an all-time league record. Parish was a three-time champ (1981, 1984, 1986) with the Celts, but NBA news also remembers him winning a fourth title with Michael Jordan and the 1997 Chicago Bulls. Though not the force he was with the Celtics, Parish nevertheless contributed to the cause, earning his fourth NBA title in his swan-song season at the age of 43, 

Does BetUS Offer Constant Updates on NBA Game Betting Lines?

Indeed. There is wagering on individual games, as well as additional props involving teams and players. If you’re a ‘long-term’ investor, there are future wagers out there in any number of specific categories, including division, conference, and Finals winners. That last wager is as popular as any involving NBA game odds.

As with other wagers, NBA championship futures odds are fluid, thus subject to change. 

‘Do your homework’ while bookmarking BetUS is never a bad strategy.

H3: Any Final Thoughts?

Anyone who pays even marginal attention to pro basketball and Los Angeles Clippers games is acutely aware of their regular-season successes and postseason failures, too. There will be a new look to the team this season, but the NBA rumors are not suggesting a. 

- Don Shapiro, Gambling911.com