Music legend and business mogul Jay-Z is putting his money where his mouth is ahead of the 2025 NBA Finals, wagering $1 million on the Oklahoma City Thunder to defeat the Indiana Pacers in exactly five games. The high-stakes bet was placed through Fanatics Sportsbook, the betting platform he helped launch alongside Michael Rubin in 2023.

If the Thunder manage to secure the championship in five games, Jay-Z stands to earn a $3.3 million payout — his original million-dollar stake plus $2.3 million in winnings, according to Yahoo Sports. The wager comes with +230 odds and even nets him an additional $9,300 in FanCash, part of Fanatics’ customer rewards program.

Thunder Heavy Favorites Against Underdog Pacers

The Oklahoma City Thunder enter the Finals as clear front-runners. Fanatics Sportsbook lists them at -700 odds to clinch the title, while DraftKings has them at -650. These are the shortest odds any Finals contender has carried since the Golden State Warriors’ 2018 run with Kevin Durant. At BetMGM, the Thunder are considered such strong favorites that a separate bettor risked $1.05 million just for the team to win outright, which would only bring in $150,000 in profit.

While the Thunder are considered overwhelming favorites, Jay-Z’s wager adds a layer of specificity — the team must win in exactly five games. Such a result would not only cement OKC’s dominance but also provide Jay-Z with a financial boost larger than the annual salary of backup center Jaylin Williams.

Indiana’s Cinderella Run Faces Its Toughest Test

Despite being overlooked throughout the postseason, the Indiana Pacers have defied expectations at every turn. They shocked the league by eliminating the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers in the second round, and continued their underdog streak by toppling the New York Knicks in the conference finals.

Led by Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam, Indiana has been resilient and clutch, overcoming three separate seven-point deficits in the final minute of regulation across the playoffs. But their mettle will be put to the ultimate test against a Thunder squad that boasts the league’s best postseason defensive rating at 104.7.

MVP-Led Thunder Look to Seal Their First Title Since Relocation

At the heart of OKC’s success is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, recently crowned the NBA’s Most Valuable Player. He has averaged 29.8 points and 6.9 assists throughout the playoffs, leading a young and defensively stout Thunder team through the Western Conference.

Oklahoma City has not won an NBA title since the franchise relocated from Seattle in 2008. This year’s Finals offer them their best chance yet. Analysts suggest that a “gentleman’s sweep” — a five-game series victory — is not only plausible but statistically the most likely outcome according to sportsbooks like Bovada. A clean sweep in four games is seen as the next most probable result.

Contrasting Bets Reflect Fan Division

While Jay-Z is backing a Thunder win in five games, another bettor is banking on a massive upset. Fanatics Sportsbook confirmed that a bettor from Colorado staked $127,667 on Indiana to win the series outright at +700 odds. If successful, that wager would yield a $1.02 million payday.

Still, the odds and projections heavily favor Oklahoma City, who enter Game 1 as 10-point favorites on the spread. The opener is scheduled for Thursday at 8:30 p.m. ET at the Paycom Center.