A report that Kyrie Irving is interested in teaming up with LeBron James in Dallas caused at least one sportsbook to pause action on Monday on what team King James will play for next season.
The odds of James joining the Mavericks had been at +1000 at SportsBetting.ag, but the sportsbook said The Athletic’s report that Irving has reached out to James led to a flurry of action.
“This morning, we just started getting hammered on the Mavericks for LeBron’s next team,” sportsbook manager Robert Cooper said. “Of course, some of the sharper bettors had already seen these reports and decided to take positions at 10/1 odds and 8/1 odds, before we finally pulled them off the board at 3/1.”
The book later reopened James’ next team odds, but with the Mavericks as the heavy favorite at +120.
The next team odds market comes with the qualification that James leaves the Los Angeles Lakers, and the 38-year-old has made no indication he intends to do so. He has two years and $97 million remaining on his contract, although the second year is voidable.
James, who reportedly played the last few months with a torn tendon in his foot, said he has “a lot to think about” about his future after the Lakers were eliminated by Denver in the Western Conference finals. He reportedly needs surgery on his foot this summer.
Meanwhile, Irving is a free agent after playing in 20 games for the Mavericks following a midseason trade from the Brooklyn Nets.
Irving and James won an NBA title together with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016.
LeBron James Next Team Odds*
Dallas Mavericks (+120)
Cleveland Cavaliers (+500)
Golden State Warriors (+500)
Philadelphia 76ers (+700)
Phoenix Suns (+800)
New York Knicks (+800)
Los Angeles Clippers (+900)
Miami Heat (+1000)
Sacramento Kings (+1800)
Chicago Bulls (+2000)
Milwaukee Bucks (+2500)
Boston Celtics (+2500)
*If not the Lakers
The sportsbook reported receiving action on the Warriors, Heat and Suns, but had not received a single bet on the Knicks, who opened as the favorite to land James if he left Los Angeles.
–Field Level Media