Hip-hop mogul and business titan Jay-Z is placing serious money on the 2025 NBA Finals — and he’s confident in his pick.
Just ahead of Game 1 between the Indiana Pacers and the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Roc Nation founder has made headlines with a seven-figure wager: a bold $1 million bet on the Thunder to win the series in exactly five games, according to a social media post shared by Fanatics Sportsbook and Roc Nation.
A Big Bet With Bigger Returns
If Jay-Z’s prediction hits, he stands to collect a total of $3.3 million — a $2.3 million profit at +230 odds. The Thunder, led by MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, are strong favorites, having steamrolled the Minnesota Timberwolves in five games during the Western Conference Finals.
“This is the equivalent of me betting $5,” one fan joked on social media. Another quipped, “I gave him this play!”
With tip-off at 8:30 PM ET tonight (June 5), bettors have little time to follow Hov’s lead. But his bold wager has already become a major talking point as excitement builds around this year’s Finals.
Vegas Agrees With Hov
According to Fanatics Sportsbook, the Thunder are currently -10 for Game 1 and -700 favorites to win the series. That gives strong support to Jay’s bet that Oklahoma City will close things out quickly, in just five games, securing their first title since 1979.
Meanwhile, the Indiana Pacers are riding momentum after their gritty victory over the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals. This marks the franchise’s first Finals appearance since 2000.
🎲 Jay-Z’s Gambling Game Is Bigger Than Bets
Jay-Z is no stranger to the betting world. In 2023, he helped launch Fanatics Sportsbook alongside Michael Rubin, and now he’s part of a major bid to bring a full-scale casino to Times Square, New York — a project backed by Roc Nation, SL Green, and Caesars Entertainment.
“We are New Yorkers,” Hov said in a 2024 statement. “Supporting and providing opportunities for our neighborhoods and community isn’t just a part of Roc Nation’s ethos — it’s our collective responsibility.”
As part of that proposal, Jay-Z’s group has pledged to reinvest $15 million into local NYC communities.
NBA Finals Game 1
- Matchup: Indiana Pacers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
- Date: Thursday, June 5
- Time: 8:30 PM ET
- Location: Paycom Center, Oklahoma City
- Streaming: ABC / ESPN / NBA App
