How a Dirk Nowitzki High-Five Could Lead to an Epic $98K Parlay Payout
Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images. Pictured: Luka Doncic #77 and Dirk Nowitzki #41 of the Dallas Mavericks high five during the game against the Sacramento Kings in 2019.
They say “Never meet your heroes,” but one bettor could end up nearly $98,000 richer thanks to their basketball idol.
A bettor from Costa Rica went to Las Vegas and while there, placed a three-leg futuresparlay at Caesars sportsbook with a pick for college football, the NFL and the NBA. The ticket featured a $50 parlay on the Michigan Wolverines to defeat the Washington Huskies in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game (+550), the Kansas City Chiefs to win the Super Bowl against the San Francisco 49ers (+1800) and the Dallas Mavericks to win the Western Conference (+1500).
Just needs a Mavericks series win over the Timberwolves to turn $50 into $98K 👀
Would you hedge or let this parlay ride? 🤔
(via @CaesarsSports) pic.twitter.com/nPmmy3uE2k
— Action Network (@ActionNetworkHQ) May 21, 2024
When the bettor placed this wager in late December, the College Football Playoff field was set and the Huskies had the longest odds of the four teams in the bracket. Meanwhile, the Chiefs were a game away from clinching the AFC West and had +800 odds to win the Super Bowl, while the 49ers were the favorites to hoist the Vince Lombardi Trophy.
But, at the time, betting the Mavericks to win the Western Conference felt much more like a shot in the dark. The Mavericks were 18-14 and had lost six games over a nine-game stretch, including games against the Los Angeles Clippers, the reigning champion Denver Nuggets and the Minnesota Timberwolves (twice).
So why, exactly, did this bettor from Costa Rica bet the Mavericks to win the West?
As it turns out, this bettor is a die-hard Dallas fan because they attended a Mavericks game in the early aughts and got a high-five from NBA Hall-of-Famer Dirk Nowitzki. Before that game, they never had a strong tie to an NBA team, but from that moment on, they loved the Mavericks.
This isn't the first time a high-profile bettor had a five-figure parlay featuring a Western Conference contender during this playoff run. A better from Arizona had a similar parlay with the Thunder winning the NBA championship, but took a cash-out offer from DraftKings at $80,960 when the Thunder and Mavericks were tied at two in the Western Conference semifinals.
Now, the Mavericks bettor has two choices: Hedge the bet or continue to sweat a potentially tight series between two exciting teams.
In this case, the Mavericks have a 1-0 lead after stealing home-court advantage in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals against the Timberwolves. But this bettor said they will consider hedging their bet after Game 2 of the series. If Dallas manages to make the NBA Finals, one would assume high-fiving Nowitzki will immediately become this bettor's second-favorite Mavs story.
Maybe it is good to meet your heroes after all.
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