Though the 2020 NBA season still has a long way to go, NBA draft betting has already gotten underway, with odds to go 1st overall on the board for 2021.
NBA odds to go first overall have changed considerably, after conference tournament play as well as the G League Ignite's participation in the G League Bubble. Let's take an early look at the 2021 NBA Draft odds.
2021 NBA Draft: Odds to go first overall
| Player | Odds to go first overall |
|---|---|
| Cade Cunningham | -400 |
| Evan Mobley | +500 |
| Jalen Green | +500 |
| Jonathan Kuminga | +700 |
| Jalen Suggs | +1,200 |
| Scottie Barnes | +4,000 |
| Ziaire Williams | +4,000 |
Odds courtesy of PointsBet as of March 23.
Favorite to be picked first overall in the 2021 NBA Draft
Oklahoma State's Cade Cunningham has long been seen as the prize of the 2021 NBA Draft and unsurprisingly, he is the odds-on-favorite at -400. At 6-foot-8, Cunningham is an oversized guard that will have teams dreaming of Ben Simmons and other point forwards storming the league.
Tied for second on the odds board is USC's Evan Mobley and Jalen Green (+500) of the Ignite. Mobley is a modern big every team craves, comfortable handling the ball, shooting or defending from the perimeter, capable of switching onto anyone as well as protecting the rim. Green is a high-level scorer who should top 20 points per game almost immediately in the NBA.
Fourth on the board is Jonathan Kuminga (+700), a long wing with excellent size. Kuminga performed well in the bubble with the G League Ignite and has kept himself in the mix at the top of a highly competitive class.
Rounding out the Top-5 at +1,200 is Gonzaga's Jalen Suggs, a combo guard with awesome athleticism, the ability to score at all three levels and All-Defense potential in the NBA.
Understanding NBA Draft betting
Most sportsbooks will display odds in the American format as listed above. When Zion Williamson opened as the heavy favorite to go first overall in the 2019 NBA Draft, his odds had a minus (-) sign ahead of the number.
- Zion Williamson -2,000
This meant that a bettor needed to wager $2000 to win $100 by betting on Zion. Everyone else in that field had plus (+) odds to win.
- RJ Barrett +550
Williamson's teammate at Duke, RJ Barrett had the second-best odds at +550. A bettor would stand to profit $550 for every $100 wagered on Barrett.
If American odds aren't your thing, simply use a tool like our odds converter to switch the odds to decimal or fractional format. Most online sportsbooks also give you the option to change the odds format that you see.
First overall NBA Draft picks since 2000
| Year | Player | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Kenyon Martin | PF |
| 2001 | Kwame Brown | C |
| 2002 | Yao Ming | C |
| 2003 | LeBron James | PG/F |
| 2004 | Dwight Howard | C |
| 2005 | Andrew Bogut | C |
| 2006 | Andrea Bargnani | F/C |
| 2007 | Greg Oden | C |
| 2008 | Derrick Rose | PG |
| 2009 | Blake Griffin | PF |
| 2010 | John Wall | PG |
| 2011 | Kyrie Irving | PG |
| 2012 | Anthony Davis | PF |
| 2013 | Anthony Bennett | PF |
| 2014 | Andrew Wiggins | G/F |
| 2015 | Karl-Anthony Towns | C |
| 2016 | Ben Simmons | PG/F |
| 2017 | Markelle Fultz | PG |
| 2018 | DeAndre Ayton | C |
| 2019 | Zion Williamson | PF |
| 2020 | Anthony Edwards | SG |
Where can I bet on the 2021 NBA Draft?
Most online books and casinos offer bets on the NBA Draft. Betting on the first-overall pick is usually the first wager offered, with odds coming out as soon as the previous year's draft takes place. Closer to the draft, however, expect many more prop bets to come out as the draft board becomes more clear. Check out the best sportsbooks available where you live and see what NBA draft betting odds are available for you.
