2025 NBA Rookie of the Year Odds: Edey Slides Ahead of Frenchmen

Player	Team	Position
Zach Edey	Memphis Grizzlies	C	+600
Alexandre Sarr	Washington Wizards	F/C	+650
Zaccharie Risacher	Atlanta Hawks	SF	+700
Stephon Castle	San Antonio Spurs	PG	+900
Reed Sheppard	Houston Rockets	SG	+1,000
Dalton Knecht	Los Angeles Lakers	SF	+1,000
Donovan Clingan	Portland Trail Blazers	C	+1,500
Matas Buzelis	Chicago Bulls	SF	+1,500
Rob Dillingham	Minnesota Timberwolves	G	+1,800
Ronald Holland	Detroit Pistons	SF	+2,000

Odds as of 7-10-2024.

Favorites to win NBA Rookie of the Year

Zach Edey, Memphis Grizzlies (+600)

Zach Edey's fit in the NBA was the subject of much debate as he led Purdue to the March Madness final with a simply dominant post game.

But whether his height would be enough to get him by against bigger, more athletic opposition fell under scrutiny. Obviously, NBA scouts felt confident in the potential, as Edey skyrocketed up boards in the days leading up to the draft, ultimately being snagged by the Memphis Grizzlies with the No. 9 overall pick.

Memphis, with a gaping hole at center heading into a redemption season, will presumably start Edey, giving him plenty of opportunity to blossom next to several All-Star caliber players.

And in his first NBA reps, Edey impressed, not only notching a double-double with four blocks, but forcing OT with a last-second tip. He thus rose to become the new Rookie of the Year Odds favorite.

Zach Edey posts a double-double and tips in a last second shot to force OT in his first Summer League game with the Grizzlies 🙌

14 PTS
15 REB
4 BLK

An impressive start for the 9th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft... pic.twitter.com/vgoumIeeNq

— NBA (@NBA) July 9, 2024

Alexandre Sarr, Washington Wizards (+650)

While he eventually lost out on the No. 1 overall pick, Alexandre Sarr found himself in a great situation to make more of an impact out of the gate. 

Rather than compete for minutes with two established big men in Atlanta (on a team that wants to win now, no less) Sarr will see relatively uncontested minutes for a Washington Wizards team that has zero aspirations of anything but more lottery equity for 2025. 

Sarr has tons of upside, and has flashed two-way potential that the Wiz are going to test to the fullest this season. He'll have all the reps to flash his handle and finishing, develop his outside shot, and showcase his shot-erasing on defense. 

In a season where an inordinate number of top picks will slot into teams with playoff aspirations and may not see as much opportunity, Sarr's is a recipe for ROY success.

Zaccharie Risacher, Atlanta Hawks (+700)

History will remember Zaccharie Risacher as the No. 1 pick in a strangely nebulous draft. But along with that comes the expectation, especially for a team like the Atlanta Hawks, who are recently removed from an Eastern Conference Finals run and want to get back there. 

It's unclear just what ATL's rotation will look like come October, with virtually the entire roster having been tied to one trade rumor or another in the past few months. Nothing's off the table (except for maybe Risacher himself), making roles tough to forecast.

In any case, Risacher brings a versatile blend of shooting, length, and defensive primacy that should be an easy plug-in to most lineups. The Hawks could've traded down if they didn't like what they saw at the top of board, and didn't pick him No. 1 to let him marinate on the bench, regardless of wings currently log-jamming the depth chart.

Bronny James ROY odds

Much further down the odds board, we find perhaps the most talked-about rookie in the 2024 class: Bronny James. 

James' much-trumpeted foray into the NBA draft predictably resulted in agent Rich Paul angling for him to be taken by the Los Angeles Lakers, joining forces with dad LeBron to become the first father-son duo in NBA history to play together. 

Bronny was drafted 55th, but took the largest liability at BetMGM to be selected first overall despite little actual chance, fueled by public speculation about just how desperate other teams were to possibly land LeBron's services.

Similarly, while he sits at +25,000 to win Rookie of the Year, books are likely to see a disproportionate handle on Bronny's ROY market, with Lakers stans and casual bettors unable to help but ask "what if?".

Understanding NBA Rookie of the Year odds

Most sportsbooks will display odds in the American format as listed above. As the 2023-24 season progressed, with Victor Wembanyama having been a huge favorite, his odds had a minus (-) sign ahead of the number, meaning he's "odds-on", or a favorite against the field: 

• Victor Wembanyama -500

This means that a bettor needs to wager $500 to win $100. Other candidates with worse odds would have a plus (+) sign ahead of the number. Early in the season, before any clear favorite is established, betting options will be listed as such: 

• Chet Holmgren +650

Here, a bettor stands to profit $650 for every $100 wagered. 

If American odds aren't your thing, simply use 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.

NBA ROY betting trends

Here are some trends to keep in mind when betting on NBA Rookie of the Year:

• The No. 1 pick has won Rookie of the Year four times in the past 10 seasons.
  
  
• Bigs (PF/C) haven't had much success in ROY recently, with just four wins in the last 20 seasons.
  
  
• Only one ROY winner this century (Malcolm Brogdon, 36th, 2016) was drafted outside of the lottery.
  
  
• The Rookie of the Year has been drafted in the Top 5 in 16 of the past 20 seasons.

How is NBA Rookie of the Year decided?

The NBA Rookie of the Year award is bestowed upon the most outstanding first-year player in the league. The selection process is determined by a panel of sportswriters and broadcasters who cover the NBA. These experts evaluate rookies based on their individual performance during the regular season.

Key criteria considered for the award include:

• Performance: The foremost consideration is a player's on-court performance. This encompasses statistics such as points scored, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks, and shooting percentages. The impact a rookie has on their team's overall performance can also be a factor.
  
  
• Consistency: The ability to maintain a high level of play over the entire season is valued. A rookie who consistently contributes positively is likely to receive strong consideration.
  
  
• Role and Minutes Played: The role a rookie plays within their team and the amount of playing time they receive are significant factors. A player with a substantial role and meaningful minutes is more likely to be considered.
  
  
• Leadership and Maturity: While not strictly based on age, maturity and leadership qualities are considered. A rookie who displays a level of composure and leadership beyond their years may garner additional attention.
  
  
• Adaptability and Improvement: The ability to adapt to the demands of the NBA and show improvement over the course of the season is highly regarded, rather than hitting the dreaded “Rookie Wall”. 

It's worth noting that while statistics play a substantial role, intangible qualities like basketball IQ, work ethic, and contributions beyond the box score can also influence the voting process.

NBA Rookie of the Year history (last 20 years)