NBA futures for the upcoming 2021-22 season are starting to take shape with opening night just a couple days away. NBA Rookie of the Year odds have hit the boards and even seen some early movement after Summer League and roster shuffling.
With the new season upon us, we're about to get our first glimpses of this year's rookie crop in real NBA games, so these odds are likely about to jump all over the place.
While you can do some research and lay bets in the calm before the storm, here's the latest look at the early NBA ROY odds for 2022:
Odds to win NBA Rookie of the Year
| Player | Odds to Win Rookie of the Year |
|---|---|
| Cade Cunningham | +250 |
| Jalen Green | +275 |
| Jalen Suggs | +700 |
| Evan Mobley | +850 |
| Alperen Sengun | +1,200 |
| Scottie Barnes | +1,200 |
| Davion Mitchell | +1,800 |
| Josh Giddey | +2,000 |
| James Bouknight | +2,800 |
| Jonathan Kuminga | +2,800 |
| Jalen Johnson | +3,000 |
| Chris Duarte | +3,000 |
| Franz Wagner | +3,500 |
| Keon Johnson | +4,000 |
| Tre Mann | +4,000 |
| Sharife Cooper | +4,000 |
| Moses Moody | +4,500 |
| Ayo Dosunmu | +4,500 |
| Nah'Shon Hyland | +4,500 |
| Cameron Thomas | +4,500 |
Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook on October 16, 2021.
Favorite to win NBA Rookie of the Year
It should come as little surprise that No. 1 overall pick Cade Cunningham sits atop the odds board at +250. Cunningham projects as a hybrid point forward with both noteworthy playmaking and scoring ability. Think of him as Ben Simmons with a jumper, if you will. His size and versatile skill set should allow him to see minutes at a variety of positions for the Detroit Pistons, and make an immediate impact on a team with few expectations this season.
No. 2 overall pick Jalen Green also sits second on the odds board at +275. An athletic wing with elite scoring potential, Green already cut his teeth in the G-League last year, and may face less of an NBA learning curve as a result. With Kevin Porter Jr. now apparently shifting to point guard duties, Green will be looked upon even more as a finisher. He'll have no shortage of looks in a Houston Rockets offense that ranked 24th in scoring last season.
After the Toronto Raptors passed him up with the fourth pick, March Madness hero Jalen Suggs (+700) fell to the Orlando Magic, in a situation far more beneficial for his ROY odds. Instead of competing for minutes with borderline All-Star Fred VanVleet and breakout Gary Trent Jr., Suggs will get to make his mark in the NBA's shallowest backcourt. He should see big minutes at either guard spot from the opening tip.
Former USC big Evan Mobley sits fourth in ROY odds at +850. Mobley is a polished center with a diverse skill set that should allow him to impact games in several ways. But the Cleveland Cavaliers may be otherwise committed to Jarrett Allen and recently-acquired Lauri Markkanen as their starting bigs. Mobley can back up either spot though and should have several pathways to minutes in a variety of lineups.
Rounding out the Top 5 are Alperen Sengun and Scottie Barnes at +1,200. Sengun just turned 19, and won the Turkish League MVP last season, flashing immense potential as a fleet-footed big who can both score and play-make for the Rockets.
The Raptors shocked most pundits by passing on Suggs for Barnes, an athletic Swiss-Army-Knife combo forward with a freakish 7-foot-3 wingspan who could see minutes in lots of lineups and make immediate contributions on both sides of the ball.
Understanding NBA Rookie of the Year odds
Most sportsbooks will display odds in the American format as listed above. As the 2019-20 season progressed, with Ja Morant having been a huge favorite, his odds had a minus (-) sign ahead of the number:
- Ja Morant -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:
- Zion Williamson +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 Rookie of the Year history
| Year | NBA ROY Winner |
|---|---|
| 2020-21 | LaMelo Ball |
| 2019-20 | Ja Morant |
| 2018-19 | Luka Doncic |
| 2017-18 | Ben Simmons |
| 2016-17 | Malcolm Brogdon |
| 2015-16 | Karl-Anthony Towns |
| 2014-15 | Andrew Wiggins |
| 2013-14 | Michael Carter-Williams |
| 2012-13 | Damian Lillard |
| 2011-12 | Kyrie Irving |
| 2010-11 | Blake Griffin |
| 2009-10 | Tyreke Evans |
| 2008-09 | Derrick Rose |
| 2007-08 | Kevin Durant |
| 2006-07 | Brandon Roy |
| 2005-06 | Chris Paul |
| 2004-05 | Emeka Okafor |
| 2003-04 | LeBron James |
| 2001-02 | Pau Gasol |
| 2000-01 | Mike Miller |
| 1999-00 | Steve Francis, Elton Brand |
Where can I bet on NBA Rookie of the Year odds?
Most online sportsbooks will offer NBA futures odds on who will win the Rookie of the Year for the next season. Check out our best basketball sportsbooks available for the most trusted books in your area.
