The NBA Rookie of the Year odds have seen its first major line move of the season, with injuries creating opportunities both positive and negative.
Jared McCain has run with his chance to fill in for Tyrese Maxey, using a scorching-hot stretch to become the RoY favorite, while Zach Edey — who has been atop the odds board all season — saw his price drop after getting hurt.
The latest move, however, comes after Lakers rookie Dalton Knecht went nuclear in his latest NBA Cup game on Tuesday. I go into more detail with the latest NBA odds to win Rookie of the Year in 2024-25.
Latest odds to win NBA Rookie of the Year
| Player |  |
 |
 |
|---|---|---|---|
 Jared McCain |
+160 | +160 | +140 |
 Dalton Knecht |
+250 | +250 | +325 |
 Zaccharie Risacher |
+700 | +1000 | +700 |
 Zach Edey |
+1000 | +1500 | +1400 |
 Bub Carrington |
+1100 | +1100 | +900 |
| Jaylen Wells |
+2000 | +2000 | +1600 |
 Stephon Castle |
+2000 | +2000 | +2000 |
| Alexandre Sarr |
+2500 | +2500 | +2500 |
 Donovan Clingan |
+2500 | +2500 | +2500 |
Odds as of 11-20
Favorites to win NBA Rookie of the Year
Philadelphia's Jared McCain vaulted to the top of the RoY odds board, sitting as low as +160. The first-round pick out of Duke leads all rookies in scoring, and he was as long as 25/1 last week but has filled in admirably for injured star Tyrese Maxey.
The biggest newsmaker, however, is Lakers wing Dalton Knecht, who went bananas on Tuesday night; he scored 37 points — including 22 straight points for LA — and tied the NBA rookie record for three-pointers made.
DALTON KNECHT HAD HIMSELF A NIGHT:
— NBA (@NBA) November 20, 2024
🔥 37 PTS (career high)
🔥 9 3PM (ties rookie record)
🔥 Scored 22 straight for LA@Lakers move 2-0 in #EmiratesNBACup play and are undefeated going back to last season 💯 pic.twitter.com/OjMOeKxY4p
His big night saw him move from around 12/1 Tuesday morning... to as short as +250 now.
After McCain and Knecht is Atlanta's Zaccharie Risacher, the No. 1-overall pick, who sits around 7/1, marking the only other player consistently shorter than 10/1.
The other big storyline, however, was the injury to Memphis center Zach Edey, who had been the favorite since the preseason, but left Sunday's game due to an ankle injury. The extent of the injury is unknown, but it is something the 7-foot-4 center has dealt with all year and his odds now sit in the +1000 range.
Sitting just outside the Top 4 contenders are Washington's duo of Bub Carrington and Alex Sarr, Spurs wing Stephon Castle, and Edey's teammate Jaylen Wells.
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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.
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NBA Rookie of the Year history
| Year | NBA ROY Winner | Opening Odds | Pick No. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-24 | Victor Wembanyama | -145 | 1 |
| 2022-23 | Paolo Banchero | +200 | 1 |
| 2021-22 | Scottie Barnes | +1,100 | 4 |
| 2020-21 | LaMelo Ball | +400 | 3 |
| 2019-20 | Ja Morant | +250 | 2 |
| 2018-19 | Luka Doncic | +250 | 3 |
| 2017-18 | Ben Simmons | +225 | 1 |
| 2016-17 | Malcolm Brogdon | N/A | 36 |
| 2015-16 | Karl-Anthony Towns | +450 | 1 |
| 2014-15 | Andrew Wiggins | +400 | 1 |
| 2013-14 | Michael Carter-Williams | +1,200 | 11 |
| 2012-13 | Damian Lillard | +500 | 6 |
| 2011-12 | Kyrie Irving | +500 | 1 |
| 2010-11 | Blake Griffin | +200 | 1 |
| 2009-10 | Tyreke Evans | +700 | 4 |
| 2008-09 | Derrick Rose | +350 | 1 |
| 2007-08 | Kevin Durant | -200 | 2 |
| 2006-07 | Brandon Roy | +300 | 6 |
| 2005-06 | Chris Paul | N/A | 4 |
| 2004-05 | Emeka Okafor | N/A | 2 |
NBA Rookie of the Year odds FAQ
76ers guard Jared McCain is the current rookie of the year favorite, followed by Los Angeles' Dalton Knecht and Atlanta's Zaccharie Risacher.
San Antonio's Victor Wembanyama won the 2024 NBA ROY.
The first overall pick has won ROY 22 times since 1953.
Yes, three times in fact. The award was shared by Elton Brand and Steve Francis (2000), Grant Hill and Jason Kidd (1995) and Dave Cowens and Geoff Petrie (1971).
