NBA Rookie of the Year betting guide
Zion Williamson is the odds-on favorite to win Rookie of the Year. Who'd have thunk it?
Considering the hype, fit, and talent, it's tough to envision someone else taking home the hardware. Nonetheless, here's the field for the 2020 award:
| Player | Odds |
|---|---|
| Zion Williamson | 1-2 |
| Ja Morant | 4-1 |
| RJ Barrett | 6-1 |
| Darius Garland | 12-1 |
| De'Andre Hunter | 14-1 |
| Jarrett Culver | 16-1 |
| Coby White | 20-1 |
| Michael Porter Jr. | 25-1 |
| Cam Reddish | 28-1 |
| Jaxson Hayes | 28-1 |
| Nassir Little | 33-1 |
| PJ Washington | 33-1 |
| Rui Hachimura | 33-1 |
| Sekou Doumbouya | 50-1 |
| Bruno Fernando | 50-1 |
| Keldon Johnson | 50-1 |
| Mfiondu Kabengele | 50-1 |
| Tyler Herro | 50-1 |
| Bol Bol | 80-1 |
| Nickeil Alexander-Walker | 80-1 |
| Goga Bitadze | 100-1 |
| KZ Okpala | 100-1 |
| Kevin Porter Jr. | 100-1 |
Tips
- Williamson has history on his side: Nine of the previous 20 winners were the No. 1 overall pick.
- 31 of the previous 33 Rookie of the Year winners have been Top 10 picks. The outliers from that sample are Malcolm Brogdon in 2017 (pick No. 36) and Michael Carter-Williams in 2014 (No. 11).
Players to avoid
Jarrett Culver (16-1)
Culver will probably be a solid 3-and-D player at the NBA level but is his ceiling high enough to make him stand out from the rest of the pack? We don't think so.
Cam Reddish (28-1)
There is no happy medium on Reddish; you either think he'll be the best of the Duke trio - the other two being Williamson and RJ Barrett - or a toolsy forward who won't put it all together. Good luck finding someone who falls in the middle.
And that's because Reddish flashed both sides in his only season with the Blue Devils. For every game-winner or big shot he took, he disappeared in a big game. You can understand why the Hawks took a shot on Reddish's upside when he fell to No. 10, but his floor is likely lower than his ceiling is high. The Hawks also have many other offensive playmakers, which could dampen any potential breakout for Reddish.
Sekou Doumbouya (33-1)
Some think the Pistons got the steal of the draft when they plucked Doumbouya at No. 15. Those people might be right. Doumbouya is a raw wunderkind with huge upside who lit it up overseas.
He's also 18 years old, and the last time we checked, the Rookie of the Year is awarded to a player who actually steps foot on an NBA court. Maybe next year, Pistons fans.
Players to consider
RJ Barrett (6-1)
Barrett's in a nice position to stand out next season. Tabbing him to be a better pro prospect than Williamson is on the cusp of hot-take territory, but the one-and-done is a natural scorer in a big market who should be used more than plenty with the Knicks.
Coby White (20-1)
This is an upside pick on a player who often seemed overshadowed at North Carolina by teammates Cam Johnson and Nassir Little. White flawlessly ran the point as a freshman for one of the best teams in the country, and he's perfectly suited for the modern NBA in which pushing the pace and knocking down threes breeds success. He could be in for a fun season with the Bulls, who have some playmaking ability around their new point guard.
Alex Kolodziej is theScore's betting writer. He's a graduate of Eastern Illinois who has been involved in the sports betting industry for 11 years. He can quote every line from "Rounders" and appreciates franchises that regularly wear alternate jerseys. Find him on Twitter @AlexKoIodziej.