Paolo Banchero and Jabari Smith Jr. headline the betting for NBA Rookie of the Year after being two of the top three picks in the recent NBA Draft.
They are paying +300 to win the honor but we think one of them is clearly ahead and will likely firm considerably in NBA betting markets.
We also look at the best value bets for NBA Rookie of the Year, including an extremely confident Canadian.
Let’s check the latest NBA picks, stats, NBA news, injury reports, and NBA odds for NBA Rookie of the Year.
All Aboard Banchero
We think Banchero is easily in the best position to win Rookie of the Year, though he’s not the most talented player in the draft.
That’s up for debate, but the former Duke player will love playing for the Orlando Magic. He’s going to be every opportunity to showcase his skills because there are no ball hogs on the team, which is always a key factor.
He’ll be able to get any shot he wants, unlike Smith, who is competing with many notable shooters. It will be a different environment in Orlando for Banchero, who should thrive for his new team.
Being the top draft pick comes with expectations but he has lived up to the hype throughout his career.
“There’s going to be high expectations for myself that I’m going to hold myself to and that everyone is going to hold myself to,” Banchero told ESPN.com. “But I feel like it’s nothing I’m not used to. It was the same thing for me heading into college, throughout high school, a lot of expectations. It’s been like that my whole life.“
NBA odds have Banchero at +300 to win NBA Rookie of the Year. It’s the same line as Smith Jr., but the value is with Banchero.
Pick: Paolo Banchero +300
Holmgren To Make Impact
Chet Holmgren is likely to have a big impact on the Oklahoma City Thunder and that impacts his Rookie of the Year odds.
The former Gonzaga Bulldog might not have the usual body type of an NBA player, but he could be one of the better shooting centers in recent times.
There is a danger that he gets bodied up by the likes of Giannis Antetokoumpo and gets exposed on defense, but he should have an impact on the offensive end. That could be enough to see him win the honor and he’s not lacking confidence.
Despite his skinny frame and potential health worries, Holmgren believes he’ll be one of the best NBA players in his rookie season. We admire the confidence and the sportsbook is keeping him safe at +450.
Pick: Chet Holmgrem +450
Mathurin is a Dark Horse
Another confident player is Canadian Bennedict Mathurin, who went sixth overall.
The former Arizona Wildcat is heading to the Indiana Pacers and he’s already saying things about LeBron James, so the target is well and truly on his back.
It’s never wise to call out James, especially with zero professional games under your belt. However, such is today’s young players.
“A lot of people say he’s great. I want to see how great he is. I don’t think anybody is better than me. He’s going to have to show me he’s better than me,” Mathurin said.
We don’t know if it’s false bravado, but the self-proclaimed best player in the NBA should get his chance to shine. He averaged 17.7 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2.5 assists for Arizona, which are good numbers.
Betting online markets have Mathurin at +1000 to win and he’s worth having as a saver bet. He could have a huge impact with the Pacers and we see his odds firmly significantly, so jump on now.
Pick: Benedict Mathurin +1000
