Bet on NBA Rookie of the Year – Odds for the NBA Best Rookie 2025
For those that are interested in making a bet on the NBA Rookie of the year, you’ve come to the right place. In terms of NBA betting odds, the odds for the NBA’s best Rookie always garner a lot of wagers as a futures bet. While this is a market some may not be interested in at the start of the season, as things progress the candidate becomes more interesting.
Odds to win the NBA Rookie of the year
The odds for the NBA rookie of the year extend far beyond a simple bet on the best newcomer. Bettors will also have the option to bet on defensive and offensive rookies too! For those bettors that are looking for Vegas odds for NBA rookie of the year, the most recent odds are found in the table below:
| Rookie of the Year 2025/26 Odds |  |  |  |
| Cooper Flagg | -190 | -190 | -200 |
| Ace Bailey | +950 | +1000 | +950 |
| Tre Johnson | +1000 | +1000 | +1000 |
| Dylan Harper | +1100 | +1100 | +1200 |
| VJ Edgecombe | +1200 | +1200 | +1200 |
| Kon Knueppel | +1800 | +1800 | +1800 |
| Jeremiah Fears | +5000 | +5000 | +5000 |
Key Dates for the 2025–26 NBA Rookie of the Year Race
The NBA Rookie of the Year award is a season-long journey — from opening night debuts to final voting after the playoffs. Tracking these milestones helps bettors follow form, odds shifts, and standout rookie performances all year long.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| October 21, 2025 | NBA Regular Season Begins – The official start of the Rookie of the Year race. Top prospects make their debut and early betting lines start to move. |
| December 2025 | In-Season Tournament Action – Rookies face playoff-style pressure early in the year, often causing major shifts in ROY odds. |
| February 13–17, 2026 | NBA All-Star Weekend (Los Angeles, CA) – Look out for rookies in the Rising Stars Game; standout performances often spark renewed award buzz. |
| April 15, 2026 | End of Regular Season – All stats are finalized. Voters evaluate rookie performance across the full 82-game stretch. |
| May 2026 | NBA Awards Voting Period – Media members cast official ballots for Rookie of the Year and other awards. |
| June 2026 (TBA) | NBA Awards Ceremony – The NBA Rookie of the Year winner is officially announced, closing the futures market for this award. |
| June 25, 2026 | NBA Draft – The next wave of rookies enters the league, kicking off speculation and early odds for the 2026–27 ROY race. |
History of the NBA Rookie of the Year award
The NBA Rookie of the Year award has been a staple of the league since 1953, recognizing the top-performing first-year player each season. Over the decades, it has featured legendary picks like Wilt Chamberlain, Larry Bird, and Luka Dončić—many of whom later made deep NBA Finals runs. For fans and bettors alike, this award offers early insight into future superstars, often impacting long-term team projections. As a result, NBA betting odds for Rookie of the Year remain one of the most popular futures markets each season.
Understanding NBA Rookie of the Year odds
When you look at any of the top-tier basketball sportsbooks in the USA, it’s always worth taking a look at the NBA rookie of the year betting odds. An example of the odds could look like this:
- Player 1 +400
- Player 2 +450
- Player 3 +500
You’ll be rewarded playing markets like this, as it allows the sports fan to track the progress of the individual player and help them to become more immersed in the sport. Another great thing about NBA rookie of the year betting is that you can choose from a range of markets, this include:
- NBA Rookie of the Year
- NBA Defensive Rookie of the Year
- NBA Offensive Rookie of the Year
What is a Prop Bet on NBA Rookies?
Prop bets are always a fun aspect of gambling, no less when betting on rookie of the year NBA betting odds. Any bet that is placed on the occurrence or non-occurrence of a certain player or team that doesn’t relate directly to the result of a game is defined as a prop bet.
Betting on Rookie of the Year is considered a futures market, though some sportsbooks categorize it similarly to prop bets. These can be interesting markets, as they focus specifically on NBA rookie of the year odds, which for some bettors are the main focus each season.
The oddsmakers will move the lines as the season progresses, so be sure to keep checking back with our page for the latest updates. As more games are played, bettors will see that different players begin to showcase their skills and abilities. If they perform well, their odds can quickly shift.
Recent NBA Rookie of the Year Winners
Looking back at past NBA Rookie of the Year winners offers valuable insight into how preseason odds translate into real results. Some players dominated from day one, while others started as longshots before climbing the leaderboard. Here’s a look at the most recent ROTY winners and their opening betting odds before the season began.
| Season | Rookie of the Year | Team | Opening Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024–25 | Victor Wembanyama | San Antonio Spurs | +120 |
| 2023–24 | Paolo Banchero | Orlando Magic | +200 |
| 2022–23 | Scottie Barnes | Toronto Raptors | +450 |
| 2021–22 | LaMelo Ball | Charlotte Hornets | +400 |
| 2020–21 | Ja Morant | Memphis Grizzlies | +250 |
| 2019–20 | Luka Dončić | Dallas Mavericks | +300 |
| 2018–19 | Ben Simmons | Philadelphia 76ers | +150 |
| 2017–18 | Malcolm Brogdon | Milwaukee Bucks | +1000 |
| 2016–17 | Karl-Anthony Towns | Minnesota Timberwolves | +150 |
| 2015–16 | Andrew Wiggins | Minnesota Timberwolves | +250 |
How to Bet on the NBA Rookie of the Year
In terms of how to bet on these markets, it’s important to do your homework about the player and know what is required. While this is generally us speaking broadly about how to make the most out of your NBA Rookie of the Year bets. So, let’s dig into some top tips and pointers to help you find value in the market.
Current Performance
This may seem like an obvious one, but current performance is a key indicator when trying to establish which players are worth wagering on for Rookie of the Year. Many of the Rookies will start at developing or lower standard teams, often going on to shine at their first NBA side. Be sure to check out what’s available n terms of team and player start before you begin betting.
Team Performance
Team Performance is another key indicator of how well a Rookie of the Year candidate might do. While it’s true that a player can shine regardless of his teams’ performance, it always helps to see a Rookie take a player to the postseason with consistent performances.
Will they make the Playoffs?
As we mentioned briefly in our previous point, going to the Playoffs can be pivotal in a players’ attempt to show their worth to the judges of Rookie of the Year. Seeing any kind of progress in the Postseason is something that doesn’t go unnoticed. Generally speaking, these are the only games in which NBA fans capture every game, regardless of the teams that are competing, as such it’s a great opportunity for Rookies to shine.
Previous season performances
Obviously, Rookie of the Year is considered for that particular year alone. However, it’s always worth seeing how these players have performed at a college level to see what kind of consistency, playstyle, and statistics they have produced at the end of each season. When it comes to betting, this is a great indicator as it’s clear information and it’s based on fact.
Player consistency
Finally, we look at consistency. If you’re not betting on a preseason future for Rookie of the Year, then you have some games to look at in terms of player performance. At this stage, we’d advise doing a bit of homework and looking at what kind of consistency players have put up in previous seasons. This will be an indicator as to what the early performances mean and whether players can maintain this level of play.
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