Trent Reinsmith
The top three picks in the 2021 NBA Draft, Cade Cunningham, Jalen Green and Evan Mobley were the top picks to compete for the 2021-22 NBA Rookie of the Year before the start of the season.
Those three players are still near the top of the NBA rookie rankings after a month of NBA play, but there has been some movement among them and the No. 4 pick, Scottie Barnes has gained some ground on the players who were selected before him in the draft.
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2021-22 Rookie of the Year Odds
Top picks
Cade Cunningham was picked first overall by the Detroit Pistons, but he didn’t make his NBA debut until the fifth game of the 2021-22 NBA season. In the games he has played, Cunningham has averaged 11.7 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3 assists. Cunningham is logging nearly 30 minutes per game. His odds to win Rookie of the Year have nearly doubled to +500 since the season began.
Jalen Green was the second pick of the most recent NBA draft and was +500 to take home the NBA Rookie of the Year award while playing for the Houston Rockets. The 6-foot-4 guard is logging over 32 minutes for the Rockets. Green has scored more than 20 points three times this season and is averaging 14 points a game to go with 3.5 rebounds and 2.8 assists. He is No. 2 in team scoring behind Christian Wood.
WOW. 🤯 pic.twitter.com/KFkmFZtKMs
— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) November 11, 2021
Evan Mobley, who was the No. 3 pick in the 2021 NBA draft, was +550 before the start of the season to win Rookie of the Year. Mobley has cut his odds significantly while playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers. The 7-footer is logging over 34 minutes per game and putting up 15.6 points, 7.9 rebounds and 2.3 assists.
Scottie Barnes was the No. 4 pick in the draft and No. 5 rated player for Rookie of the Year. Barnes has moved up to No. 2 early in the season and cut his odds to +300 from +800. The Toronto Raptors forward is playing more than 35 minutes per game and averaging 16. 2 points, 8.3 rebounds and 2.8 assists.
Scottie Barnes making things happen 💯 pic.twitter.com/MiocHi9UBs
— NBA Draft (@NBADraft) November 14, 2021
Jalen Suggs was the No. 5 pick in the draft and the early odds had him above Barnes for Rookie of the Year. Suggs, who is playing for the Magic, is averaging 28.1 minutes per game. He is averaging 11.3 points per game, 3.3 rebounds and 3.5 assists. Suggs has tumbled down the board and is currently at +2500 to win Rookie of the Year.
One to watch
Chris Duarte has rocketed up the rankings for Rookie of the Year. The Indiana Pacers picked Duarte at No. 13 and he was outside the top-15 in the preseason picks for Rookie of the Year. Duarte has moved up to the No. 5 spot and is currently +900 to take home the best NBA rookie award. Duarte is playing more than 32 minutes per game and putting up, on average, 14. 3 points with 4.4 rebounds and 2.1 assists.
Chris Duarte is just getting started 😤
The rookie has a bright future ahead if he continues in the same vein! pic.twitter.com/smTHndbTtY
— Pacers Nation (@PacersNationCP) November 4, 2021
MyTopSportsbook’s Pick
I think the race is going to come down to Mobley and Barnes. The two are very close in playing time. Mobley has a field goal percentage of 0.527, while Barnes is scoring at a 0.519 clip. Barnes is the leading scorer at 16.2 points per game , while Mobley is putting up 15.6 points per game. All things considered, I’m going to go with the forward over the center and pick Barnes to win the 2022 NBA Rookie of the Year award.
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