Zach Edey Leads NBA Rookie Of The Year Odds As Season Tips Off


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Last NBA season, Victor Wembanyama entered the campaign as the most highly touted rookie since LeBron James and followed through on the hype by edging Chet Holmgren for Rookie of the Year honors. 

The 2024 NBA Draft was notably deficient on talent, per most analysts, so the Rookie of the Year race is wide open heading into the 2024-25 season. Below is a breakdown of NBA Rookie of the Year odds, along with the top names on the board at NBA betting sites

NBA Rookie of the Year favorites

Zach Edey, Memphis Grizzlies 

The 7-foot-4 center is a two-time Naismith Trophy winner as the best player in college basketball, but scouts have voiced consistent concerns about his ability to play defense in the NBA, particularly against quick guards running pick-and-roll sets. Edey lands in a good spot for playing time, with Memphis lacking center depth. Steven Adams is in Houston, Brandon Clarke is coming off an Achilles injury, and the Grizzlies have additional frontcourt injuries to GG Jackson and Vince Williams, clearing an early path for Edey to play. 

Reed Sheppard, Houston Rockets 

Sportsbooks expect the Rockets to compete for a playoff spot this year, and Sheppard could gain some steam in Rookie of the Year odds if he’s a key rotational piece for Houston. The Kentucky product should back up Fred VanVleet and Jalen Green initially, so it might take an injury or trade to get him into a starting role. Sheppard averaged 20 points and 5.3 assists per game in the Vegas Summer League and had a couple of impressive preseason performances against Western Conference contenders. 

Zaccharie Risacher, Atlanta Hawks 

There is certainly a track record for No. 1 picks winning Rookie of the Year, with 18 players earning the award as the top overall selection, including Wembanyama and Paolo Banchero the previous two seasons. However, those players broke a six-year drought for No. 1 picks following Ben Simmons claiming the award in 2016. Risacher wound up on a Hawks team that has plenty of depth, and he’s unlikely to see heavy usage out of the gate. The 19-year-old scored 18 and 14 points over two 23-minute performances this preseason. 

Matas Buzelis, Chicago Bulls 

Buzelis showed highs and lows while playing some of the best high school competition in the nation and starting for G League Ignite last season. The 6-foot-9 wing is a good fit in the modern NBA game, and he’ll have a clear path to minutes for a rebuilding Bulls team that has a trio of talented distributors now that Lonzo Ball (knee) is active. Buzelis averaged 16.4 points, 4.2 rebounds, two steals, and two blocks in the NBA Summer League but shot 33.7% from the floor. 

Alex Sarr, Washington Wizards

The No. 2 overall pick had some lowlights this summer with a notable 0-for-15 shooting performance. But the 7-footer has flashed some two-way potential with a total of 34 points, 16 rebounds, and five blocks in three preseason outings. The Wizards could be willing to give Sarr minutes during the second half of a rebuilding season, especially if they move veteran Jonas Valanciunas to clear space in the frontcourt. 

Dalton Knecht, Los Angeles Lakers

The 23-year-old was a surprise slider in the NBA Draft considering his ability to score at all three levels. The Lakers could use his scoring immediately, and their offense could click if new coach JJ Redick thrives in his first role running a team. Knecht finished the preseason with a 35-point outing against the Suns, shooting 10-for-18 from the field and 8-for-13 from 3-point range over 32 minutes. The Lakers’ top two players (Anthony Davis and LeBron James) are high injury risks, so Knecht could find himself in a bigger role at some point. 

Donovan Clingan, Portland Trail Blazers

While Edey won the last two Naismith awards, Clingan led UConn to consecutive national titles, including one against Edey’s Purdue squad. The 7-foot-2 defensive specialist has long odds because he’s expected to come off the bench behind Deandre Ayton and could lose minutes to another great defensive player in Robert Williams III. Both of those centers are injury risks, and either could get traded by a Portland team that is deep in the rebuilding process. 

Photo by Associated Press/Brynn Anderson