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  • Who are the top contenders for the 2021 NBA Rookie of the Year Award?
  • LaMelo Ball is the heavy favorite with the regular season wrapped up
  • Track how the odds fluctuate throughout the 2020-21 NBA season

We’ve been tracking the odds to win the 2021 NBA Rookie of the Year Award all year long and have included the data below. The main graph on this page has been generated by calculating the average from many of our most trusted sportsbooks.

2021 NBA Rookie of the Year Odds

  • [May 18] With the regular season wrapped up, the award is Ball’s to lose, as LaMelo has seen his odds shorten on average to -1950
  • [May 11] Ball’s odds continue shortening, down to -900 with one week left in the season
  • [May 4] As LaMelo Ball has dazzled with his passes and impact on the court for the Hornets in his return as Charlotte fights for playoff position, his average odds have shortened to -450
  • [April 27] Ball has yet to return to the court, but still remains a heavy odds-on -305 favorite to capture ROY honors
  • [April 20] LaMelo Ball is set to return for the playoff-contending Charlotte Hornets in 7-10 days, and the news caused a major move in the odds, as he’s now an average price of -275. Anthony Edwards slid back to odds of +203
  • [April 15] Anthony Edwards has returned to odds-on favorite status as he continues his high volume role in Minnesota
  • [April 8] No movement in the ROY odds this week, as Edwards remains slightly favored over Tyrese Haliburton with LaMelo Ball out for the year
  • [April 1] Tyrese Haliburton has been a big contributor as the Kings push for the play-in tournament, and his odds have shortened to an average of +160. Edwards remains the +100 favorite on average
  • [March 22] Unfortunately for Hornets and NBA fans in general, LaMelo Ball’s sensational rookie season looks to have come to an end after the rookie guard suffered a broken wrist. #1 overall pick Anthony Edwards game has picked up over the last few weeks, and with Ball’s absence the T-Wolves rookie has become the -155 odds-on favorite. LaMelo still has odds of +200 to hold on to the award
  • [March 16] Fresh off a career-high 34 points in an upset of the Trail Blazers this week, Anthony Edwards has seen his average odds improve to +800
  • [March 9] Ball has strengthened his grip even further, now at average odds of -550
  • [March 3] There’s not much of race for ROY anymore, as LaMelo Ball is still the heavy -455 favorite on average
  • [February 24] Struggling with both injuries and more sporadic playing time, James Wiseman and Immanuel Quickley have seen their odds fade. Ball remains the heavy favorite
  • [February 16] Now averaging 14.6 PPG, 6.2 RPG and 6.1 APG in a significant role with Charlotte, Ball is a virtual lock to win the award at odds of -425
  • [February 10] LaMelo Ball continues to play high level basketball for the Hornets, and his odds have shortened to an average of -340 to win ROY
  • [February 1] Immanuel Quickley stayed hot on Sunday, dropping 25 points in a close loss to the Clippers. A key part of Tom Thibodeau’s rotation, Quickley’s odds have improved to +850 on average, while he’s been as long as +6250
  • [January 27] Wiseman has seen his average odds go back to improving, now at a price of +750
  • [January 20] Tyrese Haliburton has asserted himself as LaMelo Ball’s primary challenger, now at average odds of +325
  • [January 12] Ball became the youngest player to ever record a triple-double at 19, and the market has shifted in his favor, as he’s now odds-on favorite with an average price of -172 to win ROY
  • [January 6] LaMelo Ball has edged back ahead of Wiseman in favorite position, while Kings guard Tyrese Haliburton has jumped into the top five, now at average odds of +725
  • [December 29] With a starting role locked and loaded for the Warriors, James Wiseman has ascended to the +250 favorite to win 2021 ROY
  • [December 22] On opening night, Anthony Edwards has inched back ahead of Obi Toppin as the second favorite behind Ball, now at average odds of +575
  • [December 15] After solid preseason showings, LaMelo Ball remains the favorite, while Obi Toppin has surged to second favorite, at average odds +520, shortened from +650
  • [November 19] LaMelo Ball is likely to have a long leash and a chance to run the Hornets offense, which puts him in pole position as opening favorite. Anthony Edwards goes to Minnesota with odds of +465 and James Wiseman will man the C spot for Golden State at average odds of +540

2021 NBA Rookie of the Year Odds

Player Odds at DraftKings
LaMelo Ball -2000
Anthony Edwards +900
Tyrese Haliburton +10000
Immanuel Quickley +10000
Saddiq Bey +25000
Patrick Williams +25000
Payton Pritchard +50000
JaeSean Tate +50000

Odds as of May 18th

Getting drafted by his hometown Knicks, former Dayton sensation Obi Toppin should have a chance to put up big numbers in New York while wowing crowds at the Garden. Killian Hayes also has a big opportunity for a rebuilding Pistons team.

NBA Teams with the Most Rookie of the Year Winners

The Golden State Warriors haven’t always been the toast of the NBA. Long before they were winning back-to-back championships they were routinely finishing near the bottom of the standings.

Those poor finishes netted them first rate players like Chris Webber, Mitch Richmond, Jamaal Wilkes, Rick Barry, Wilt Chamberlain, and Wood Sauldsberry, all of whom won Rookie of the Year honors.

Looking for the latest NBA odds? – Get current spreads, totals, and moneyline odds for tonight’s games here.

Past 10 NBA Rookie of the Year Winners

Year Player Team Draft Position
2020 Ja Morant Memphis Grizzlies 2
2019 Luka Doncic Dallas Mavericks 3
2018 Ben Simmons Philadelphia 76ers 1
2017 Malcolm Brogdon Milwaukee Bucks 36
2016 Karl-Anthony Towns Minnesota Timberwolves 1
2015 Andrew Wiggins Minnesota Timberwolves 1
2014 Michael Carter-Williams Philadelphia 76ers 11
2013 Damian Lillard Portland Trail Blazers 6
2012 Kyrie Irving Cleveland Cavaliers 1
2011 Blake Griffin Los Angeles Clippers 1

Rookie of the Year Trends Based off Draft Position

  • Since 1990, the NBA Rookie of the Year award has gone to the first pick in the draft 14 times
  • Since 1990, the NBA Rookie of the Year award has only been given to a second-round selection just once (Malcolm Brogdon in 2017)

Past Rookie of the Year Winners by Position

Rookie of the Year Trends Based off Position

  • The award has gone to a primary ball-handler in eight of the past 11 years
  • Power forwards and centers won five of the first six NBA Rookie of the Year awards
  • The NBA Rookie of the Year award has only been won just three times by a player who was 6’0” tall or shorter: Ernie DiGregorio (1974), Damon Stoudamire (1996), Chris Paul (2006)

NBA Rookie Records

Record Player Season
Most points in a season: 2,707 Wilt Chamberlain (Warriors) 1959-60
Most minutes played in a season: 3,695 Elvin Hayes (Rockets) 1968-69
Most rebounds in a season: 1,941 Wilt Chamberlain (Warriors) 1959-60
Most assists in a season: 868 Mark Jackson (Knicks) 1987-88
Most steals in a season: 211 Dudley Bradley (Pacers) 1979-80
Most blocks in a season: 397 Manute Bol (Bullets) 1985-86
Most three-pointers made in a season: 158 Kerry Kittles (Nets) 1996-97

Wilt Chamberlain was a rookie in name only when he entered the league in 1959. The Big Dipper led the Association in scoring, rebounding, and minutes played that season and became the first player in NBA history to win Rookie of the Year and MVP honors in the same season.


Archived NBA Rookie of the Year Odds: 2020, 2019