Trae Young is Shooting His Way into the NBA Rookie of the Year Race

• Trae Young has entered the NBA Rookie of the Year conversation after an outstanding first week on the job
• Can the Hawks point guard continue to put up big numbers in Atlanta?
• Will Young overtake Deandre Ayton and Luka Doncic?

Trae Young is turning bookies into believers.

The Atlanta Hawks point guard has been so sensational during the first week of the NBA season that his average odds to win the 2019 NBA Rookie of the Year award have improved from +1100 on October 15th to +500 on October 23rd. That’s the biggest jump of any rookie since the 2018-19 campaign began, and it’s a testament to Young’s extraordinary production.

2019 NBA Rookie of the Year Average Odds

The 20-year-old Oklahoma product is averaging 23 points, 8.3 assists, 3.3 rebounds over his first three games and, unlike some other young gunners, he’s doing it efficiently. Young is shooting 45.5% from the field and 39% from the three-point line. He’s also averaging just 2.7 turnovers per game, which is shocking considering some of the players he has to pass to in Atlanta.

Trae Young (9 PTS) shows off the range! #NBARooks pic.twitter.com/MbPGU2PbSQ

— NBA (@NBA) October 21, 2018

Most observers thought Young would find his way eventually, but the speed at which he’s adapted to the NBA has been mesmerizing. After all, he shot just 9-of-36 overall and 2-of-16 from behind the arc during his first two NBA Summer League games, and was labeled a bust by many casual fans. Young looked overmatched against his fellow rookies at the time, and rushed his shot rather than operating within the flow of the offense.

He’s learned from those early experiences and has found the perfect balance between scoring and distributing the ball early in the season. Young leads the Hawks in both categories and is also first among all rookies in points and assists and second in player efficiency.

Young has excelled in each of his first three outings, but his coming out party took place on October 21st against the Cavaliers, when he exploded for 35 points and 11 assists.  It was the best stat line for a first-year player since Steph Curry in 2010, and it powered the Hawks to an easy, breezy 133-111 win.

2019 NBA Rookie of the Year Odds

As impressive as Young has been, he still has just the third shortest odds to win the 2019 Rookie of the Year award behind Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (+270) and Suns center Deandre Ayton (+250).

Ayton has claimed the lead for the first time since odds became available on June 22nd with a string of dominant performances. The Bahamian big man is averaging 14.3 points, 10.3 rebounds, and four assists per game, and has wowed coaches and teammates alike with his court vision and preternatural feel for the game. Ayton was particularly sharp against the Warriors on October 22nd, going off for 20 points and 14 boards against the defending champs.

Doncic hasn’t been half bad either. The 19-year-old Slovenian sensation is averaging 18.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 4.3 assists in 34.7 minutes per game, and leads the Mavs in scoring. He’s still adjusting to the deeper NBA three-point line, but is developing outstanding chemistry with DeAndre Jordan on the pick and roll and has shown an uncanny knack for setting up teammates with pinpoint passes.

Where is the Value?

DeAndre Ayton has been every bit as good as expected, but you won’t get much value at +250. Try doubling your return by sprinkling some money on Young instead. The Hawks are going nowhere this season and the former All-American will get all the minutes (and shots) he can handle. That’s an important factor since the Rookie of the Year award is generally given to the top scorer in his draft class. It’s also worth noting that over the past thirteen years, the award has gone to a point guard eight times.

Take advantage of Young’s odds now before bookmakers catch on to just how good he really is.