Now that the 2022 rookie class has found homes — and participated in NBA Summer League — it's a good time to check in on the NBA Rookie of the Year odds.
Now that the 2022 rookie class has found homes — and participated in NBA Summer League — it's a good time to check in on the NBA Rookie of the Year odds.
The latest: While Jabari Smith was widely expected to come off the board first, the Orlando Magic went with Paolo Banchero instead — and the big Duke product should produce right away. Somehow, the Sacramento Kings passed on Jaden Ivey, allowing him to find a perfect spot.
No one expects Johnny Davis to be the best player in the class, but he's a dark horse with a lot going for him.
Here are the latest NBA Rookie of the Year odds.
Check out the latest odds to win NBA Rookie of the Year. Click linked odds to add selection to your betslip.
| Player | Latest Odds | Odds on September 23 |
| Paolo Banchero | +200 | +200 |
| Keegan Murray | +500 | +500 |
| Jaden Ivey | +550 | +550 |
| Jabari Smith | +600 | +600 |
| Bennedict Mathurin | +1,000 | +1,000 |
| Shaedon Sharpe | +2,500 | +2,500 |
| Jalen Williams | +2,500 | +2,500 |
| Dyson Daniels | +2,500 | +2,500 |
| Johnny Davis | +3,000 | +3,000 |
| Jalen Duren | +4,000 | +4,000 |
Odds as of 5:42 p.m. on 10/2/2022
The favourite: Paolo Banchero (+200)
Even if Banchero hadn't gone first overall, he would've been the best pick to bring home the hardware.
That's partially because the 19-year-old is already fully developed physically, standing at 6'10" with a solid 250-pound frame. He's also extremely polished from a skill standpoint. His bag includes interior finishing, midrange jumpers, excellent ball-handling for his size, respectable efficiency from beyond the arc and even some crafty passing.
If you watch Banchero's highlight reel, you'll see a player who can hurt opposing defences in a variety of ways.
The biggest questions surrounding Banchero largely pertain to his defence, but he's the type of player who should fill the stat sheet enough to impress voters. He also joins a Magic team that will be built around him, allowing Banchero to be an on-ball offensive force.
Best value: Jaden Ivey (+550)
When the Sacramento Kings passed on Ivey with the fourth pick, he found himself in the perfect spot. Joining Detroit's backcourt allows Ivey to pair with 2021 first overall pick Cade Cunningham, creating a dynamic thunder-and-lightning duo.
Cunningham's methodical pace, elite passing, and outside shooting will complement Ivey's unbelievable athleticism and ability to cut to the basket. The 20-year-old has drawn comparisons to Ja Morant with his game-changing quickness, and it's not hard to imagine Cunningham making the most of his backdoor cuts and the dynamism of his transition game.
Ivey isn't a one-trick pony, though. His outside shooting radically improved last season, allowing him to shoot 35.8% on 3-pointers after managing a measly 25.8% rate in his freshman year. That improvement will allow him to thrive in more of an off-ball role when he shares the floor with Cunningham.
Beyond the Xs and Os, Ivey also has the advantage of being extremely entertaining to watch. He's got a good chance to keep himself top of mind for voters all year thanks to his ability to throw down highlight-reel dunks.
Player to watch: Johnny Davis (+3,000)
Davis doesn't have Banchero or Ivey's raw talent, and these odds reflect that. What he does have is a skill set that centres around point-scoring, and a significant opportunity.
The former Wisconsin guard is a walking bucket with a diverse repertoire. He shoots from all over the floor, gets to the rim, and even operates out of the post a surprising amount for a player his size. He scored 19.7 points per game last season, which is a higher total than any of the nine players drafted before him.
Landing on the Washing Wizards also helps Davis' case as he projects to start alongside Bradley Beal right away. Serving as the Robin of Washington's backcourt could result in enough scoring opportunities for him to put up eye-catching totals.
It might take an injury or two to higher-profile candidates for Davis to come through, but he's not a bad dart throw at these odds.
With Chet Holmgren suffering a season-ending injury the odds shifted significantly across the board, but Murray seemed to get the biggest push becoming the second favourite behind Banchero.
Although Murray should get plenty of opportunities in Sacramento's offence, we're not sold that a strong NBA Summer League performance justifies this kind of hype. Not long ago the Kings were getting criticized for passing on Ivey to get Murray, who's polished but may not have the highest ceiling.
Putting down money on Banchero or someone who'll pay out better seems like a better play than going all in on Murray as his odds shorten.