2025-26 NBA Rookie of the Year odds: Cooper Flagg opens as overwhelming favorite
The Dallas Mavericks won the NBA lottery on May 12, and it was pretty clear from that date on they'd take Duke star forward Cooper Flagg with the No. 1 overall pick in 2025 NBA Draft. And that's exactly what they did Wednesday night at Barclays Center in New York.
Flagg will play on a Mavericks team that will be waiting a good chunk of the season for the return of Kyrie Irving from a torn ACL. Flagg is the -225 odds-on favorite at BetMGM to win the 2025-26 NBA Rookie of the Year — only the third time since 2006 (as far back as the Sports Odds History database goes) a player has been an odds-on favorite in the preseason to win the award.
Advertisement
The other two players that were odds-on ROY favorites in the preseason at sportsbooks — Kevin Durant at -200 odds in 2007-08 and Victor Wembanyama at -145 in 2023-24 — went on to win the award.
Tre Johnson (Washington Wizards) has the second-best odds at +700, followed by Ace Bailey (+800, Utah Jazz) and Dylan Harper (13-1, San Antonio Spurs). Harper has taken the most bets and total dollars so far on the award at BetMGM, and he represents the biggest liability at the moment.
Nikola Topić (100-1), the Oklahoma City Thunder's first-round pick from 2024, missed all of last season with an injury but will be playing his rookie year this season and could see his odds rise.
Advertisement
Florida guard Walter Clayton Jr. (100-1), fresh off an NCAA title, went to the Utah Jazz at pick No. 18 and will have a crowded backcourt to compete with, along with Bailey on the wing.
Fans will have their first glimpse of some of the rookies at the NBA Summer League from July 10-20 in Las Vegas.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
23 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Former Penguins Forward Traded To New Team
Former Pittsburgh Penguins forward Frederick Gaudreau is on the move. According to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, Gaudreau has been traded by the Minnesota Wild to the Seattle Kraken in exchange for a draft pick. Gaudreau, 32, appeared in 82 games during the 2024-25 season with the Wild, where he recorded 18 goals, 19 assists, and 37 points. The former Penguins forward also had zero points and a plus-2 rating in six playoff games for the Wild this year. Advertisement Gaudreau spent the 2020-21 season with the Penguins organization. In 19 games with Pittsburgh that campaign, he posted two goals, 10 points, and a plus-2 rating. He also had one goal and four points in six games with their AHL affiliate, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins that season. Gaudreau also recorded one goal, three points, and a plus-3 rating in six playoff games with Pittsburgh in 2021. Gaudreau's time with the Penguins ended after he signed a two-year, $2.4 million contract with the Wild during the 2021 NHL off-season. Photo Credit: © Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
USA Today
25 minutes ago
- USA Today
Cooper Flagg's NBA ROY odds slide as bettors hammer in-state rival
The race for NBA Rookie of the Year is officially on. Following the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft on Wednesday night, bettors have been making their voices (read: wallets) heard on the ROY market and, perhaps surprisingly, No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg has not dominated the action. NBA DRAFT 2025: First-round grades for every pick In fact, his odds have actually dropped from where they originally opened at BetMGM. Here's a look at the Rookie of the Year market on Thursday: BetMGM Line movement (Open to Now): BetMGM Highest Ticket% BetMGM Highest Handle% BetMGM Biggest Liability Dylan Harper (11-1) was selected No. 2 overall by the San Antonio Spurs, though he still has longer odds than Ace Bailey (8-1) and Tre Johnson (7-1). Bettors may be onto something here, though. In the last 10 years, the No. 1 overall pick won Rookie of the Year four times (Karl-Anthony Towns, Ben Simmons, Paolo Banchero, Victor Wembanyama). It's not like being the first pick gives players a distinct advantage in the ROY race. That said, the last No. 2 overall pick to win was Ja Morant in 2019-20. We'll see how these numbers shift before the 2025-26 season begins. Between Summer League, training camp and injuries, there is still a long way to go before we get a clear picture of the race. In the meantime, early bettors are staying away from the favorite.
Yahoo
26 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Is it time for Philly to turn the page?
Is it time for Philly to turn the page? Yahoo Sports senior NBA analyst Kevin O'Connor, senior NBA reporter Vincent Goodwill and college hoops analyst King McClure discuss the 76ers' selection of VJ Edgecombe in the 2025 NBA draft and if the team's young pieces are enough to solidify a rotation without Joel Embiid or Paul George. Hear the full conversation on 'The Kevin O'Connor Show' and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you listen. View more Video Transcript Remove Joel and B from the equation. Advertisement Let's just say MB is never healthy again, and like it's worst case scenario for the Sixers when it comes to their contention hopes. Let's say Paul George continues to be a better podcaster than basketball player. And like it's just not there anymore. VJ Edgecombe, Tyrese Maxy, Jared McCain is your young. A lot of shooters fast. Isn't that kind of promising, those three? I like that. Tyrese Maxy is great, Dallas kid. You know, I love that. Jerry McCain Dallas. Yeah, Tyrese Maxi from Dallas. He, he don't got the shag. Listen, you in this jack is crazy. But Jerry McCain can play really, really smart guard, can play well in a pick and roll, good pace. Advertisement And then you add VJ Edgecombe, electrifying defender can be a two-way player. I like the backcourt. I think it's very promising. Don't forget about my man is Jared Butler if he doesn't get traded, which I don't know, he might, but he can play too. Did they do something different this time? Did the Philadelphia 76ers, by not taking Ace Bailey, did they, did that signal a philosophical change? Because if any team is going to pick a player who says, no, I'm not playing for you, it's the 76ers. Are they learning something? Or is this just a temporary stay of execution given the fact that they got Paul George? Advertisement I, I think it shows two different things. I think it shows they're prioritizing both the short term and the long term, and then they're not going to take a risk on a guy that doesn't help you maximize your chances today. I think they got it, they have no choice but to gamble that Joel LeB stays healthy and that Paul George has a bounce back year. They have to hope for the promising upside of what could be. Like they, they banked on Paul George being their free agent acquisition. It worked out and then it didn't work out during the season, but maybe this year will be different. Like it's just possible. Advertisement And so I think VJ Edgecombe helps as a role player in the short term, where all those concerns you're talking about long term don't matter, but in the long term, maybe he ends up figuring it out as a shot creator and he plays more like that long term. So I like to pick for For Maury and the Sixers there at 3 because it checks both those short-term and long-term boxes. Um, will it get them over the top? That depends on and beat and Paul George and you're shaking your head like it's just not gonna and like that's totally fair. But maybe 1 year, maybe 1 year stars aligned, is that what you're saying? You believe in Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny too, Kevin? I get some young listeners. Of course I do.
