2025-26 NBA Rookie of the Year Picks, Odds, Trends & Sleeper Candidates

NBA Rookie of the Year Odds and Betting Advice For The 2025-26 Season!

Sportsmemo’s Steve Seagrave gives 2025 NBA Rookie of the Year odds, picks and predictions including sleepers on who will lift the hardware come the end of the season! Which players have the best odds to win?

What are some key NBA Rookie of the Year betting trends to keep an eye on? Get Steve’s NBA Rookie of the Year picks below!

2025-26 NBA Rookie of the Year Odds (DraftKings)

Past NBA Rookie of the Year Winners

NBA Rookie of the Year Betting Trends

*Twenty-two winners were drafted first overall. Sixteen players have also won the Most Valuable Player Award (MVP) in their careers with Wilt Chamberlain and Wes Unseld both earning the honors in the same season. Seven players have won the award unanimously by capturing all the first-place votes. 

2025-26 NBA Rookie of the Year Prediction (Not Named Cooper Flagg): Ace Bailey, Utah Jazz (+1000)

Dylan Harper (#2 draft pick) has the opportunity to become the 3rd straight San Antonio Spurs player to win this award, but he’s projected to come off the bench unless there is an injury.

VJ Edgecombe (#3 draft pick) is an exciting option, but he won’t have counting stats unless the Philadelphia 76ers have another injury-riddled season and Kon Knueppel (#4 draft pick) could encounter similar usage problems with the Charlotte Hornets.

Ace Bailey (#5 draft pick) seemed disappointed to be part of the Utah Jazz organization on draft night, but he has the advantage of being a high usage starter on a poor team from Day 1.

The Rutgers product is a versatile 6’9″ athlete that is known for his scoring touch, transition play and defensive length (7’0.5″ wingspan).

Bailey has already voiced bold goals: winning ROY & making the All-Star team and former NBA guard Jeff Teague recently predicted Bailey to edge out Cooper Flagg.

Past winners Victor Wembanyama & Paolo Banchero combined elite scoring with defensive contributions and Bailey has the ability to do the same if he buys-in on defense.

The Jazz are in rebuild mode after a 31-51 season and they have core players like Lauri Markkanen & Walker Kessler but there are plenty of shots to go around. 

Other 2025-26 NBA Futures Picks Below

2025-26 NBA Win Totals Over/Under

2025-26 NBA MVP Award

2025-26 NBA Defensive Player of the Year

2025-26 NBA Coach of the Year

2025-26 NBA Most Improved Player of the Year

2025-26 NBA 6th Man of the Year

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