- Get the latest odds on the top favorites for the 2025-26 NBA Rookie of the Year.
- San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle won ROY in 2025.
The NBA Rookie of the Year award might continue to stay in Texas during the 2025-26 season.
Stephon Castle became the second straight San Antonio Spurs player to win ROY in 2025, which came after Victor Wembanyama claimed the trophy in 2024.
Cooper Flagg, who went to the Dallas Mavericks with the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, begins as the clear betting favorite for the next trophy.
Get the latest NBA betting odds and predictions for the 2025-26 NBA Rookie of the Year market:
Odds to Win NBA Rookie of the Year 2026
| Player | Team | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Cooper Flagg | Mavericks | -225 |
| Tre Johnson | Wizards | +900 |
| Ace Bailey | Jazz | +1000 |
| Dylan Harper | Spurs | +1400 |
| V.J. Edgecombe | 76ers | +1000 |
| Kon Knueppel | Hornets | +3000 |
| Derik Queen | Pelicans | +3500 |
| Jeremiah Fears | Pelicans | +3500 |
| Cedric Coward | Grizzlies | +3500 |
| Nique Clifford | Kings | +8000 |
| Egor Demin | Nets | +6600 |
| Carter Bryant | Spurs | +6600 |
| Jase Richardson | Magic | +8000 |
| Asa Newell | Hawks | +8000 |
| Walter Clayton Jr. | Jazz | +4000 |
| Collin Murray-Boyles | Raptors | +12500 |
| Khaman Maluach | Suns | +10000 |
| Noa Essengue | Bulls | +10000 |
| Nikola Topic | Thunder | +4000 |
| Nolan Traoré | Nets | +15000 |
Who Will Win NBA Rookie of the Year in 2026?
Flagg begins as the betting favorite at -225 to win the NBA Rookie of the Year award during the 2025-26 season.
Although it’s not surprising to see Flagg start as the ROY front-runner, his price tag to win this award is notable. If his price holds until October, Flagg would be the biggest preseason favorite to win Rookie of the Year since at least 2007, as the Sports Odds History database doesn’t go back further than that.
Kevin Durant and Wembanyama are the only other rookies to have minus odds prior to the start of the season. Durant was -200 before claiming the trophy in 2007-08, while Wembanyama was -145 (as of Oct. 24) en route to securing the award in 2023-24.
However, it’s worth noting that Wembanyama didn’t maintain his status as the favorite from start to finish. He was eventually passed by Oklahoma City Thunder big man Chet Holmgren, which allowed bettors to take advantage of some plus-money prices on Wembanyama.
Flagg is a deserving favorite, especially as a generational prospect in a rookie class that lacks a lot of top-end talent. But I have a hard time backing him at his current odds.
As a result, I’d rather target a player further down the board and hope for better value on Flagg at a later date.
Because high-draft picks have an advantage, it’s worth targeting the four players who heard their names called right after Flagg went No. 1 overall.
Dylan Harper (No. 2 pick) could become the third straight Spurs player to win this award, though he’s likely to come off the bench unless there is a trade that opens his path.
V.J. Edgecombe (No. 3 pick) won’t have the counting stats unless the Philadelphia 76ers have another injury-riddled season. Kon Knueppel (No. 4 pick) could have a similar usage problem with the Charlotte Hornets.
The player that should step into a high-usage role on a bad team from Day 1 is Ace Bailey, who was drafted No. 5 overall by the Utah Jazz. His pre-draft process garnered a lot of attention, but he’s also a walking bucket and the exact type of player who can challenge Flagg in this race.
Flagg is still my pick to win ROY, but it’s Bailey or pass from a betting perspective.
Prediction: Cooper Flagg
Best Bets for 2026 NBA Rookie of the Year
- Ace Bailey +1000
- Cooper Flagg (wait for better value)
NBA Rookie of the Year Voting 2025
| Rank | Name | Team | Vote Pts | 1st Place |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stephon Castle | SAS | 482 | 92 |
| 2 | Zaccharie Risacher | ATL | 245 | 5 |
| 3 | Jaylen Wells | MEM | 123 | 3 |
| 4 | Alex Sarr | WAS | 34 | 0 |
| 5 | Zach Edey | MEM | 10 | 0 |
| 6 | Kel'el Ware | MIA | 4 | 0 |
| 7 | Matas Buzelis | CHI | 1 | 0 |
| Jared McCain | PHI | 1 | 0 |
Past NBA Rookie of the Year Winners
| Year | Player | Preseason odds |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | Stephon Castle | +1200 |
| 2023-24 | Victor Wembanyama | -145 |
| 2022-23 | Paolo Banchero | +200 |
| 2021-22 | Scottie Barnes | +1100 |
| 2020-21 | LaMelo Ball | +400 |
| 2019-20 | Ja Morant | +250 |
| 2018-19 | Luka Doncic | +250 |
| 2017-18 | Ben Simmons | +225 |
| 2016-17 | Malcolm Brogdon | OTB |
| 2015-16 | Karl-Anthony Towns | +450 |
| 2014-15 | Andrew Wiggins | +400 |
| 2013-14 | Michael Carter-Williams | +1200 |
| 2012-13 | Damian Lillard | +500 |
| 2011-12 | Kyrie Irving | +500 |
| 2010-11 | Blake Griffin | +200 |
| 2009-10 | Tyreke Evans | +700 |
| 2008-09 | Derrick Rose | +350 |
| 2007-08 | Kevin Durant | -200 |
| 2006-07 | Brandon Roy | +300 |
| 2005-06 | Chris Paul | N/A |
| 2004-05 | Emeka Okafor | N/A |
| 2003-04 | LeBron James | N/A |
| 2002-03 | Amar'e Stoudemire | N/A |
| 2001-02 | Pau Gasol | N/A |
| 2000-01 | Mike Miller | N/A |
| 1999-00 | Steve Francis and Elton Brand | N/A |
Who Was the Biggest Preseason Favorite for NBA Rookie of the Year?
According to the Sports Odds History database, Kevin Durant is the biggest preseason favorite for NBA Rookie of the Year. He was -200 before winning the award in 2008. The data doesn’t go back further than 2007.
Cooper Flagg is currently on track to become the biggest preseason favorite for NBA Rookie of the Year, if his price doesn’t drop below -200.
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