With one-third of the NBA season in the books, Evan Mobley from the Cleveland Cavaliers has the inside track to winning NBA Rookie of the Year as the betting favorite at +125 odds. Cade Cunningham, the #1 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft with the Detroit Pistons, is the second favorite on the board over at DraftKings at +275 odds to win Rookie of the Year.
Scottie Barnes, a small forward with the Toronto Raptors, isn’t far behind Cunningham at +300 odds. The Raptors selected Barnes with the #4 pick out of Florida State. As a starter with the Raptors, Barnes averages 15.6 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game.
| 2022 NBA Rookie of the Year Odds |
- Evan Mobley (Cleveland Cavs) +125
- Cade Cunningham (Detroit Pistons) +275
- Scottie Barnes (Toronto Raptors) +300
- Jalen Green (Houston Rockets) +1800
- Josh Giddey (Oklahoma City Thunder) +2500
- Franz Wagner (Orlando Magic) +2800
- Chris Duarte (Indiana Pacers) +3500
Jalen Green, a touted high school prospect out of California, played his gap year with the NBA G League team the Ignite. The Houston Rockets selected him with the second overall pick in the draft. Green played in only 19 games this season due to a hamstring injury, but he averages 14.3 ppg for the Rockets. He’s +1800 odds to win Rookie of the Year.
ROY: Mobley or Cunningham?
Cunningham was an All-American out of Oklahoma State and the consensus #1 pick in the NBA Draft. He looked a little lost when he finally made his NBA debut with the Pistons because he missed the last bit of the preseason and the start of the regular season with a sprained ankle. It took him a couple of weeks before he finally found his groove.
Cunningham started 25 games with the Pistons and averages 15.3 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 5.2 assists per game. In December, Cunningham saw his scoring output increase to nearly 18 points and 6.3 assists per game. Cunningham is one of six members of the Pistons who are currently in COVID protocols. You can back Cunningham at +375 odds to win Rookie of the Year.
Mobley played a one-and-done season with USC last year. He was the first center selected in the NBA Draft when the Cavs drafted him with the third-overall pick. He earned a starting role on a team that’s stacked with some talented big dudes.
“Mob doesn’t have any rookie moments or make any rookie mistakes,” praised Mobley’s head coach JB Bickerstaff.
Mobley averages 13.8 points and 8.3 rebounds per game, and he’s one of the reasons the Cavs are 19-13 and occupy the #5 seed in the Eastern Conference. Mobley missed some time with an elbow injury, and he’s currently in health and safety protocols after testing positive for COVID. Right now, Mobley is the public favorite to win Rookie of the Year at +125 odds.
Giddey from Down Under
Basketball fans in Australia are excited about a kid named Josh Giddey. Their native son is the best prospect from Australia since Luc Longley.
Giddey, a 6-foot-8 wingman out of Melbourne bypassed the American college circuit and signed with the NBL in Australia. He played a season as a developmental player in a spot typically awarded to American high school kids who decided to play their gap year abroad instead of in the NCAA. Giddey impressed scouts with his shooting and playmaking ability. After an auspicious start to his career, Giddey is the fifth-highest player on the prop betting board at +2500 odds to win Rookie of the Year.
The Oklahoma City Thunder took a flier on Giddey with the #6 pick and the results have been extremely positive. Giddey became a quick fan favorite. He averages 11.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 6.0 assists per game. His 3-point shooting needs improvement because he’s only connecting on 25% of his long-range shots.
Zwei Bruder Wagner
If the name Wagner surname sounds familiar it’s probably because there are a pair of brothers from Germany in the NBA, and they both play for the Orlando Magic. Moritz Wagner paved the path for his younger brother, Franz, who followed Mo to America. Both Wagner brothers played ball at Michigan before heading to the NBA.
The LA Lakers drafted Mo as a late first-round pick back in 2018, but the center bounced around the league with stints at the Lakers, Wizards, Celtics, and Magic. This season, Mo comes off the bench for the Magic, averaging 6.3 ppg and 2.5 rebounds in 11.7 minutes per game.
The Magic selected Franz with the #8 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. He’s a little smaller than his brother, but he’s much quicker and has a deadly outside shot. As a starter, Franz is second on the Magic in scoring while averaging 15 ppg and 4.7 assists per game. Betting-wise, Franz is a long shot at +2800 odds to win the Rookie of the Year.