We are standing at the midpoint of the NBA 2025-26 season, and betting charts have been significantly moving up and down regarding regular-season award winners. Dallas Mavericks’ star Cooper Flagg, who made noise before the 2025 NBA Draft, continues to sit at the top of NBA Rookie of the Year odds with highly favorable -960 odds. Kon Knueppel is still on the second spot with +650 odds, while Queen sits at the fourth spot.
Like every season, the 2025 draft class entered the season with all the noise, and while some players have been delivering notable performances, others have seemingly dimed now However, Cooper Flagg, who walked into the campaign with odds as high as -200, is still ruling the charts with odds as high as -960.
Other players, including Kon Knueppel, too, have had breakout beginning, owing to their efficient scoring as well as all-around impact alongside veterans. For Flagg, it was the injury of stars like Anthony Davis and absence of All-Stars such as Kyrie Irving, which increased the team’s dependency on the basketball prodigy.
Award winners often favor players on competitive teams with high-usage and efficiency, so ongoing price moves can highlight value among favorites, contenders, and longshots in the 2025-26 NBA Rookie of the Year betting market.
Cooper Flagg, the Duke Blue Devil alum, who was the most hyped player in his draft class, has established himself as a highly reliable player. He is currently averaging 18.8 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game across 40 appearances. In addition to it, he is also ranked amongst the top in rookies across various statistical categories, including scoring, rebounds, assists and double-doubles.
The 18-year-old has a playing efficiency rate of 16.3, and a win share of 2.5. In addition to it, when Flagg is playing, the Mavericks maintain an efficient offensive rating of 111.2. However, they defend poorly and allow 116.9 points per game. On the other hand, when he sits out, the Mavericks’ offense goes 112.6 with a better sharp dip in the offensive rating of the opponent at 111.2..
Though the Mavs haven’t found much success with their first overall pick, Flagg is expected to create a long-term impact on his team as well as in the league. Before the beginning of the season, sportsbooks had placed him at (-170). Since then, he has seen a huge surge, and solidified his spot as the favorite.
One of the biggest surprises of this year’s rookie class is Charlotte Hornets’ guard Kon Knueppel, an overall fourth pick. Knueppel is leading the rookies in scoring at an average of 19.2 points through 41 games he has played this season. In addition to it, he is also contributing 5.3 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game.
Knueppel maintains an efficiency rating of 16.8 with a win share of 3.7. In addition to it, with him on the court, the Hornets score efficiently at an offensive rating of 117.1, and defend a bit better at 117.1. However, when he sits out, the Hornets’ offense goes up to 118.9, while their defense worsens at 118.1.
Before the beginning of the season, Knueppel was a mid-tier contender for the ROTY Award. However, with his hot start, he is now one of the favorites to take the trophy home, presenting a real threat to Flagg.
VJ Edgecombe kicked off his NBA career on a promising note, dropping 34 points in the season opener. Following that game, he has had multiple double-digit performances, and while he was eventually establishing himself as an emerging talent, a calf injury halted his progress.
Currently, Edgecombe is averaging 15.7 points per game while shooting 42.9% from the field and 38.2% from the three-point range. He maintains a usage rate of 18.9% with a pace of 99.32.
With his team seeded seventh in the East, we can expect Edgecombe’s role to grow and paving himself a clear path for the stats to spike. Currently, at +2500 odds, we rate his chances near 9-10%, worth a look for bettors who are seeking upside in a betting ecosystem.
The New Orleans Pelicans center, picked 13th overall, Derik Queen, is emerging as an efficient scorer around the basket. Queen is averaging 12.6 points per game, shooting 48.9% from the field and 17.9% from the three-point range. He maintains an offensive rating of 113.1 and defensive rating of 119.9 with a 22.2% usage rate and 103.16 pace.
The Pelicans are seeded at the bottom of the Western Conference, clearly implying that despite a decent individual performance, the Maryland alum hasn’t been able to contribute much to the team’s success. However, with his odds closer to 2% at +5000, the 20-year-old is one of the best mid-range values in the class if his health and minutes hold.
Cedric Coward is known for his efficient 3-and-D play with versatility. However, his limited usage behind established players is one of the biggest reasons behind high odds. Grizzlies’ staff leveraging Coward in more on-ball situations as well using him primarily would allow him to fully realize his potential as a versatile player.
This is a high-variance longshot, with <5% path, but a 50/1 payout tempts stakes.
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Rookie of the Year Odds Movement and Market Storyline
The preseason odds installed Dallas Mavericks’ Cooper Flagg as a massive favorite to take the award home with odds as favorable as -900 across books. Kon Kneuppel, Dylan Harper, VJ Edgecombe, Ace Bailey and Tre Johnson were tied for second in the betting odds.
However, soon after the season kicked off, Kon Knueppel surged as a co-favorite with his elite shooting ability, high basketball IQ as well as efficiency on both ends of the court. On the other hand, high expectations, extra responsibilities as well as minor injury concerns dimmed Flagg as the season progressed.
Though after his career-high game of 42 points, and recent outings, including 33 points against the Nuggets, Flagg has rebounded back on the charts. Moving ahead, a favorable second-half scheduled for the Mavericks could lock the former Blue Devils star. However, if Knueppel keeps rising, we can expect the stakes to get tight.
How We Are Betting NBA Rookie of the Year Right Now
Given below are our NBA Rookie of the Year Award betting picks as well as best bets in the NBA Rookie of the Year market.
Best Bet: Cooper Flagg to Win ROTY at (-960): Cooper Flagg is currently leading the trends, and if he stays healthy and continues to make two-way impact, he can surely take the trophy home.
Best Value Pick: Derik Queen at +5000: Queen can emerge as one of the frontrunners if he maintains his high-impact play and improves consistency.
Longshot Flier: Cedric Coward at +1000: marked as speculative.
Historical Trends and Past Winners
Who Usually Wins the NBA Rookie of the Year Award?
Historical trends show that NBA Rookie of the Year Award winners are generally top draft picks. This trend reflects how teams get immediately reliable on top prospects to be their primary contributors. These players generally emerge as central figures on a team and perform reasonably, or at least exceed low expectations.
Nine of the last ten winners were top-five draft picks, and have had high-usage and counting stats key. Guards and wings have been dominating the charts recently.
Recent Winners
Season
Winner
Team
Notes
2025
Stephon Castle
San Antonio Spurs
Defensive anchor
2024
Victor Wembanyama
San Antonio Spurs
Historic stats
2023
Paolo Banchero
Orlando Magic
High-usage scorer
2022
Scottie Barnes
Toronto Raptors
Versatile defender
2021
LaMelo Ball
Charlotte Hornets
Flashy passing, crafty finishes
2020
Ja Morant
Memphis Grizzlies
Electrifying clutch performances
2019
Luka Doncic
Dallas Mavericks
Mature and high-level skillset
2018
Ben Simmons
Philadelphia 76ers
All-round impact
2017
Malcolm Brogdon
Milwaukee Bucks
Veteran-like maturity and efficiency
2016
Karl-Anthony Towns
Minnesota Timberwolves
Versatile playmaking and impressive efficiency
Winners By Team
Over the last ten seasons, the San Antonio Spurs have had two back-to-back ROTY Winners, highlighting their rookie development pipeline.
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Rookie of the Year Betting FAQs
Who votes for the NBA Rookie of the Year?
A panel of United States and Canadian sportswriters and broadcasters vote for the NBA Rookie of the Year. They cast first, second, and third place votes, which are worth five, three and one point, respectively. The player with the highest total wins the award.
When is the NBA Rookie of the Year winner announced?
The NBA Rookie of the Year winner is announced in late April or early May, when the regular season has ended but the playoffs are yet to deepen.
Do playoffs count for the NBA ROTY award?
No, major NBA awards, including ROTY are based on regular-season performance with their voting concluding around or before the postseason.
Can there be co-winners or shared NBA ROTY Awards?
Yes, there can be co-winners for the NBA Rookie of the Year Award. There have been three incidents where the league announced co-winners for the ROTY award. In 2000, Eton Brand and Steve Francis were named co-Rookies of the Year. In 1995, Grant Hill and Jason Kidd were named as the winners, while in 1971, David Cowens and Geoff Petrie shared the honors.
How to Bet on NBA Future and Awards?
Future awards such as NBA Rookie of the Year or others offer long-term value but what they require is patience. As the season progresses, odds see a major shift with underdogs emerging as favorites sometimes, or favorites maintaining their position till the very end.
While betting on such awards, be mindful of the injuries or role changes that could swing the market overnight.
Garima is a sports writer with around two years of experience in Indian sports and a newfound interest in the NBA. Inspired by the leadership of cricketing legend MS Dhoni, she wishes to bring in newer perspectives to the NBA fanatics with her writing.
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