Betting

2025 NBA Rookie of the Year odds, prediction: Wizards’ Alexandre Sarr favored after draft

The most memorable part of the 2024 NBA Draft may be when it mercifully ends, as no one in this draft is expected to be among the better players in basketball.

Thirty-two players were drafted Wednesday, and while many of them are raw talents unlikelāœƒy to contribute to winning basketball early, someone will still need to win šŸƒNBA Rookie of the Year.

The Wizards’ No. 2 pick, Alexandre Sarr, is the clear favorite at the top of the FanDuel oddsboard, at +450 odds, ahead of No.1 overall pick Zaccharie Risacher (+600).

Sarr is expected to inherit plenty of touches for the Wizards, who are tearing their rostšŸ’–er down to the studs with the hope it again will pick in the top five in a better 2025 draft.

Zaccharie Risacher was the No. 1 pick in the draft.
Zaccharie Risacher was the No. 1 pick in the draft. Getty Images

On average, each NBA Draft producšŸŒžes 5.4 players on average that will reach an All-Star team, according to .

No draft from 2000-20 has producedšŸ² fewer than threāœ…e All-Stars.

With this draft being historically bereft of talent, it doesn’t mean that no one in the draft will be an All-Star-caliber player.

2025 NBA Rookie of the Year odds

TeamOdds
Alexandre Sarr+450
Zaccharie Risacher+600
Stephon Castle+750
Matas Buzelis+850
Reed Sheppard10/1
Dalton Knecht10/1
Tidjane Saiaun12/1
Zach Edey12/1
Rob Dillingham20/1
Donovan Clingan20/1
Cody Williams20/1
Ron Holland20/1
Odds provided by FanDuel

Even the biggest haters of this year’s draft will have to admit that at least one player will wind up having made an All-Star team, and it’s even more likely that multiple players reach that ceiling.

Opportunity is evš’‰°erything when betting on this award.

Sarr is the rightful favorite, and considering several of the players at the top of the market’s odds include non-starters and players who may have few shot-making opportunities, there are only a few options to bet on here.

Stephon Castle should command a major role alongside Victor Wembanyama.
Stephon Castle should command a major role on the Spurs alongside Victor Wembanyama. Getty Images

Sarr at +450 odds is actually solid value when you realize how hā€orrific the Wizards should be in 2024-25.

He could easily take 15 shots a game as Washington ź¦‡goes into full tank mode.

Meanwhile, Castle has an excellent opportunity forā™Œ the Spurs, where he may start out of the gate for coach Gregg Popovich.


Betting on the NBA?


For now, Sarr is my bet at +450, but you could do much worse than a shot at Castle ā€(+750).

Keep a close eye on Castle in training camp before investing in him, he should be able to carve out a sizable role for the Spurs assuming they don’t make wholesale moves in free agency.

PICK: Alexandre Sarr Rookie of the Year (+450, FanDuel)