NBA Rookie of the Year: Which Drafted Players Can Shine in 2024/25?
NBA Rookie of the Year: Which Drafted Players Can Shine in 2024/25?
December 27, 2024
With
winners like Michael Jordan, LeBron James, and Tim Duncan, there is
sometimes a sense of inevitability with the NBA’s Rookie of the Year
award. Overall, there have been 23 No.1 Draft Picks who have gone on to
win ROY in their debut season in the NBA. Of course, it’s not always
just that simple, and plenty of winners have come from relative
obscurity. Malcolm Brogdon (drafted no.36 overall), for example, wasn’t
talked about as a potential ROY candidate when drafted in 2016, but he
beat the pundits’ predictions and odds to do so a year later.
The
2024/25 season certainly sees some brilliant rookies with huge
potential taking to the big leagues for the first time. As is the
trend, plenty have come from abroad, particularly Europe, yet plenty of
star players have been produced by America’s colleges. Let’s look at
who is in the running this season, with our list containing the latest NBA odds at the time of writing for the ROY market:
1. Zach Edey
Edey is the consensus betting favorite for ROY, although odds of +650 suggest that it is anything but certain. The Canadian center
played college basketball for the Purdue Boilermakers. Twice named
National College Player of the Year, Edey was drafted 9th overall by
the Memphis Grizzlies. At 7 ft 4 in, he was recorded as the tallest
player in Big Ten history in his freshman year.
2. Reed Sheppard
With
odds of +850, Reed Sheppard is the second favorite to get the ROY
award. He was drafted 3rd overall, joining the Houston Rockets.
Sheppard elected to go for the NBA Draft instead of another year of
college after winning the Freshman of the Year award in 2023. He is
following in his father, Jeff’s, footsteps, who also played college
basketball for the Kentucky Wildcats.
3. Zaccharie Risacher
Is
it odd to see the No.1 draft pick further down the odds (+900) than the
player drafted 9th? Not necessarily, as winning ROY will depend on many
things, including game time. Risacher was picked up by the Atlanta
Hawks, who will likely take into consideration his age – Risacher is
just 19 – when deciding how to use him. He’s the second successive
French player to be drafted at no.1, following Victor Wembanyama in
2023. “Wemby” won ROY last season, so perhaps lightning will strike twice for French basketball fans.
4. Alex Sarr
Perhaps
it could be yet another Frenchman as ROY? Alex Sarr’s odds of +1000 are
just a shade behind Risacher. Like Risacher, he is just 19 (they were
born 18 days apart), so he may be treated with some patience by his
team, the Washington Wizards. Sarr has bounced around for a few years,
though, including stints in the Overtime Elite League and the
Australian National Basketball League. Those experiences will serve him well.
5. Matas Buzelis
Joining
Sarr as a +1000 shot to be ROY is Lithuanian-American Matas Buzelis.
Drafted 11th overall, the Chicago-born 20-year-old was chosen by the
Bulls. Buzelis was looked at by colleges including Kentucky, North
Carolina, and Florida State, but he opted to play in the NBA’s G-League
last season. He has plenty to offer in a Bulls uniform.
Others
in the running include Stephon Castle, Dalton Knecht, Carlton
Carrington, Rob Dillingham, Ronald Holland, Cody Williams, and Donovan
Clingan.