3 Players to Bet to Win NBA Rookie of the Year Following NBA Summer League

The NBA’s Las Vegas Summer League showcased some of the best young players in the game, and several rookies made an early mark in their professional careers. 

Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero, the No. 1 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, was so good that Orlando ended his Summer League experience after just two games. He’s tied with Chet Holmgren (the No. 2 pick) for the shortest odds to win the league’s Rookie of the Year award in the 2022-23 season. 

However, Banchero and Holmgren weren’t the only rookies that impressed this summer. Keegan Murray of the Sacramento Kings (No. 4 overall) won the Las Vegas Summer League’s MVP award, and guards Jaden Ivey and Benedict Mathurin showed some serious potential in their summer action. 

With the NBA offseason really in its dog days, how about we break down some ROY candidates that you should consider betting prior to the start of the season?

First, here are the latest odds at DraftKings Sportsbook: 

Odds to Win NBA Rookie of the Year in 2022-23 Season

• Chet Holmgren: +350
• Paolo Banchero: +350
• Jaden Ivey: +500
• Jabari Smith Jr.: +650
• Keegan Murray: +750
• Bennedict Mathurin: +1000
• Shaedon Sharpe: +1200
• Dyson Daniels: +1500
• Johnny Davis: +2000
• Ochai Agbaji: +2000
• A.J. Griffin: +2500
• Ousmane Dieng: +2500
• Mark Williams: +2500
• Jalen Williams: +2500
• Jalen Duren: +3000

Keegan Murray (+750)

The Summer League MVP has to be on your short list of NBA Rookie of the Year candidates this offseason. 

Murray showed the ability to stretch the floor and score at will this summer, and he may actually fit alongside Domantas Sabonis after all in Sacramento. 

Murray finished the Summer League averaging 23.3 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game while shooting 50.0% from the field and 40.0% from 3 (on 8.8 attempts per game). 

The Kings could be a sneaky team in the West if Murray produces right away, which would only help his ROY stock. 

Paolo Banchero (+350)

The man who was too good for Summer League. 

Banchero showed why he was the No. 1 pick in this year’s draft, averaging 20.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 6.0 assists per game through his two appearances in Vegas. 

Banchero is going to be the focal point of Orlando’s offense, which should lead to him putting up some solid counting numbers in his rookie season. The Magic aren’t a great team, but they do have some solid young talent around him in Wendell Carter Jr., Franz Wagner and Cole Anthony. 

The Duke product deserves to be the favorite entering the season. 

Benedict Mathurin (+1000)

Mathurin is a little further down the odds list than Murray and Banchero, but he was extremely impressive in Summer League, averaging 19.3 points and 4.0 rebounds per game while shooting 48.8 percent from the field and 38.5 percent from 3. 

He fits very well next to Indiana Pacers point guard Tyrese Haliburton, as he can score in a variety of ways. 

I’d love to see him get involved more as a playmaker once the regular season kicks off, but the potential for big scoring nights is already there on a rebuilding team.

Find Peter Dewey’s full betting record here.