NBA Rookie of the Year Odds: Davion Mitchell Jumps James Bouknight Following Summer League Debut
By Peter Dewey
Prior to the 2021 NBA Draft, guards Davion Mitchell and James Bouknight both had +1000 odds on WynnBET to win the NBA’s Rookie of the Year award next season.
While Bouknight was projected to be a top-10 pick at WynnBET, he fell to the Charlotte Hornets at No. 11 while Mitchell jumped into the top 10 and went to the Sacramento Kings at No. 9 overall.
Neither Mitchell or Bouknight moved in the odds despite their new homes, but that all changed following Mitchell’s impressive debut in the California Classic Summer League Game on Tuesday night.
Mitchell and the Kings fell to the Golden State Warriors 89-82 in overtime, but the lottery pick wasted no time making an impression on his new team. Mitchell finished with a game-high 23 points on 9-of-18 shooting while adding three rebounds and three steals.
Neither of the Warriors’ lottery picks (Moses Moody and Jonathan Kuminga) appeared in Tuesday night’s action, so Mitchell stole the show as the game’s most intriguing player.
His Rookie of the Year odds are now set at +1200, but that has actually separated him from the pack and puts him right behind Jalen Suggs (+700) and Scottie Barnes (+700) who are tied for fourth on the odds list.
Bouknight, who has landed in a solid situation in Charlotte, is now +1500 to win the award, which is tied with Houston Rockets rookie Alperen Sengun. The Hornets let free agent guard Devonte’ Graham leave in free agency, but they still have a crowded backcourt for Bouknight to crack.
LaMelo Ball (last season’s Rookie of the Year) and Terry Rozier will lead the Hornets at guard, but it’s not like Mitchell doesn’t face the same problem, as he will compete with De’Aaron Fox, Tyrese Haliburton and Buddy Hield for minutes in Sacramento.
It’s way too early to decide which of these players will have a better outlook for the 2021-22 season, but Mitchell certainly is already helping his case with an impressive Summer League start.
Who do you think wins NBA Rookie of the Year? Download the WynnBET app to make your pick.