2022 NBA Rookie of the Year Odds, Preview, and Prediction
The NBA is about to get another influx of young, promising talent as the 2021-22 season welcomes the newcomers from this year’s draft class. There are plenty of names to choose from when it comes to predicting the eventual Rookie of the Year of the upcoming basketball campaign, and we’re here to break down the top names worth keeping tabs on.
NitroBetting is here to deliver the latest news from the on and off the NBA hardcourts. This time, let’s take a look at the latest futures odds for the 2021-22 NBA Rookie of the Year Award race. Be on top of all the developments in the NBA by tuning in to NitroBetting’s odds, previews, and predictions for all the exciting hockey action ahead.
Favorites to Win the 2022 NBA Rookie of the Year
The Rockets' Jalen Green is most likely to win NBA Rookie of the Year, according to the league's general managers in their annual survey. https://t.co/8cLY8G84w9
— Houston Chronicle (@HoustonChron) October 5, 2021
READ MORE: 2022 NBA MVP Odds, Preview, and Prediction
Cade Cunningham – Detroit Pistons
- 2022 NBA Rookie of the Year Odds: +250
To nobody’s surprise, the first-overall pick at the 2021 NBA Draft leads the pack of rookies this season in the Pistons’ Cade Cunningham. The 20-year-old out of Oklahoma State had a memorable freshman season, averaging 20.1 points and 6.2 rebounds per game out of the Cyclones’ backcourt.
Working in Cunningham’s favor is his position in Detroit’s roster. He’s expected to be the team’s starting point guard on opening day and will likely hang on to that role throughout the course of the entire campaign considering that the Pistons are rebuilding from the ground up with Cunningham as their franchise cornerstone moving forward.
Jalen Green – Houston Rockets
- 2022 NBA Rookie of the Year Odds: +250
Sharing the same odds to win the ROTY Award as Cunningham is Jalen Green, who was taken by the Rockets with the second-overall pick at the draft. But unlike Cunningham, the 19-year-old Cali kid took a different path in order to be eligible for the NBA Draft this year.
Green opted to forego playing college basketball and instead went straight to the G-League. During his first year in the NBA’s developmental league, Green averaged 17.5 points a game against more proven NBA castaways and hopefuls. He also tallied 30 points, seven boards, and five dimes in his one and only G-League playoff game for the Ignite.
So You’re Telling Me There’s A Chance?
Franz Wagner – Orlando Magic
- 2022 NBA Rookie of the Year Odds: +3300
Berlin-born Franz Wagner was the highest-drafted European player at the 2021 NBA Draft, but he’s far from the other foreign prospects when it comes to assimilating with American culture. The 6-foot-9 flex forward spent two seasons honing his skills as a Michigan Wolverine; something that most European players have never had the luxury of getting prior to taking their talents to the NBA.
Wagner could do it all for the struggling Orlando Magic. In his last season in Ann Arbor, Wagner had 14 double-digit scoring performances whilst also leading his team in steals (30) and finishing second in blocked shots (23). That being said, the former top BBL prospect could be in line to become the fifth international player to win the Rookie of the Year Award over the last half-decade.
Jonathan Kuminga – Golden State Warriors
- 2022 NBA Rookie of the Year Odds: +3300
With a terrific support system and coaching staff, Jonathan Kuminga could very well be the breakout rookie of the season. The Warriors struck out with their James Wiseman pick the previous year, but Kuminga adds a different dimension to a Dubs offense looking to get right back into the title contention picture.
The 19-year-old from Congo also tried his hand in the NBA G-League as a teammate of aforementioned Jalen Green for the Ignite. Kuminga averaged 15.8 points and 7.2 rebounds per game in his lone season in the G-League and will likely get plenty of chances to pad his stats for the Warriors before Klay Thompson makes his highly-anticipated return in the lineup towards the end of the calendar year.
Digging Even Deeper
Luka Garza – Detroit Pistons
- 2022 NBA Rookie of the Year Odds: +12500
Another Pistons rookie makes our list in former Hawkeye Luka Garza, who was named the NCAA College Player of the Year after his final year in Iowa. Garza shot over 55 percent from the field while averaging 24.1 points and 8.7 rebounds in his senior season; stats that seem much better compared to the other ROTY candidates listed thus far.
On the other hand, Garza’s skill set isn’t exactly a nice fit in the pros, with the 6-foot-10 D.C. native lacking the mobility and flexibility of the modern NBA big man. Nevertheless, the league wouldn’t mind having another outstanding Luka on board; one that could very well redefine the NBA play style once more if rebounding and efficient-scoring frontcourt players make a resurgence this season.
This is just one of the many sports betting guides that you can read here at NitroBetting news. Stay tuned for more NBA basketball game previews and articles and don’t forget to check out the latest Basketball betting odds at our online Bitcoin sportsbook.
*All odds stated are subject to change without prior notice.
