The NBA Summer League has already had a major impact on the odds to win the 2025-26 NBA Rookie of the Year.
First-overall pick Cooper Flagg is still favored, but sixth pick, and Washington Wizards guard, Tre Johnson is now second on the list of odds.
Key Takeaways
- Johnson averaged 19.9 points per game as a freshman at Texas last year
- Second pick Dylan Harper fell to joint-third in odds
- Nikola Topic, who was drafted last year, could throw a wrench into the race
Odds released shortly after the NBA Draft had Flagg at about -200, or a 66.7 percent implied chance, to win the award.
Flagg, who is down to -170 at FanDuel sportsbook, was shut down by the Mavs after his second game of Summer League, a 31-point outburst in a loss to second pick Dylan Harper (+1000) and the San Antonio Spurs. Harper was the only Spurs starter in double figures and finished with 16 points, six rebounds, and two assists.
The biggest reason that Flagg lost ground in the ROTY odds is the play of Tre Johnson (+950). The sixth pick in the draft averaged 19.5 points and 3.0 rebounds on 58.3 percent shooting from the field and 45.5 percent from three and had the highlight of the summer, a sweet streetball-style move that led to a crafty finish.
Can't stop watching this Tre Johnson play 😮💨 https://t.co/myCeHGSjcT pic.twitter.com/9zhBDdtIfR
— NBA (@NBA) July 12, 2025
Slightly down the list, VJ Edgecombe (+1100) is now right among the second-tier contenders following his impressive play. Derik Queen (+3000) is also the first man to miss the top five despite being picked 13th overall.
| Player | Team | Draft Position | Current Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cooper Flagg | Dallas Mavericks | 1st | -170 |
| Tre Johnson | Washington Wizards | 6th | +950 |
| Dylan Harper | San Antonio Spurs | 2nd | +1000 |
| Ace Bailey | Utah Jazz | 5th | +1000 |
| VJ Edgecombe | Philadelphia 76ers | 3rd | +1100 |
| Derik Queen | New Orleans Pelicans | 13th | +3000 |
| Jeremiah Fears | New Orleans Pelicans | 7th | +3500 |
| Kon Knueppel | Charlotte Hornets | 4th | +3500 |
| Walter Clayton Jr. | Utah Jazz | 18th | +6000 |
| Cedric Coward | Memphis Grizzlies | 11th | +6000 |
| Egor Demin | Brooklyn Nets | 8th | +7500 |
| Kasparas Jakucionis | Miami Heat | 20th | +7500 |
| Collin Murray-Boyles | Toronto Raptors | 9th | +10000 |
| Nikola Topic | Oklahoma City Thunder | 12th (2024) | +10000 |
| Noa Essengue | Chicago Bulls | 12th | +12000 |
| Nique Clifford | Sacramento Kings | 24th | +15000 |
| Jase Richardson | Orlando Magic | 25th | +15000 |
| Khaman Maluach | Phoenix Suns | 10th | +15000 |
| Danny Wolf | Brooklyn Nets | 27th | +15000 |
| Will Riley | Washington Wizards | 21st | +20000 |
| Liam McNeeley | Charlotte Hornets | 29th | +20000 |
Promising starts
Although they are not top contenders, there are still several players further down the list who also impressed during their Summer League appearances.
One of those players was reigning March Madness champion, and 18th pick, Walter Clayton Jr. (+6000). He averaged 13.5 points and 4.8 assists on 37.9 percent three-point shooting in four Summer League appearances.
Another is Oklahoma City Thunder guard Nikola Topic (+10000), who averaged 11.4 points and 5.8 assists in five games. The 19-year-old was the 12th pick in the 2024 draft but missed the entire season due to a partially torn ACL in his left knee.
The Thunder went through this scenario a couple of years ago after former second pick Chet Holmgren missed his entire rookie season due to an injury. Holmgren finished second to Victor Wembanyama in 2024.
Charlotte Hornets swingman Liam McNeeley (+20000), only the 29th pick, also announced himself as a potential contender for the Rookie of the Year honor. He averaged 18 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 4.0 assists on 42.9 percent three-point shooting.
The biggest losers
As different players have climbed the ROTY odds ladder, others have fallen. One of those is eighth pick Egor Demin, who is now at +7500 on FanDuel after being listed at +2200 at DraftKings the day after the draft.
Chicago Bulls forward and 12th pick Noa Essengue is also down from +7500 to +12000, while the Miami Heat’s 20th pick, Kasparas Jakucionis, went from +5000 to +7500.
