The 2026 NBA Rookie of the Year race is officially underway, and all eyes are on Cooper Flagg, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.
After a dominant season at Duke and months of skyrocketing hype, Flagg enters the league with massive expectations and the skillset to match. Sportsbooks have taken notice, installing him as the early favorite in ROY odds across the board.
Whether you're looking to back the blue-chip favorite or scout for long-shot value, this page will keep you updated with the latest NBA odds, analysis, and betting insights throughout the season.
NBA Rookie of the Year odds
| Player |  |
|---|---|
 Cooper Flagg |
-190 |
 Ace Bailey |
+850 |
 Tre Johnson |
+850 |
 Dylan Harper |
+1200 |
 VJ Edgecombe |
+2500 |
 Derik Queen |
+3000 |
| Jeremiah Fears |
+3500 |
 Kon Knueppel |
+3500 |
 Egor Demin |
+3500 |
 Kasparas Jakucionis |
+6000 |
NBA Rookie of the Year favorite
Cooper Flagg is positioned to dominate the 2026 NBA Rookie of the Year race. His elite basketball IQ, two-way versatility, and maturity are exactly the makeup of an instant-impact player. During his freshman season at Duke, Flagg led the Blue Devils in points, rebounds, assists, blocks, and steals while also earning National Player of the Year honors and ACC Player, Rookie, and Defensive Player of the Year awards.
NBA executives who have seen Flagg live rave that if he stays healthy, he can become a multi-time All‑NBA player. That pedigree—combined with workouts that left scouts calling him a “complete beast” and praising his ability to “adapt on the court", makes Flagg the textbook candidate for ROY status from Day 1.
Bookmakers know it too: Flagg has been installed as the early favorite for the Rookie of the Year award, with odds that suggest little competition. The Dallas Mavericks are expected to plug him right into the rotation, where his athleticism, shot-making, and defensive aptitude will shine. At 6-foot-9, with a 7-foot wingspan, he’s a natural positional mismatch on both ends . Simply put, the talent, opportunity, and expectations are aligned.
NBA Rookie of the Year betting splits
Highest ticket percentage
• Dylan Harper 21.7%
• Cooper Flagg 13.0%
• Ace Bailey 10.9%
Highest handle percentage
• Dylan Harper 29.8%
• Cooper Flagg 13.6%
• Derik Queen 12.3%
Biggest liability
• Dylan Harper
• Walter Clayton Jr.
• Jeremiah Fears
Data courtesy of BetMGM.
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NBA ROY betting trends
Here are some trends to keep in mind when betting on NBA Rookie of the Year:
- The No. 1 pick has won Rookie of the Year four times in the past 10 seasons.
- Bigs (PF/C) haven't had much success in ROY recently, with just four wins in the last 20 seasons.
- Only one ROY winner this century (Malcolm Brogdon, 36th, 2016) was drafted outside of the lottery.
- The Rookie of the Year has been drafted in the Top 5 in 16 of the past 20 seasons.
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NBA Rookie of the Year history
| Year | NBA ROY Winner | Opening Odds | Pick No. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | Stephon Castle | +1200 | 4 |
| 2023-24 | Victor Wembanyama | -145 | 1 |
| 2022-23 | Paolo Banchero | +200 | 1 |
| 2021-22 | Scottie Barnes | +1100 | 4 |
| 2020-21 | LaMelo Ball | +400 | 3 |
| 2019-20 | Ja Morant | +250 | 2 |
| 2018-19 | Luka Doncic | +250 | 3 |
| 2017-18 | Ben Simmons | +225 | 1 |
| 2016-17 | Malcolm Brogdon | N/A | 36 |
| 2015-16 | Karl-Anthony Towns | +450 | 1 |
| 2014-15 | Andrew Wiggins | +400 | 1 |
| 2013-14 | Michael Carter-Williams | +1200 | 11 |
| 2012-13 | Damian Lillard | +500 | 6 |
| 2011-12 | Kyrie Irving | +500 | 1 |
| 2010-11 | Blake Griffin | +200 | 1 |
| 2009-10 | Tyreke Evans | +700 | 4 |
| 2008-09 | Derrick Rose | +350 | 1 |
| 2007-08 | Kevin Durant | -200 | 2 |
| 2006-07 | Brandon Roy | +300 | 6 |
| 2005-06 | Chris Paul | N/A | 4 |
| 2004-05 | Emeka Okafor | N/A | 2 |
NBA Rookie of the Year odds FAQ
San Antonio guard Stephon Castle is the current favorite to win Rookie of the Year, followed by Alex Sarr and Zaccharie Risacher.
San Antonio's Victor Wembanyama won the 2024 NBA ROY.
The first overall pick has won ROY 22 times since 1953.
Yes, three times in fact. The award was shared by Elton Brand and Steve Francis (2000), Grant Hill and Jason Kidd (1995) and Dave Cowens and Geoff Petrie (1971).
Spurs guard Stephon Castle, at his current -650 odds, is predicted to win with an 87% implied probability.
