Written by: Christian Jope
Fact-checked by: James Whitelock
Updated July 1, 2024
13 min read
The favorite to win 2025 Rookie of the Year is Alexandre Sarr!
The top contender to win 2025 Rookie of the Year is Zaccharie Risacher!
Last year’s Rookie of the Year was Victor Wembanyama!
The 2025 Rookie of the Year race began with the completion of the 2024 NBA Draft. A new generation of NBA players will enter the league and try to claim the title of the next star. At WSN, we delve into the ongoing race, offering the latest odds, predictions, and analyses for the 2024-25 season.
For the best NBA Futures bets, WSN has you covered with betting picks and tips every day throughout the 2024-25 NBA season and playoffs! New sports bettors can use the top NBA sportsbook promo codes and bonuses before their favorite team tips off!
Second overall pick Alexandre Sarr, is the favorite to win Rookie of the Year in 2025. However, top pick and fellow France international Zaccharie Risacher is expected to be his top challenger. Top NCAA prospects and guards Reed Sheppard and Stephon Castle are also likely to challenge for Rookie of the Year as they try to make an immediate impact with their teams. The 2024-25 season projects to have one of the most competitive Rookie of the Year races in years!
Let’s check out the bets!
Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook as of July 1. Head to FanDuel to place your bets on the 2025 NBA Rookie of the Year: Bet $5 and Get $150 in Bonus Bets. Check out our list of the best NBA betting sites for more betting opportunities.
| Player | Team | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Alexandre Sarr | Washington Wizards | +650 BET HERE |
| Zaccharie Risacher | Atlanta Hawks | +700 BET HERE |
| Reed Sheppard | Houston Rockets | +850 BET HERE |
| Stephon Castle | San Antonio Spurs | +850 BET HERE |
| Matas Buzelis | Chicago Bulls | +1000 BET HERE |
| Dalton Knecht | Los Angeles Lakers | +1000 BET HERE |
| Zach Edey | Memphis Grizzlies | +1000 BET HERE |
| Ron Holland | Detroit Pistons | +1200 BET HERE |
| Rob Dillingham | Minnesota Timberwolves | +2000 BET HERE |
| Donovan Clingan | Portland Trail Blazers | +2000 BET HERE |
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My Pick: Alexandre Sarr to Win NBA Rookie of the Year (+650) at FanDuel
The 2024 NBA Draft was considered one of the weakest in recent years, but Alexandre Sarr stands above the rest. A versatile, two-way big man who will have his run of opportunities on a low-tier team, Sarr has the perfect opportunity to claim Rookie of the Year. How he acclimates to the Wizards’ weak roster will be critical in his bid for the top rookie prize, but Sarr’s quality and potential make him the early frontrunner for the award.
Bet on Alexandre Sarr (+650) at FanDuel
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| Season | Team | Age | PTS | REB | AST | BLK | STL | FG/FG% | 3PM/3P% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-24 | Perth | 18 | 9.7 | 4.4 | 0.9 | 1.3 | 0.5 | 3.7/.520 | 0.6/.298 |
The second overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, Alexandre Sarr, looks like he’ll be one of the top rookies of his draft class. Joining the lowly Washington Wizards, Sarr will be immediately thrown into the fire and asked to make an impact. The Wizards have low expectations going into the season, so Sarr will have plenty of opportunities to make his mark.
Sarr is one of the most intriguing prospects of the 2024 NBA Draft. Like his fellow countryman Victor Wembanyama, Sarr has a unique physical profile, with many projecting him as a multi-level contributor on both court ends. Defensively, he has the length, quickness, and intelligence to make an immediate impact. Sarr has developed a versatile game on the offensive side of the ball where he’s a finishing threat and a face-up option.
Due to his already polished two-way game, Sarr is expected to make an immediate impact for the Washington Wizards. Given the Wizards’ lack of talent, Sarr will receive significant playtime with the Washington frontcourt. He has a long way to go on the offensive side of the ball, but he is expected to get plenty of play due to his defensive quality alone. Expect Sarr to be among the top contenders for Rookie of the Year this coming season.
Bet on Alexandre Sarr (+650) at FanDuel
| Season | Team | Age | PTS | REB | AST | BLK | STL | FG/FG% | 3PM/3P% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-24 | Bourg | 18 | 10.1 | 3.8 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 0.8 | 7.5/.439 | 1.2/.352 |
The number one pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, Zaccharie Risacher, is the poster boy for his draft class. Set to take on an immediate role with Atlanta, Risacher has the opportunity to make his mark as the Hawks traded away former first round pick AJ Griffin ahead of his selection. While Risacher doesn't project to have the impact of past top picks, he has an excellent opportunity to shine in his first season.
Risacher is a talented wing player who impresses with his physicality and NBA-ready shooting stroke. He's also shown to be a capable ball handler, which complements his solid passing skills. He joins a Hawks team in transition, and he'll be considered one of the franchise's cornerstones.
After trading Dejounte Murray to the New Orleans Pelicans, the Atlanta Hawks have cleared the way for Risacher to be an impact player in his first season. With Trae Young at the helm, Risacher will get plenty of opportunities to shine, so keep your eye on the young Frenchman to challenge at the top of the Rookie of the Year race.
Bet on Zaccharie Risacher (+700) at FanDuel
| Season | Team | Age | PTS | REB | AST | BLK | STL | FG/FG% | 3PM/3P% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-24 | UConn | 18 | 11.1 | 4.7 | 2.9 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 4.0/.472 | 3.4/.267 |
The San Antonio Spurs already have the NBA’s most unique physical prospect leading their future in Victor Wembayama. However, with their first selection of the 2024 NBA Draft, they added another unique prospect in 6’7 point guard Stephon Castle from UConn. Considering the Spurs own one of the NBA’s best player development programs, Castle projects to be one of the NBA’s future stars.
Castle is a point guard with unique size and athleticism. He has a physical advantage over most point guards who will defend him, and he has shown an impressive ability to find his way to the rim, where he can finish or find a teammate for a better shot. He was also one of college basketball’s best perimeter defenders, and his switchability projects him as a quality option from day one.
Castle was brought in to shore up the Spurs’ future at point guard, where San Antonio’s experiment with Jeremy Sochan seems to have ended. After the Spurs signed veteran star Chris Paul in free agency, Castle had the opportunity to learn from one of the best court leaders in NBA history.
Bet on Stephon Castle (+850) at FanDuel
| Season | Team | Age | PTS | REB | AST | BLK | STL | FG/FG% | 3PM/3P% |
| 2023-24 | Kentucky | 19 | 12.5 | 4.1 | 4.5 | 0.7 | 2.5 | 4.3/.536 | 2.3/.521 |
The Houston Rockets entered the NBA Draft hoping to bolster the quality of their team and make a run for the NBA Playoffs. They did that by adding Kentucky guard Reed Sheppard, one of the most NBA-ready shooters in the draft, despite speculation that the Rockets were considering trading away the third overall pick.
Sheppard is a player who fills the scouting report with solid evaluations. He’s an intelligent combo guard with the shooting ability to fit into any offense. He won’t be creating much on his own, playing a niche role in the capable Rockets offense, but his efficiency makes him seem the perfect fit. While Sheppard is lacking in size, which may be an issue in the Vanvleet-led backcourt, there are hopes that Sheppard can overcome that with his effort and offensive output.
It’s been known across the league that the Rockets aspire to reach a competitive phase in their growth plan rather than being a player in the lottery for another season. Sheppard should benefit from the talent and experience around him, but that also means he’s likely to have a limited role. At the top of his ability, Sheppard projects to be an impact sub with the Rockets, which is plenty to make a case for Rookie of the Year.
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Christian Jope
NBA Betting Analyst
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