The NBA Draft is officially over and there are plenty of young players looking to make an immediate impact. The ultimate goal for each of these first year players is the Rookie of the Year award.
In a tradition unlike no other, Vegas has already released the odds for the award. According to Bovada (h/t The Bird Writes) Sixers rookie Ben Simmons is the favorite to succeed Karl-Anthony Towns. Simmons has been hyped as a can’t-miss prospect. His odds to win RotY emulate the public perception of his fluid and multi-skilled game.
Behind Simmons is fan favorite Buddy Hield. Drafted with the sixth overall pick by the New Orleans Pelicans, Hield is NBA-ready. His shooting ability and oft-reported hard work could see the Oklahoma product do well immediately.
Third on the list is Lakers rookie Brandon Ingram. The Duke product will join a young roster in need of immediate help. Picked second overall, Ingram fits seamlessly into the Lakers’ squad. That could help him adjust to the NBA more quickly than most.
Notably, third overall pick Jaylen Brown is only the 12th highest favorite to win the award. The newest Celtic is behind the likes of Thon Maker and Taurean Prince (10th and 11th, respectively).
Joel Embiid, who was drafted in 2014, is seventh on the list. He will likely be playing his first NBA game this season, making him eligible for the award.
The Suns join the Sixers as the only other team with two players in the running, according to Bovada. Marquese Chriss (9th) and Dragan Bender (13th) both made the cut.
It is way too early to make a prediction on RotY at this point, of course. But it really does seem like a three-man race between Ben Simmons, Brandon Ingram, and Buddy Hield.
