NBA Rookie of the Year Odds 2026-27: Boozer, Peterson, Wilson and Dybantsa
Draft night went exactly to script. Washington took AJ Dybantsa first, Utah grabbed Darryn Peterson, Memphis landed Cameron Boozer and Chicago took Caleb Wilson. Four months later the Rookie of the Year market still can't separate them. With opening night on October 20, the four players picked first through fourth sit within a few dollars of each other at every major sportsbook, and nobody else is close.
NBA Rookie of the Year odds for every contender
The table shows the best available price for each player and the range across bet365, BetMGM, DraftKings, Caesars, FanDuel and BetRivers. When we checked, DraftKings had no price posted on Boozer, Wilson, Dybantsa or Mikel Brown Jr., so their ranges come from the other five books. The gap between the best and worst price on the same player is the reason to compare sportsbooks before you place any futures bet.
| Player | Team | Pick | Best price | Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cameron Boozer | Grizzlies | No. 3 | +325 | +300 to +325 |
| Caleb Wilson | Bulls | No. 4 | +350 | +275 to +350 |
| Darryn Peterson | Jazz | No. 2 | +350 | +325 to +350 |
| AJ Dybantsa | Wizards | No. 1 | +425 | +400 to +425 |
| Darius Acuff Jr. | Kings | No. 7 | +1500 | +1200 to +1500 |
| Yaxel Lendeborg | Warriors | No. 11 | +1600 | +1500 to +1600 |
| Mikel Brown Jr. | Nets | No. 6 | +2500 | +2000 to +2500 |
| Keaton Wagler | Clippers | No. 5 | +4000 | +4000 |
The prediction markets see it about the same way. On Polymarket as of October 1, Wilson and Boozer were each trading near 23%, Dybantsa near 21% and Peterson near 17%, with Acuff around 5%. Two different kinds of markets landing on the same four names is a decent sign the top of this board is priced fairly.
Who wins Rookie of the Year? Draft slot is the best clue
Every Rookie of the Year since 2018-19 was a top-four pick. That is not a coincidence. The award goes to whoever puts up the biggest raw numbers, and the biggest numbers come from playing time and shots, which go to the players a front office just used a top pick on. Teams drafting at the top of the lottery usually have minutes to hand out and no reason to hold a young player back.
| Season | Winner | Team | Draft pick |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | Cooper Flagg | Mavericks | No. 1 |
| 2024-25 | Stephon Castle | Spurs | No. 4 |
| 2023-24 | Victor Wembanyama | Spurs | No. 1 |
| 2022-23 | Paolo Banchero | Magic | No. 1 |
| 2021-22 | Scottie Barnes | Raptors | No. 4 |
| 2020-21 | LaMelo Ball | Hornets | No. 3 |
| 2019-20 | Ja Morant | Grizzlies | No. 2 |
| 2018-19 | Luka Doncic | Mavericks | No. 3 |
This year all four favorites fit the profile, which is why the market can't pull them apart. The history also tells you how hard it is for a player outside the top four to win. Acuff (No. 7), Brown (No. 6) and Lendeborg (No. 11) are priced as long shots for a reason.
The four favorites
Cameron Boozer, Grizzlies (+300)
Boozer came out of Duke as the No. 3 pick and has been the steadiest favorite since the market opened. He is +300 at four of the five books pricing him, the most consistent number on the board. Books agreeing that closely usually means they see the same thing: a forward who should play big minutes from day one.
Darryn Peterson, Jazz (+325 to +350)
Peterson, the No. 2 pick out of Kansas, is the only one of the top four that all six books are pricing. A guard on a team picking second overall should have the ball in his hands plenty, and guards with the ball tend to post the scoring numbers voters notice.
Caleb Wilson, Bulls (+275 to +350)
Wilson has the widest spread among the favorites. Caesars has him at +275, the shortest price on the board, while bet365 and BetRivers are at +350. That 75-point gap is the kind of difference that adds up if you bet futures regularly. If you like Wilson, the price you get depends entirely on where you bet.
AJ Dybantsa, Wizards (+400 to +425)
The No. 1 pick is the longest of the four, which is a little unusual. Cooper Flagg won last season as the top pick, and Wembanyama and Banchero did it before him. Dybantsa gets the same kind of role on a Washington team that just picked first, so this price is the one to watch. If he starts fast, +400 won't last.
Longer shots worth knowing
Darius Acuff Jr. (+1200 to +1500) is the clear fifth choice after the Kings took him seventh out of Arkansas. Yaxel Lendeborg (+1500 to +1600) went 11th to Golden State, Mikel Brown Jr. (+2000 to +2500) went sixth to Brooklyn and Keaton Wagler (+4000) went fifth to the Clippers. For one of them to win, they would need a much bigger role than their draft slot suggests, or an injury to one of the top four.
How to bet NBA Rookie of the Year odds
Rookie of the Year is a nice side bet, but most of our members' action is on the daily card. Our free picks are posted every day, and our premium picks and packages carry our money-back guarantee paid in GSP Bucks. For more on how player stats turn into bets, read our guide to NBA player props.
Rookie of the Year questions we hear a lot
Who is the favorite for NBA Rookie of the Year?
When is NBA Rookie of the Year announced?
Has a No. 1 pick won Rookie of the Year recently?
Can you bet Rookie of the Year after the season starts?
Why do Rookie of the Year odds differ between sportsbooks?
Sports betting involves risk and is intended for entertainment purposes for adults 21 and older. Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER.