NBA Rookie of the Year Odds 2025: Castle the Favorite After McCain Injury

We've already seen plenty of movement in the 2024-25 NBA Rookie of the Year odds, and a new favorite has emerged after an injury to one of the game's brightest  young stars.

Philadelphia 76ers guard Jared McCain was a minus-odds favorite across the best NBA betting sites before a meniscus tear this week left him sidelined indefinitely. That opened the door for San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle to steal the top spot heading into the second half of December.

Here are the latest NBA ROY odds and favorites across our best sports betting sites. 

NBA Rookie of the Year odds 2024-25

Live NBA Rookie of the Year odds from our best sports betting apps.

• Stephon Castle is the new favorite after the injury to McCain and the Spurs guard's own torrid play of late
• Yves Missi has been a revelation for the New Orleans Pelicans in the absence of Zion Williamson, who hasn't played since early November
• Dalton Knecht went on a scoring rampage in late November, but he's cooled off in his return to a bench role for the Los Angeles Lakers

NBA Rookie of the Year odds favorite 2025

Stephon Castle (+155)

We've been touting Castle's value in this market since he was dealing at +2000 odds early in the year, which felt like an overreaction given his draft pedigree and strong play for UConn last season.

Sure enough, the No. 4 pick has turned a corner since moving to the starting lineup for the Spurs. He averaged 14.6 points and 4.5 assists in 17 starts for San Antonio, and while he returned to a reserve role on Sunday, he's still the favorite in this market with McCain out indefinitely.

We loved Castle's odds when he was still a long shot, mostly because he had a projected ceiling that he hadn't come close to meeting. There's still some upside for the Spurs guard with a $10 bet at FanDuel profting $15.50, but given how volatile this market has been already, it might be worth waiting to see if this price dips.

Best odds: +155 via FanDuel | Implied probability: 39.22%

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My NBA Rookie of the Year odds candidate to watch

Jaylen Wells (+3000)

While McCain (15.3) and Castle (11.7) lead all rookies in points per game, Wells quietly ranks third in this year's class while shooting a better percentage than Castle from the floor (45.5%) and from deep (39%) for the No. 2 seed in the West.

He's outplayed preseason favorite Zach Edey this season and has started all but the first five games of his career, proving to be an instrumental piece in the Grizzlies' hot start this season. And with a weak crop up top, this feels like supreme value on Wells if Castle or someone else fails to pull away.

The downside? He's a second-round pick, which casts doubt on his ability to continue this pace or garner respect from voters. But with these +3000 odds turning a $10 bet at DraftKings returning a $300 profit, it's worth a shot.

Best odds: +3000 via DraftKings | Implied probability: 3.23%

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How to bet on NBA Rookie of the Year

Betting on the NBA Rookie of the Year (ROY) is pretty straightforward. First, pick a reputable sportsbook that offers ROY futures. Check out the odds for different rookies; for instance, if Player A has +300 odds and Player B has +500, Player A is more likely to win. Place your bet by deciding how much you want to wager. If you bet $100 on Player A at +300 and they win, you’ll get $400 back ($100 stake + $300 profit). Keep an eye on the rookies’ performances throughout the season to see how your bet is shaping up.

Now, why do odds move in future markets? Well, it’s mostly about performance and perception. If a rookie starts playing really well or gets injured, their odds will change. A lot of people betting on the same player can also cause the odds to shift as sportsbooks try to manage their risk. Plus, expert predictions and analysis can influence how people bet, which in turn affects the odds. Understanding these factors can help you make smarter bets and maybe even catch some favorable odds shifts.

How to read NBA Rookie of the Year odds

Reading NBA Rookie of the Year (ROY) odds is simple once you know the basics. Odds are typically presented in a format like +300 or -150. Positive odds (e.g., +300) indicate how much profit you'd make on a $100 bet. For instance, a $100 bet at +300 odds would win you $300, plus your initial $100 stake, totaling $400. Negative odds (e.g., -150) show how much you need to bet to win $100. So, a $150 bet at -150 odds would win you $100, plus your $150 stake, totaling $250.

Odds also reflect the probability of an outcome. Lower odds (e.g., +100) suggest a higher probability of the player winning, while higher odds (e.g., +1000) indicate a lower probability. Sportsbooks adjust these odds based on factors like player performance, injuries, and betting patterns.

For example, if Rookie A has +200 odds and Rookie B has +500 odds, Rookie A is considered more likely to win. If you bet $100 on Rookie A and they win, you'd get $300 back ($200 profit + $100 stake). Reading and understanding these odds helps you make informed betting decisions.

NBA Rookie of the Year odds over time

Latest odds via FanDuel.

NBA Rookie of the Year odds history

NBA Rookie of the Year FAQs

Who is the NBA Rookie of the Year favorite?

San Antonio Spurs rookie Stephon Castle is the favorite to win NBA Rookie of the Year. His best odds of +155 imply a 39.22% probability that he'll win the award, according to our odds calculator.

Who won the NBA Rookie of the Year Award last year?

Victor Wembanyama won the NBA Rookie of the Year award in 2023-24 after averaging 21.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and a league-leading 3.6 blocks during his first season in the league. His odds closed as short as -10000.

When will the NBA Rookie of the Year be named?

With the 2023-24 award announced on Monday, May 6, during the NBA playoffs, we can expect the 2024-25 award to be decided at a similar time.

NBA betting odds pages

Here are our best NBA betting sites:

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