Top Five Early Season NBA Rookie Of The Year Favorites

The members of the 2024 NBA Draft class have yet to hit the court for their first official game. With the start of the season approximately a month away, the lack of excitement for the current crop of first-year players has this group tagged as one of the all-time worst draft classes in NBA history. Unfortunately, a lackluster summer league did nothing to change people’s opinions, and the only talk since Las Vegas has continued to be about Bronny James, the 55th pick. 

While there is no surefire favorite to win the Rookie of the Year as there has been in the past, there are still several players who have done their best to standout from the crowd. Online sportsbooks have already released their odds for the 2025 Rookie award, however, these odds can fluctuate throughout the season based on performance, team success, and injuries. When betting on the Rookie of the Year race it’s important to not only focus on their individual talent but also the team situation that these players find themselves in. 

Zach Edey - Memphis Grizzlies

Despite being a two-time NCAA Player of the Year, there was much talk leading up to the draft as to whether or not Edey would even be a first-round pick, in theory making him the biggest underdog of the draft. Standing 7’4”, 305lbs, Edey’s game is not exactly made for how the NBA currently plays. Last year the Grizzlies operated with Jaren Jackson Jr. and Xavier Tillman Sr. playing out of position at the center spot. The addition of Edey not only gives the Grizzlies a big man who can clog the paint and crash the glass on defense, but who can also provide guard Ja Morant with a giant pick-and-roll option. 

Reed Sheppard - Houston Rockets

It’s hard to properly evaluate players during summer league, but the third overall pick did his best to stand out over everyone. During his four games in Las Vegas, the Rockets guard averaged 20 points and 5.3 assists, displaying not only his ability to fill the basket but distribute the ball. Sheppard’s versatility will help him earn minutes on a deep Rockets team that is set to make the leap into battling for a playoff spot this season after slowly rebuilding over the past four seasons. The top betting sites have the Rockets among the four play-in tournament teams in the Western Conference. Odds are high that Sheppard will have a big role in making that happen.

Matas Buzelis - Chicago Bulls 

There are a number of ways to look at the Bulls rookie. Is he the one who hit just 33.7% of his shots during his five games in the Summer League or is he the impressive talent who nailed just under 50% while playing his single season in the G-League? The Bulls are in the process of a rebuild, or maybe a retooling, nobody really knows. However, Buzelis is bound to receive a lot of playing time either way. A long, athletic wing, the eleventh pick was once favored to be a top-five pick and will likely have a chip on his shoulder proving to teams what they missed out on. 

Stephon Castle - San Antonio Spurs

Selected fourth after a single season in Connecticut, where he helped the Huskies to their second straight NCAA title, Castle steps into a prime position with the Spurs. Last season, the Spurs hit the jackpot, adding a generational talent in forward Victor Wembanyama but did not have a top-tier point guard to help run the offense. This summer, they added one for the present and one for the future. Signing All-NBA star Chris Paul as a free agent, the Spurs have one of the best players in league history to mentor Castle during his first season. 

Bub Carrington - Washington Wizards

Much was made about Alex Sarr being the second pick in the draft, but the teenager from France seems to be more of a project than the present. This opens the door for the 6’4” guard from Maryland to steal the spotlight on a struggling Wizards team. Originally drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers, Carrington was traded to the Wizards, a team in the process of rebuilding from the ground up. If Washington trades Malcolm Brogden as many expect, the starting spot could become Carrington’s sooner than later.