Number one pick Cooper Flagg was awarded last year's Rookie of the Year, and although we're not taking this year's number one pick for the award, we are taking another Blue Devil.
Best Bet
Cameron Boozer @ $3.10
Although the markets suggest it's a four-horse race, I think realistically it's down to two, and from what I've seen in the pre-season, Cameron Boozer is the deserving favourite.
You just know the Duke product is going to enter the league and average 19/10/3 as a rookie, and produce similar numbers for the next decade.
In this new-look Memphis team, you can make a case that Boozer has the keys to the offense already, and we'll see some dominant performances from the ready-made power forward.
Bet on Cameron Boozer for Rookie of the Year with betr
Next Best
Caleb Wilson @ $4.25
Boozer is the safe pick and we know what he'll be for a decade in the NBA, but Caleb Wilson has an insane amount of upside and will likely go neck-and-neck with Boozer this year.
Wilson has shown off the three-ball in the pre-season, an area of his game that was highly scrutinised, and with his freakish athleticism at power forward in this Chicago outfit his game will be on full display.
Won't have the consistency of Boozer, but will produce some massive stat lines.
Bet on Caleb Wilson for Rookie of the Year with betr
Value Bet
Yaxel Lendeborg @ $13
Looks like Lendeborg will start for the Warriors at small forward this season off the back of a strong pre-season, and provides a much-needed offensive option for Golden State with Butler and Porzingis out indefinitely.
One thing in Lendeborg's favour as a rookie, he's 24 years old. He was a senior at Michigan when they took out the NCAA Final, and was picked up at 11 by the Warriors in the last draft. He's older than Josh Giddey who has been in the league since 2021.
I don't think he'll be at the level or consistency of Boozer or Wilson, but he's the best value in this year's Rookie of the Year market.
