NBA Rookie of the Year Odds

While these players have not played a single game as a pro, these recently turned ex-NCAA stars are now moving up to the NBA and speculation has already began to fly as to which one of these players will be making a big splash.  Of course the sportsbooks have weighed in on this issue in the form of player prop betting.  Which one of these former NCAA superstars are going to win Rookie of the Year?  Here is an analysis of the three players with best odds at Bovada to win Rookie of the Year next season.

Victor Oladipo

College:  Indiana

Drafted by:  Orlando Magic, Round 1/picked 2nd overall

Odds to win Rookie of the Year Award: 9/2

Analysis:  Victor Oladipo has garnered comparisons to a young Dwayne Wade and as many other sports sites have pointed out, the Orlando Magic bet a lot in the hopes that he lives up to those expectations.

While in college Oladipo averaged 13.7 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.2 steals per game.  As a junior he picked up 69 steals in one season, coming just five steals short of dethroning the Indiana season record held by Isiah Thomas.

Oladipo was one of the most exciting player to watch in the NCAA.  Whether or not this will translate into success in the NBA remains to be seen, but Bovada and the Magic sure thing it will.

Trey Burke

College:  Michigan

Drafted By:  Minnesota Timberwolves, Round 1/9th Overall, Traded to the Utah Jazz

Odds to win Rookie of the Year Award:  5/1

Analysis:  Last season, the Utah Jazz was a team that just fell short of making the playoffs with their spot on the line in, literally, the last game of the season.  However, with the acquisition of Trey Burke they hope that they have begun to transform their OK team into a legit playoff contender.

Burke won a slew of awards while in college and led Michigan to the 2013 National Championship.  All his stat are impressive but the one that stands out is his minuets played which was a single-season total of 1,227 minutes in 2013.  This is ranked second in Michigan’s history in minuets played.

Burke is a workhorse.  He has the endurance and the durability to be a big star for the Jazz.  He has the ability to be the type of player that LeBron James is, in that when his teammates aren’t getting it done, he will hoist them on his back and carry them.

Kelly Olynyk

College:  Gonzaga

Drafted By:  Dallas Mavericks, Round 1/13th Overall, Traded to the Boston Celtics

Odds to win Rookie of the Year Award:  13/2

Analysis:  Dwight who?  Kelly Olynk could be the next big “big man” in the NBA.  Olynyk averaged 17.8 points and 7.3 rebounds per game.

With the Boston Celtics trading Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett to the Brooklyn Nets, Kelly Olynk could be the centerpiece that Boston will begin the rebbuilding process around.  If the Celtics fall utterly flat this season, Olynyk winning rookie of the year is very unlikely.  However, if Olynk is able to standout from the other rookies similar to Damian Lillard of the Portland Trailblazers last season, he could very will win Rookie of the Year.