Paolo Banchero, Keegan Murray Vying for 2022-2023 NBA Rookie of the Year

Keegan Murray, picked fourth overall by the Sacramento Kings, was named in Las Vegas in July. He saw his Rookie of the Year odds improve to +450 after a sensational run in Las Vegas.

You won t find Chet Holmgren listed anywhere for Rookie of the Year odds because he s out for the season with a right foot injury. The Oklahoma City Thunder selected Holmgren, a 7-foot center from Gonzaga, with the second pick in the draft. He had an auspicious debut in the But he suffered a Lisfranc foot injury during a pro-am game in Seattle in late August.

Paolo Banchero +190

Banchero led Duke to a berth in the Final Four before losing to rival North Carolina in the 2022 March Madness semifinals. His strong performance in the March Madness tournament boosted his draft stock, which is one of the reasons why the Orlando Magic picked him over Smith and Holmgren.

Scouts often compare Banchero to Jayson Tatum from the Boston Celtics. Banchero has the skills on both ends of the court to make an impact for the young Magic.

The Magic are loaded with other talent like Cole Anthony, Franz Wagner, and Jalen Suggs. There s only one basketball to go around, but Banchero is expected to start at power forward.

Since 2000, the top pick in the draft secured the Rookie of the Year award only seven times. Ben Simmons is the last #1 pick to win the Rookie of the Year back in 2015-2016. Banchero hopes he can break this recent trend, and you can back him at +190 odds to win the Rookie of the Year.

Keegan Murray +450

The Sacramento Kings traded Tyrese Haliburton and Buddy Hield, which provides Murray ample opportunity for playing time this season. New head coach Mike Brown is expected to start Murray alongside De Aaron Fox in the same backcourt.

The Kings might miss the postseason for the 16th season in a row. But at least they ll be fun to watch, thanks to Murray.

After Holmgren s injury, Banchero looks like he s the biggest competition for Murray in his pursuit of Rookie of the Year. If you want to avoid betting on the top pick in the draft, then Murray is worthy of a flier at +450 odds to win the coveted award as the NBA s top rookie.

Jabari Smith +700

Heading into the 2022 NBA Draft, Smith was the favorite to become the #1 pick. Then, the Magic threw everyone a curveball when they opted instead for Banchero. Smith, a 6-foot-11 power forward, slipped to the third pick. During his freshman season at Auburn, Smith was widely considered by pro scouts as the best player in college basketball. His father, Jabari Smith, Sr., played several seasons in the NBA before carving out a career overseas.

The Rockets were the worst team in the NBA over the last two seasons, with 17 wins in 2020-21 and 20 wins in 2021-22. Oddsmakers don t have faith in the Rockets this season either, with a projected win total of just 23.5 victories.

The Rockets could continue to tank once again this season. That might be a good situation for Smith, because he ll log significant playing time. He s expected to start at power forward for the Rockets, which is why he s among the top four contenders for Rookie of the Year at +700 odds.