NBA Rookie of the Year odds favor Cameron Boozer over Darryn Peterson

The NBA Rookie of the Year award is a rare honor for a prospect whose game translates immediately to winning play at the pro level. Development is rarely linear, and blue-chip athletes can have a leg up in the rookies’ first time playing through an extended NBA season. The past nine ROY winners have all been top-four draft picks, with Malcolm Brogdon the rare exception after playing lead ball handler for a Bucks team making a leap around Giannis Antetokounmpo. 

Narratives will also cycle through favorites as players get hot and teams go on runs. Kon Knueppel seemed to run away with the award last year as an immediate three-point specialist with movement skills in Charlotte, but Cooper Flagg’s steady growth into his larger role in Dallas made him inevitable after back-to-back 51- and 45-point outings in April. 

FanDuel’s odds on the NBA Rookie of the Year award voting show a few top draft picks who’ve landed in ideal roles for their current and developing skill sets. These are also the players most likely to be crashing the playoffs with breakout performances sooner than later.

Cameron Boozer, Memphis Grizzlies (+250)

Cameron Boozer was rated as the top prospect by many entering the draft, and he’s joining a Memphis lineup that is set up to thrive around him. Zach Edey provides supplementary size; and Jaylen Wells and Cedric Coward earned ROY votes the past two seasons, and could help Boozer accelerate Memphis’ timeline back to competitiveness. 

Darryn Peterson, Utah Jazz (+270)

Darryn Peterson’s uneven season in Kansas and subsequent fall to Utah with the No. 2 draft pick might have been for the best long-term. Some analysts note that last season’s physical limitations led Peterson to become a lethal shooter and more accustomed to operating as part of a system. The Jazz are embarking on a new phase of their rebuild, and Peterson profiles as an ideal fit alongside Keyonte George, Ace Bailey, Lauri Markannen, and Jaren Jackson Jr. (and Walker Kessler). 

AJ Dybantsa, Washington Wizards (+470)

The Wizards are another team rolling out a re-imagined roster, and AJ Dybantsa will have a chance to thrive playing alongside Trae Young and Anthony Davis. Washington also has a trove of young guards who can help create space for Dybantsa to operate, and he could easily lead all rookies in scoring and separate himself as the league’s best newcomer.

Darius Acuff Jr., Sacramento Kings (+500)

Acuff Jr. is an alpha guard who landed on a team in need of one. He’ll be more than just a spiritual successor to Russell Westbrook after falling to Sacramento with the seventh pick, but Acuff showcased a soft touch and finesse around the rim during his season with Coach John Calipari in Arkansas. He’ll be surrounded by a couple All-Star caliber talents in Zach LaVine and Domantas Sabonis with a long leash to compete and develop.

Caleb Wilson, Chicago Bulls (+1000)

Wilson combines rare athleticism with high marks in IQ and professionalism, and he’s joining a Bulls team that can make things easier for him – particularly running alongside Josh Giddey and Matas Buzelis. The UNC product has already invoked comparisons to Michael Jordan, and (especially after the renaissance season that the Knicks just finished) the hype in Chicago will be generating steam if Wilson can be an impactful force at the core.

Longshots

Mikel Brown Jr., Brooklyn Nets (+2000)

The Nets have a crowded backcourt after drafting four guards in 2025, but Mikel Brown Jr. showed impressive playmaking and bounce off the dribble that could gel well alongside new teammates Julius Randle and Michael Porter Jr. 

Yaxel Lendeborg, Golden State Warriors (+2500)

Lendenborg is a do-it-all, two-way forward for a Golden State team hoping to assemble another title contender around Steph Curry. The 23-year-old rookie could earn starter’s minutes for a team that will attract a lot of media attention.

Keaton Wagler, Los Angeles Clippers (+3500)

Wagler’s rapid ascent from the No. 150 recruit to the No. 5 pick means there are still areas of his game that are less explored (or exploited). He’ll start his career playing alongside Darius Garland, though the rest of the lineup could still get shaken up with a potential Kawhi Leonard trade.

Brayden Burries, Milwaukee Bucks (+6000)

Coach Taylor Jenkins will have a lot to sort out as the new-look Bucks take the court, and Burries is the centerpiece of the team’s first draft post-Giannis. Burries projects to have an immediate and well-rounded impact, with the opportunity to emerge as a leading scorer like he did in his one season at Arizona.