Rookie of the Year is the most unpredictable award in the NBA, and 2025 has been no exception. This year’s class? Chaotic in the best way. But as of early April, the race has tightened—and one rookie has grabbed the wheel.
Let’s break down the 2025 NBA Rookie of the Year odds, what the books are telling us, and where the betting value might still be hiding.
Current NBA ROY Odds at Offshore and U.S. Sportsbooks (Updated April 10, 2025)
The table below shows the Rookie of the Year odds for key contenders at two major offshore books and two regulated U.S. books.
Note: The odds in this table are current, but most US books have taken the market down as of today. We’ll still use the most recent odds we’ve tracked from yesterday, April 9, to paint a picture of how the books think this award will pan out. We’ll update the table once we see the new odds they set.
| Player | BetWhale* (Offshore) | MyBookie* (Offshore) | Caesars** (U.S.) | DraftKings** (U.S.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stephon Castle (Spurs) | -3333 | -2500 | -1400 | -1400 |
| Alexandre Sarr (Wizards) | +1100 | +460 | +850 | +800 |
| Zaccharie Risacher (Hawks) | +800 | +690 | +800 | +1200 |
| Jaylen Wells (Grizzlies) | +3900 | N/A (Off the Board) | +10000* | N/A (Off the Board) |
| Zach Edey (Grizzlies) | +5900 | +5800 | +10000* | +10000 |
| Kel’el Ware (Heat) | +7900 | +12000 | +10000* | +20000 |
| Isaiah Collier (Jazz) | N/A (Off the Board) | N/A (Off the Board) | +10000* | +7500 |
| Dalton Knecht (Lakers) | +19900 | N/A (Off the Board) | N/A (Off the Board) | +10000 |
| Matas Buzelis (Bulls) | +9900 | +12000 | +10000 | +20000 |
** Odds as of April 9, 2025. The markets are temporarily down, presumably as they adjust lines for recent games and injuries.
Stephon Castle Has a Strong Hold On The Lead
Stephon Castle, the Spurs’ rookie guard, is sitting pretty as the odds-based favorite. Offshore books like BetWhale have him as short as -3333, while U.S. sportsbooks like Caesars Sportsbook and DraftKings listed him around -1400. Translation? Books are basically saying this is Castle’s trophy right now as long as he doesn’t screw it up.
Why the surge? Since Victor Wembanyama went down, Castle’s been shouldering the load in San Antonio. His numbers won’t knock your socks off—about 13.8 points, 3.5 assists, 3.2 boards—but the consistency and steady upward trend matter. He’s improved every month and stepped up when his team needed it most. That’s ROY material.
If you’re late to the party, though, there’s not much betting value left on Castle. Even the best -1400 line means you’d need to bet $1,400 just to win $100. Yikes. Unless you’ve got Spurs-colored glasses and an appetite for risk, the payout isn’t worth it.
The Current Runners-Up Hold All The Betting Value
Here’s where it gets fun. Offshore and regulated books don’t exactly agree on who the next-best bet is. The odds for these guys are moving fast and are a bit all over the place, which is why I always suggest line shopping for these special types of bets.
Alexandre Sarr
Take Alexandre Sarr, for example. He’s listed at +460 at MyBookie, +850 at Caesars, and +1100 at BetWhale. That’s a pretty solid gap. Some books clearly see him as a legitimate threat to Castle, while others are less convinced. He’s had a low-key solid season on a rough Wizards team, and if he explodes in these last few weeks, that +1100 could look pretty juicy in hindsight.
Zaccharie Risacher
The odds for Zaccharie Risacher are bouncing around too. DraftKings puts him at +1200, while MyBookie has him around +690. The #1 overall pick is starting to flash the potential that made Atlanta pick him first, and some books are finally catching on.
Longshots and Lurkers In The Odds
Are you all about hail-mary bets? Maybe you want to pray that your $10 bill will turn into a cool $1000. If that is your angle, you’ve got a few mega-long-shot options left.
Jaylen Wells
As for Jaylen Wells—the Grizzlies’ wing who was once Castle’s top challenger—his odds are all but gone. To be fair, they had dropped off heavily already, but given his injury on Tuesday, it’s unlikely he has a shot at the award. Books are scrambling to adjust, with many of them dropping the market due to uncertainty.
Kel’el Ware
Remember when Kel’el Ware briefly led the ROY race? That happened. After a string of 20+ point games in January, books pushed him to the top—DraftKings even had him at +110. But since then? He’s vanished into +7900 and up territory.
Zach Edey
Zach Edey, the 7’4″ bruiser from Memphis, has flirted with top-3 status. Great defense and double-doubles, but not enough flash to win over ROY voters. His odds range from +5900 to +10000 depending on the book. Intriguing, but you’d need a big late-season push.
Dalton Knecht
And Dalton Knecht? Blink and you missed it. One 37-point outburst in November had him shoot up to +225 at some books. Now he’s off the board at Caesars and MyBookie. Classic hype-to-nowhere arc. Some books don’t even list him as an option anymore. Wild ride.
Matas Buzelis
Over the past few weeks, Matas Buzelis has surged back into the NBA Rookie of the Year conversation. He dropped 31 points against the Lakers on March 22 and followed it up with a 28-9-6 stat line versus Dallas. Did someone mention Jordan rookie numbers? He’s turning heads but at +10000 and up range, he’s still quite the long shot.
Offshore vs. U.S. Odds for NBA Rookie of The Year: Where’s the Value?
Important Note: At the time of posting this, I’m having a hard time finding NBA Rookie of the Year markets at any of the US regulated sportsbooks. If they don’t reintroduce odds soon, your only option at this moment is offshore sites.
What I’m seeing overall is that no one is in agreeance. Aka the race isn’t really over ’til it’s over. If you’re betting on NBA ROY this year, you need accounts at both offshore books and US sites, or you’re missing the value opportunities.
Just know the clock is ticking since the award is coming any day now, so get in while you can.
If you’re taking the front runner, the odds are short all over the place, but the regulated books had the best lines on Castle at the -1400 mark. Even still, all the numbers tell you they see this as nearly a done deal. I can’t say this is a value bet, so take the best line you can find.
For anyone looking for runners-up to succeed, Sarr has better value offshore at +1100 (BetWhale). Risacher was listed better at US books at +1200 (DraftKings). Either could be smart dart throws, and remember, these odds are steady-moving.
Final Thoughts
As betting on regular season NBA games is soon to come to a close, one hard working rookie is going to get all the glory.
As of April 10, Stephon Castle is firmly in the driver’s seat. Books agree, fans mostly agree, and his play has earned it. But if you’re a value hunter, the door’s not completely closed. Sarr has the tools. Risacher’s rising. And if Buzelis wakes up through April, it could get even more spicy.
So what do you think—Castle running away with it? Or are you buying a ticket on the Sarr/Risacher express? Drop your ROY pick in the comments and let’s see who really knows their rookies.
About the Author
Alonzo Solano
The Boss of Betting, Editor-in-Chief & Sports Analyst
Alonzo Solano is an author, sports analyst, Editor in Chief of BossofBetting.com, and host of the 'NFL Latino TV' podcast.
Outside of family, his biggest passion is NFL football. Perhaps he is best known for his podcast 'NFL Latino TV,' where he shares his analysis and perspectives on the game with a worldwide Spanish-speaking audience.
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