Alexandre Sarr Opens as Odds-On Favorite to be First Pick in NBA Draft

The NBA draft order is set, as the Atlanta Hawks nabbed the No. 1 overall pick in the lottery.

While this is projected to be a down year for prospects, there are still some intriguing names headed to the professional level.

DraftKings has unveiled its betting odds to be the No. 1 overall pick, and French big man Alexandre Sarr has been instituted as the clear favorite.

Odds to be the No. 1 Overall Pick in the NBA Draft

• Alexandre Sarr -210
• Zaccharie Risacher +210
• Reed Sheppard +2000
• Nikola Topic +2000
• Donovan Clingan +2000
• Matas Buzelis +2500
• Rob Dillingham +3000
• Ronald Holland +4000
• Stephon Castle +5000
• Dalton Knecht +10000
• Cody Williams +10000

DraftKings sees this as a two-man race.

Sarr played for the Perth Wildcats in the Australian National Basketball League a season ago, averaging 9.4 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game. 

The 19-year-old  is raw but has an intriguing skillset as a 7-footer. Sarr’s brother, Olivier, currently plays for the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Zaccharie Risacher is another French professional who could be in the mix to go No. 1 overall. He is 6-foot-8 and draws comparisons to Franz Wagner. 

Some reputable draft sites have Risacher as the No. 1 overall pick, so it will be interesting to see if the odds move after the initial unveiling from DraftKings.

UConn big man Donovan Clingan might have the best chance among Americans to be the No. 1 overall pick, although he is listed as a longshot. 

Kentucky guard Reed Sheppard is another potential option at No. 1, while Colorado guard Cody Williams is an intriguing longshot pick at +10000 odds.

The Hawks have a big decision to make when the NBA draft arrives on June 26. Sarr has opened as the favorite, but the pre-draft process can result in plenty of twists and turns.

There could be some value to be had among the underdog candidates to be the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA draft, as there is no slam-dunk choice like Victor Wembanyama was a year ago.