NBA Odds: Victor Wembanyama Already Overwhelming Favorite to Win Rookie of the Year

Victor Wembanyama wasn’t the odds-on favorite to win NBA Rookie of the Year before the season.
He is now, and then some.
It’s been only six games, but the No. 1 overall pick in the draft is already showing superstar flashes, and the oddsmakers have responded.
Wembanyama had +125 odds to win NBA Rookie of the Year prior to the season and those have already moved to -350, per BetMGM on November 6th.
Wembanyama is averaging 20.5 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.7 blocks and 1.3 steals per game through his first six and has helped the San Antonio Spurs to a record of 3-3.
The 7-foot-4 center is shooting 48.9 percent from the field and is canning 31.3 percent of his three-point attempts, impressive range for someone his height.
Wembanyama is still learning the NBA game but the early returns are extremely impressive, and he is now a near-shoo-in to win the NBA Rookie of the Year provided he stays healthy for most of the season.
No. 3 overall pick Scoot Henderson entered the season tied for the second-best odds at +300 but is off to a slow start with the Portland Trail Blazers.
Chet Holmgren had the same odds as Henderson, and even though his odds have lengthened, the Oklahoma City big man is now seen as the only legitimate challenger to Wembanyama for NBA Rookie of the Year.
Here are the odds for the top ten candidates in the earlygoing, via BetMGM:
- Victor Wembanyama -350
- Chet Holmgren +550
- Scoot Hendeson +2000
- Brandon Miller +2000
- Dereck Lively +2200
- Ausar Thompson +2500
- Amen Thompson +4000
- Cam Whitmore +6600
- Bilal Coulibaly +8000
- Keyonte George +8000
Wembanyama is not yet seen as a big-time Most Valuable Player candidate, as he still sits at +8000 odds, per BetMGM. DraftKings has a different thought, as Wembanyama is only +4000 there, while the best value comes in at FanDuel, where Wembanyama MVP odds sit at longshot +10000 odds.
Not only would Wembanyama have to dominate throughout his first season, but the Spurs would need to make substantial gains as a team.
The only rookies to ever win the NBA MVP are Wilt Chamberlain and Wes Unseld.
Nuggets center Nikola Jokic is the current favorite to win NBA MVP, followed by Luka Doncic and Jayson Tatum. Here is a look at the top-10 candidates to win NBA MVP, per BetMGM on November 6th, 2023.
- Nikola Jokic +300
- Luka Doncic +450
- Jayson Tatum +700
- Joel Embiid +1000
- Stephen Curry +1000
- Giannis Antetokounmpo +1200
- Devin Booker +1600
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander +1800
- Kevin Durant +2000
- Damian Lillard +2200