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The 2024-25 NBA Rookie of the Year race is coming down to the wire, and the trophy is just about ready to be handed out. Only three rookies remain in the running: Stephon Castle, who’s been a defensive force for the Spurs; Zaccharie Risacher, the top pick making waves in Atlanta; and Jaylen Wells, the Memphis sharpshooter who came out of nowhere to become a starter as a first-year pro. The odds are set, the votes are coming in, and it’s almost time to crown this year’s top rookie.
In this final breakdown, we’ll dive into the updated Rookie of the Year odds, break down each finalist’s case, and see where you might still find some value at top basketball betting sites. Whether you’re backing the favorite or rooting for an upset, this is your last chance to get in on the action before the award is sealed.
2024-25 NBA Rookie of the Year Odds Breakdown
See the table below for the updated Rookie of the Year odds at securing NBA betting sites.
| Rookie | 2025 Rookie of the Year Odds | Team |
| Stephon Castle | -1400 | San Antonio Spurs |
| Zaccharie Risacher | +1200 | Atlanta Hawks |
| Jaylen Wells | +3000 | Memphis Grizzlies |
San Antonio could have back-to-back Rookie of the Year winners. Victor Wembanyama ran away with the award last year. Now, Stephon Castle, whom the Spurs drafted with the fourth pick in the 2024 Draft, is the -1400 favorite to win the award this season.
After Castle, fellow lottery pick Zaccharie Risacher has the next-best odds at 12-1. Memphis has multiple rookies in the running, but the Grizzlies’ youngster with the best odds is Jaylen Wells at +3000.
Stephon Castle (-1400)
The Spurs’ 2024-2025 season was plagued by poor injury luck. It started with head coach Gregg Popovich suffering a stroke in November that knocked the legendary coach out for the rest of the season. Then, in February, Victor Wembanyama was diagnosed with a deep vein thrombosis in his shoulder and was shut down for the remainder of the season.
One of the few bright spots in an otherwise lost season for the Spurs was rookie guard Stephon Castle. He played in 81 of a possible 82 games and secured 47 starts this year.
Top sports betting sites list Castle at -1400 to win Rookie of the Year. Here are Castle’s stats from his debut season in the NBA:
- 14.7 PPG
- 4.1 APG
- 3.7 RPG
- 26.7 MPG
Castle’s 14.7 PPG were the most among rookies with at least 65 games played this year. Since the All-Star Break, Castle finished the season scoring double digits in 26 of 30 games to end the season.
Zaccharie Risacher (+1200)
Atlanta held the first overall pick in last year’s draft and used their position to draft Zaccharie Risacher. The French power forward appeared in 75 games for Atlanta in his rookie season, including 73 starts. He had the third-most games and third-most starts on the team this season.
Risacher averaged 24.6 MPG this year and posted the following stats in his rookie season:
- 12.6 PPG
- 1.2 RPG
- 3.6 APG
The Hawks’ rookie had the third-most points among rookies with at least 65 games played. However, unlike Castle, Risacher did not have a chance at the end of the season to take a leading role. He was eighth on the Hawks in scoring and fifth among forwards in Atlanta.
On the other hand, the Hawks had much more success in the regular season than the Spurs did. Atlanta made the play-in, while the Spurs had the third-worst record in the West. If the voters favor team success, Risacher could have the edge over Castle.
Jaylen Wells (+3000)
Rounding out the top three in the updated NBA Rookie of the Year odds is Jaylen Wells. Memphis drafted Wells with the 39th pick, and he has the best odds of any player picked in the second round.
Wells averaged 25.9 MPG in his 79 appearances for the Grizzlies. The second-round rookie posted the following stats this season for Memphis:
- 10.4 PPG
- 1.7 APG
- 3.4 RPG
Despite being a rookie, Wells was fifth on the Grizzlies in scoring this season. He was also tied for the most games played (79) and the most starts (74).
Wells had a solid rookie year, and his team had the most success of any of the top three nominees. However, I do not think he did enough to upset Castle or Risacher for Rookie of the Year this season.
For starters, Wells’ individual stats pale in comparison to both Castle and Risacher. Also, his teammate Zach Edey, the Grizzlies’ first-round pick, had a respectable season in his own right, leading the team in rebounds (8.3 RPG). Wells will not win support for Rookie of the Year from voters who do not see him as the best rookie on his own team.
NBA Rookie of the Year Prediction
The Rookie of the Year race has been narrowed down to three first-year stars: Stephon Castle (San Antonio), Zaccharie Risacher (Atlanta), and Jaylen Wells (Memphis).
All three rookies had great debut seasons, but only one will win the Wilt Chamberlain Trophy. San Antonio’s poor injury luck created more opportunities for Castle to shine in a lost season for the Spurs. His hard work will pay off soon, as Castle (-1400) wins the Rookie of the Year award.
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