By Larry Rupp
It’s always hard to project which college basketball stars will be able to take their talents to the next level and turn into legitimate NBA studs. Of course, the saying stays true for the current rookies starting to make their names known to the nation.
2021 No. 1 overall pick Cade Cunningham recently made his debut with the Detroit Pistons, yet the former Oklahoma State Cowboy is already starting to get overshadowed. With that being said, here are three of the best bets to make when looking at the NBA Rookie of the Year race, with all odds according to DraftKings Sportsbook.
Safest Bet: Scottie Barnes (+400)
It’s safe to say that Toronto Raptors fans had no idea what to expect when the team drafted Scottie Barnes out of Florida State with the No. 4 overall pick. It seemed to be a reach at the time, but the former Seminole has exceeded expectations through the first few weeks of the season. When healthy, Barnes is an every-night starter for the Raptors and posting double-doubles left and right.
The reason Barnes is the safest bet here is simply because of the volume he sees running this offense. The 20-year-old has the ball in his hands a ton and is averaging over 30 minutes played per game. Keep in mind that this is a team with playoff aspirations. If Barnes is able to lead Toronto there as a key contributor, he could have this award locked down midway through the season.
Took Scottie Barnes three dribbles for the full-court slam 🤯 @brhoops pic.twitter.com/g0dbH552HW
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) October 29, 2021
Underrated Odds: Chris Duarte (+800)
Don’t get it twisted, guard Chris Duarte shined with the Oregon Ducks in college. However, his emergence as a reliable playmaker on this Indiana Pacers team seemingly came out of nowhere. The versatile pro has scored at least 10 points in each of his first nine professional games, which ties a Pacers record set by the legendary Reggie Miller.
The only thing keeping Duarte low in the odds is the expectation that he will lose his starting spot once the team is fully healthy. That doesn’t mean he won’t still play a major role, though. Duarte ranks amongst the rookie leaders in points, rebounds, 3-point percentage and free-throw percentage. His ability to make an impact in a variety of ways makes him an intriguing option to place a wager on.
Chris Duarte buzzer-beater to end the quarter!
— Stadium (@Stadium) November 3, 2021
(Via @BallySportsIN)pic.twitter.com/9HTuG5MtU9
Long-Shot Bet: Franz Wagner (+3000)
It’s always fun to bet on the underdog and Orlando Magic’s Franz Wagner is the perfect player to target using that strategy. The young sharpshooter is proving night in and night out that he can score at will. In fact, Wagner scored 28 points and shot 5-for-9 from beyond the arc against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Nov. 1. His breakout performance was even capped off with an impressive poster dunk.
Wagner may not be able to garner national recognition playing on an Orlando squad that is projected to finish as one of the worst teams, but he should. His odds will likely never be this low again and it would be smart to jump on the chance of getting in on the action. Don’t sleep on a kid that has nothing to lose and gives his maximum effort out on the court.
💥 FRANZ WAGNER 💥
— NBA (@NBA) November 2, 2021
The rookie throws it down and has a career-high 28 PTS on NBA League Pass! #NBARooks pic.twitter.com/6EaWUwne1L
Picture Credit: Wikimedia
