First overall pick Cooper Flagg is ready to live up to the NBA hype, and BetOnline certainly thinks he has the chops to do so. Per a recent report from the site, Flagg is pegged as the top favorite to take home the honor at 1/3 or -300. Noted on the website itself, the first round of the NBA Draft went off with few surprises, and there were lots of “tears and diamond chains.” In addition to Flagg being tabbed as the top choice, BetOnline also shared some commentary on the evening. For instance, there were “ a few trades that made zero sense.” See the New Orleans Pelicans (how do you give up an unprotected first round to move up from 23 to 13) and the Phoenix Suns, who traded two first-round picks for Mark Williams and then drafted another center, Khaman Malauch.
In this article, SBS will be going over the latest gaming news and updates coming from BetOnline, along with some additional notes and info coming from the site, and more.
Per the same article at the website, the oddsmakers at BetOnline have opened Rookie of the Year odds with and without Cooper Flagg. Before going into the odds, the article posits how many top overall picks won ROY this century. The answer is 11 of 25, so 44%. However, and this is a bigger caveat, two top overall draft picks won ROY after sitting out their first seasons with injuries. Those being Blake Griffin and Ben Simmons. Malcolm Brogdon was the only player drafted outside the top 10, and he was actually picked 36th overall and in the second round.
Per the main BetOnline article and the site itself, Flagg is followed by Tre Johnson at +650 and Ace Bailey at 7/1. Dylan Harper rounds out the quartet at 9/1. Finally, as noted earlier, Johnson would be the presumptive favorite in the Rookie of the Year market without Flagg, which is also highlighted on BetOnline.
Ranked as the top recruit in the 2024 class, the Newport, Maine native played college basketball for the Duke Blue Devils, earning both consensus first-team All-American and consensus national player of the year honors as a freshman. In addition to these honors, Flagg was named to the USA Select Team to practice with the United States men’s national team in preparation for the 2025 Summer Olympics. Also, he was tabbed as the 2022 USA Basketball Male Athlete of the Year for his performance in the Under-17 World Cup and is the youngest player to win the award.
Former Texas shooting guard Tre Johnson will be Flagg’s chief rival for top rookie honors after being selected by the Wizards in the Draft. A consensus five-star recruit, Johnson played one season of college basketball for the Longhorns and was the 2025 SEC Freshman of the Year. He was then selected as the sixth overall pick by the Wizards in the 2025 NBA Draft.
Per the same report and other media sources, Bailey could be the dark horse for the NBA’s top rookie honor. A native of Chattanooga, Tennessee, he played college basketball for Rutgers after being a consensus five-star recruit and one of the top players in the 2024 class. After committing to Rutgers, he became the highest-ranked recruit in program history. At the conclusion of his freshman year, Bailey declared for the 2025 NBA Draft on April 23rd, foregoing his remaining college eligibility. Additionally, he finished his collegiate career having earned Third-Team All-Big Ten and Big Ten All-Freshman honors. The Jazz would go on to select the small forward in the hopes of him leveling up their team and of course, getting them back to the playoffs.
Wrapping up the list of top candidates is Dylan Harper, who was Bailey’s teammate with Rutgers in New Jersey. Like his counterpart, Harper was a consensus five-star recruit and one of the top players in the 2024 class while also being a native of New Jersey and a prodigal son. Following a strong season for the Scarlet Knights, where he averaged 19.4 points per game as a point guard and four assists, he declared for the draft. Harper was then selected with the second overall pick by the San Antonio Spurs in the Draft and was later included in the 2025 NBA Summer League roster. Following a signing with San Antonio, he will join a talented team that is on the rise.
After you are all up to speed in relation to the latest gaming news and notes coming from BetOnline, make sure to check out the excellent array of info for you at SBS. For example, the BetOnline sportsbook review guide has you covered with an excellent array of information for qualified customers. Meanwhile, for those looking to diversify their deposit and withdrawal options, the payment methods rundown is a must-read resource for qualified patrons. Here you can learn more about the different kinds of deposit and withdrawal options available to you, from traditional methods to newer options like crypto and beyond. Finally, for those who are more interested in the topic, the NBA betting sites guide has your back with all of the latest betting markets on the sport and beyond.
About the Author
As a devout aficionado of sports, Chris Boline has carved a career within the athletic realm. A skilled scribe, he boasts a decade-long portfolio that encompasses coverage of the NBA G League, the Los Angeles Chargers, football and basketball across the country. Beyond his professional pursuits, Chris is deeply invested in his community and dedicates his leisure hours to serving on boards, collaborating with community organizations, and cherishing the company of loved ones. CURRENTLY Business Development and freelance sports writing RESIDES IN Reno, NV EDUCATION University of Nevada BS and MBA EXPERTISE -Sports writing proficiency in: NFL, NBA, UFC, boxing, golf, and some motor sports -Topical news -Promotional and marketing ideas/updates -Business development Summary Chris Boline serves in a business development sales capacity as his day job. He has previously held sales/marketing positions with The Applied Companies (TAC), KTVN 2 News and the NBA G League’s Reno Bighorns, affiliate of the Sacramento Kings. He is a Reno native and is a member of various community boards including the Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, NCET and the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA). Chris graduated from the University of Nevada in 2015 with a bachelors in management and economics and also earned his MBA from Nevada in 2023. More about Chris: Past president of the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA) 2022-23 Two-time honoree for University of Nevada Alumni Chapter of the Year (Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, 2017 & COBAA, 2021) 2021 NCET award for Professional Services Organization of the Year with TAC Northern Nevada Human Resources Association 2020 Best Places to Work-Northern Nevada, Second Place with TAC 2016-17 Reno Bighorns MVP from the Sacramento Kings The Nevada Sagebrush editor-in-chief 2013-15 Associated Collegiate Press 2015 Four-year Non-daily Newspaper Pacemaker honoree University of Nevada, Reno College of Business Dean's List honoree (5x) from 2011-2015 Nevada Press Association award for Best Sports Column – Community in 2015 Education
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