Before even touching a ball in the NBA, big things are expected of French wonder kid Victor Wembanyama. The first pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, Wembanyama is regarded as the biggest talent to come into the sport since LeBron James in 2003. Already there are betting markets live on Wembanyama, one of them being the 2023/24 Rookie of the Year, which we will look at here in our NBA futures picks.
The 2023/24 NBA season is still over three months away, but already the best NBA betting sites, like BetNow, are drawing up their odds for the new season.
One market attracting interest is the 2023/24 NBA Rookie of the Year. Here the name of Victor Wembanyama features prominently. Very prominently, as he is already an odds-on favorite with the best online betting sites.
As you can see from our NBA odds table, Wembanyama is -180 to clinch the award. Already he looks as much of a cert as you can get in betting. His closest rivals are Scoot Henderson at +400 and Chet Holmgren at +500. After that, you can almost name your price.
| 2023/24 NBA Rookie of the Year Betting |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| Victor Wembanyama | -180 | -180 | -180 |
| Scoot Henderson | +400 | +400 | +400 |
| Chet Holmgren | +500 | +500 | +500 |
| Brandon Miller | +1000 | +1000 | +1000 |
| Armen Thompson | +1400 | +1400 | +1400 |
| Cam Whitmore | +2500 | +2500 | +2500 |
| Ausar Thompson | +2500 | +2500 | +2500 |
| Jarace Walker | +2500 | +2500 | +2500 |
| Anthony Black | +3500 | +3500 | +3500 |
| Taylor Hendricks | +4000 | +4000 | +4000 |
| Gradey Dick | +4000 | +4000 | +4000 |
| Cason Wallace | +4500 | +4500 | +4500 |
| Bilal Coulibaly | +5000 | +5000 | +5000 |
The sportsbooks listed on our odds table are all our recommended partner sites. To learn more about them, please take five minutes to read our online sportsbook reviews page.
As well as being one of the favorites in the Rookie of the Year betting, Wembanyama is also showing up in other markets. And BetOnline also has some specials available on him.
First up, to be MVP, Wembanyama is +10000. He couldn’t have that much of an impact in his first season, could he? And given the Trail Blazers are +12500 to win the NBA Championship, it’s hard to see him being in the position to be in with any chance in this market.
BetOnline has three live markets on the performances of Wembanyama across his opening season in the NBA. The markets are:
In blocks per game, under 2.5 is -155, with over 2.5 at +115. Moving onto points per game, Wembanyama is -140 to be over 17.5, and +100 to be under 17.5. And finally, he is -130 to have over 8.5 rebounds per game, and -110 to have under 8.5 rebounds per game.
To be compared with LeBron James at the age of 19 sounds absurd. But that’s exactly what is being said about Wembanyama. But when you look at his makeup, you can see why.
And it’s not just NBA scouts and commentators making the comparisons. The man himself, LeBron, is quoted as saying “He’s for sure a generational talent,” when asked about the Frenchman in October 2022.
Wembanyama is perfect for basketball. He is 7’3”, with an estimated 8-foot wingspan. Mobility is no problem, as he glides across the court with speed and grace, and he can also shoot like a guard.
But what can go wrong? Well, plenty. The lad is only 19, and he’s having all this pressure heaped upon him already. Yes, he’s a talent, and there is no doubt that he will come good at some point. But already, he has a lot of expectations on his young shoulders.
And to add to the burden, Wembanyama is still slightly built. He will bulk up, but at the moment, he’s not at the size and stamina of established NBA giants like Giannis Antetokounmpo. So questions will be asked about Wembanyama’s stamina in such a demanding league.
But helping him through his rookie season is Gregg Popovich. The experienced Popovich will know how to handle the youngster, giving him the best chance of succeeding in the NBA. Just how good he will be, remains to be seen.
Second in the betting is Scoot Henderson at +400. Henderson is a point guard who also profiles as a scorer and passer. Henderson catches the eye. He is also likely to show up more in the statistics than his Draft rival Brandon Miller, who is +1000.
Another name entering this market at a short price is Chet Holmgren at +500.
Holmgren missed all of what should have been his first season at Oklahoma City Thunder. But due to his injury absence, he still qualifies to win the award this season.
Don’t be put off because Holmgren is coming back from injury. Ben Simmons and Blake Griffin pulled it off after missing their first seasons. A win here for Holmgren wouldn’t be breaking new ground. He would merely be emulating what Simmons and Griffin have done.
Okay, maybe we’re also guilty of being suckered in by all the hype. But if things go to plan, it will surely be Victor Wembanyama who wins Rookie of the Year. LeBron did it. So who are we to say that the guy endorsed by the great man himself can’t do it? We have to go for Victor Wembanyama to be our Rookie of the Year betting pick.
Be sure to check out our sportsbook reviews below for even more choices for betting on the NBA.
About the Author
Dean is primarily a fan of English football who regularly attends games, and combining his hobby with his job, he is now a full-time sports betting writer. Rather than going down the educational route into sports journalism, Dean learned his trade by writing for his English football betting website since 2009, where he now boasts nearly 15 years of experience. After writing about football daily for years, Dean has taken the skills he learned and now uses them to great effect writing for numerous affiliate sites across the internet. A general all-around sports enthusiast with a passion for English football and cricket, Dean is also well able to turn his hand to writing about golf, tennis, F1, boxing, snooker, darts, and North American sports. Combining his extensive knowledge and experience with British humor and wit, Dean has developed into a trusted voice within the sports betting industry.
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