NBA Rookie of the Year Odds 2026: Can Knueppel Catch Betting Favorite Flagg?

I'm exploring the latest NBA Rookie of the Year odds coming out of the 2026 All-Star Break. Cooper Flagg remains the betting favorite to win the award, but Hornets forward Kon Knueppel and 76ers guard V.J. Edgecombe have been making noise in the race as well.

Can either catch Flagg to win NBA ROY? I'm breaking down the odds and their chances.

📊 NBA Rookie of the Year odds

Our NBA Rookie of the Year odds update in real time. See the NBA odds for the best odds on each game during the 2025-26 season.

🏆 Who is the NBA Rookie of the Year favorite?

Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg (-650) has led the NBA Rookie of the Year odds wire-to-wire since he was selected first overall last June.

One of the most hyped prospects this decade has lived up to those lofty expectations. Flagg ranks top three among rookies in points per game, rebounds per game, assists per game, steals per game, and minutes per game. More is being asked of him on the offensive end than any other freshman, as he leads all rookies in usage rate. He also has each of the top five single-game scoring performances by a rookie this season, punctuated by his 49-point performance against Charlotte in January.

Flagg is already establishing himself as a two-way star in the NBA, and he's in line to earn the first of what's sure to be many career honors as a result. Flagg's current -650 odds at DraftKings translate to an implied probability of 86.67% that he'll win Rookie of the Year, per our odds converter.

🤔 Can anyone catch Cooper Flagg?

I wouldn't entirely rule out Hornets forward Kon Knueppel (+500) just yet. Flagg's former Duke teammate is a key piece of a surging Charlotte squad that's in the playoff mix entering the final two months of the season. Much more attention will be paid to Knueppel's exploits down the stretch, while the Mavericks' season is already lost despite Flagg's brilliance. Knueppel is an incredible shooter, averaging just shy of 50/40/90 shooting splits as a rookie - an incredible feat.

That being said, Knueppel trails Flagg in points per game, rebounds per game, and assists per game. He would be the runaway favorite in almost any other season, but Flagg has been better in nearly every way in 2025-26.

V.J. Edgecombe (+8000), the third overall pick by the 76ers, has had a rock-solid rookie campaign himself. But the recently named Rising Stars Challenge MVP is a distant third on the oddsboard. For all intents and purposes, he's out of the Rookie of the Year race, and it's between Flagg and Knueppel between now and the end of the regular season.

📜 NBA Rookie of the Year odds history

Here are the last 10 NBA Rookie of the Year winners and their preseason betting odds.

❓ NBA Rookie of the Year FAQs

Who is the NBA Rookie of the Year favorite?

Cooper Flagg is the favorite to win NBA Rookie of the Year at -650 odds. That translates to an implied probability of 86.67%.

Who won the NBA Rookie of the Year Award last year?

San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle won the NBA Rookie of the Year award after leading rookies in points scored with 1,190 in 81 games. He opened with Rookie of the Year odds of +700.