The 2023 NBA rookie of the Year race is off to a hot start, with several first-year players showing they belong at the pro level. This year’s rookie class has been one of the most talented in recent memory.
Below we present the candidates and their odds of winning the Wilt Chamberlain Trophy in 2023.
Rookie Paolo Banchero -900
Banchero is in a class apart from the rest of the NBA rookie this season. He leads all other rookies in scoring and has performed spectacularly so far.
Italian-American player for the NBA’s Orlando Magic. He is 2.08 meters tall and plays in the power forward position.
He played one season with the Duke University Blue Devils, averaging 17.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game.7 On April 20, 2022, Banchero declared for the draft of the 2022 NBA, forgoing his remaining college eligibility.
The player came with everything since on his first NBA night, on October 19, 2022, against the Detroit Pistons, he achieved 27 points, nine rebounds, and five assists, being the third player in history to debut with a 25-5-5, after Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and LeBron James.
NBA Rookie Bennedict Mathurin +900
This Canadian player for the Indiana Pacers can play either shooting guard or forward.
This season he has shone off the bench and ranks third among all other NBA players in bench scoring this season, which is a good sign of what he can contribute in a starring role in the future.
He played two seasons with the University of Arizona, averaging 14.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game.4 In his sophomore season, he averaged 17.7 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game, which earned him the Pac-12 Player of the Year, first-team all-conference selection, as well as second-team All-American.
He was selected in the sixth position of the 2022 NBA Draft, and in his debut against the Washington Wizards, scoring 19 points.
Rookie Jaden Ivey +3600
Ivey stands out for his incredible vision of passes, sick hoops, and a talent that screams superstar.
He played two seasons with the Purdue University Boilermakers, averaging 14.9 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game.4 In his sophomore season, he averaged 17.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game, earning him first-team All-Big Ten inclusion and second-team All-American.
Ivey has basketball in his blood since his mother, Niele Ivey is the head coach of the women’s basketball team at the University of Notre Dame.
On January 23, 2023, the player recorded a double-double for the Pistons, dishing out 11 assists and scoring 12 points (4-10 FG, 1-4 3PT, 3-6 FT) while also recording two steals and grabbing four rebounds in a 150-130 loss to the Bucks.
Pelicans head coach Willie Green believes Ivey will go a long way.
“I grew up playing against his dad in Detroit,” Green said. “I’m happy for (Ivey), happy for his family.
“You watch him the open floor and he’s dangerous,” Green said. “He’ll continue to develop his shot. He’ll get better as time progresses. That’s just how those guys are.”
A tight race of three horses
Although other rookies like Walker Kessler, Jalen Williams, and Dyson Daniels also have excellent seasons, and their performance is worthy of being candidates for the Rookie of the Year award, the truth is that they fall short compared to what Banchero, Mathurin, and Ivey.
With the season well underway, now is the time to design your betting strategy for who will win this coveted prize.
The great thing about developing a strategy now is that you have seen what each Rookie is capable of and how they perform on their respective teams.
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