The 2024 NBA Rookie of the Year race didn’t feature a lot of intrigue. While Chet Holmgren put up a strong fight, it was Victor Wembanyama’s trophy from the moment he arrived in the NBA as a generational talent.
Now, as we look into to the end of the 2024-25 season, we have a crowded list of candidates leading the way. Only this time, the No. 1 overall pick, Zaccharie Risacher, isn’t viewed as a frontrunner.
Who’s the leader to win the Wilt Chamberlain Trophy in 2025? Here’s our list with the 2024-25 NBA season in full swing.
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2024-25 NBA Rookie of the Year odds
Before we discuss the list of candidates, let’s consider who sportsbooks consider the best odds to win NBA Rookie of the Year.
Here are the players with the best odds to win NBA ROTY in 2025:
| Player | NBA ROY odds |
| Stephon Castle | -1400 |
| Alexandre Sarr | +800 |
| Zaccharie Risacher | +1200 |
| Zach Edey | +10000 |
| Kel’el Ware | +20000 |
| Matas Buzelis | +20000 |
Below is Sportsnaut’s list of NBA Rookie of the Year candidates for the 2024-25 season, in reverse order.
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10. Carlton ‘Bub’ Carrington, Washington Wizards
Like his fellow rookie teammate Alex Sarr, Carlton Carrington there are plenty of minutes up for grabs in Washington’s rotation on one of the worst teams in the NBA. After being selected 14th overall, Carrington has earned an established role, ranking second among all rookies in assists per game.
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9. Kyle Filipowski, Utah Jazz
Kyle Filipowski made a late climb up the 2025 NBA Rookie of the Year rankings thanks to his stellar shooting. Not only is he averaging 9.1 PPG, Filipowski is also pulling down 5.9 rebounds per game. But it’s too little, too late to win an award.
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8. Yves Missi, New Orleans Pelicans
The Pelicans let their starting center go this offseason but replaced him with Yves Missi, a 20-year-old Belgian native. Since becoming the 21st overall pick, Missi ranks first among rookies in rebounding and third in blocks. His scoring has room for improvement, which has restricted Missi’s chances of winning Rookie of the Year, but he’s still in the race.
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7. Isaiah Collier, Utah Jazz
Leading all rookies in assists per game, Isaiah Collier has emerged as the point guard of the future for the Utah Jazz after being selected 29th overall in the 2024 NBA Draft. He’s still shooting just 24.9% from distance, but the 20-year-old has plenty of time to develop into a more consistent scorer.
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6. Jaylen Wells, Memphis Grizzlies
Thirty-eight players were selected before Jaylen Wells, but he’s taking advantage of an early opportunity to see the floor for a good Grizzlies team poised to return to the playoffs. Wells ranks fourth among rookies in scoring at 10.4 PPG, but he’s not doing much more than putting up points in bunches.
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5. Kel’el Ware, Miami Heat
The 15th overall pick didn’t get to play much early on, but after the Jimmy Butler drama emerged, the Miami Heat had no choice but to look to the future and increase Kel’el Ware’s playing time. Now a consistent starter, Ware ranks fourth among rookies in rebounding, and his numbers are climbing. The Heat’s rookie center is now a good bet to finish as an NBA Rookie of the Year finalist instead of being a fringe contender.
4. Zach Edey, Memphis Grizzlies
Players just aren’t built like the 7-foot-4, 305-pound Zach Edey. A potentially dominant presence in the paint, he’s also shown he can swat shots away at the rim and even impact passing lanes. Tied for first among rookies in rebounds per game while ranking seventh in scoring, Edey’s NBA Rookie of the Year candidacy has been a rollercoaster but he’ll continue to improve in the pros.
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3. Zaccharie Risacher, Atlanta Hawks
He may have been the first overall pick, but the Hawks are still Trae Young’s team, and he hasn’t suddenly reduced his scoring load. Zaccharie Risacher can help the Hawks in a number of ways, but he’s had some growing pains, both offensively and defensively as he transitions to the NBA. So far, he ranks third among rookies in scoring and averages 1.2 stocks per game, making him an outside candidate to win the NBA’s ROTY award.
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2. Alexandre Sarr, Washington Wizards
The biggest reason why Sarr had a chance to win NBA Rookie of the Year is because there isn’t much else on the Wizards right now. If the 7-foot-1 Sarr can continue growing as a scorer while providing excellent defense, he will finish as a finalist to win this year’s award. Shooting just 39.7% is the biggest impediment to Sarr winning the award, but he’s still in the race for now thanks to averaging 2.2 stocks (blocks + steals) per game.
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1. Stephon Castle, San Antonio Spurs
Stephon Castle landed in one of the best situations among all rookies. Not only did he join a San Antonio Spurs franchise known for player development, he gets to learn from a future Hall of Famer in Chris Paul. While Castle was an effective scorer in college, he’s shooting just 42.7% from the field and 28.4% from distance. Yet, he’s separated from the pack in our NBA Rookie of the Year race thanks to leading all first-year players in points per game.
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Who won the 2024 NBA Rookie of the Year?
After leading all first-year players by averaging 21.4 PPG and 10.6 RPG, Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs won the 2024 NBA Rookie of the Year award. Wembanyama became the second consecutive No. 1 pick to win ROTY after Paolo Banchero started the streak. Can Zaccharie Risacher make it a trend?
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Has anyone won MVP and Rookie of the Year NBA?
Both Wilt Chamberlain and Wes Unseld have won MVP and Rookie of the Year in the NBA in the same season. A total of 16 players have won both throughout their careers. But doing so in the same year hasn’t been done since Unseld in 1969.
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