Stephon Castle is the favorite to win Rookie of the Year.
Yves Missi is the top contender to win the 2025 NBA Rookie of the Year!
Last year’s Rookie of the Year was Victor Wembanyama!
There’s been a massive development in the Rookie of the Year race. After an injury to the betting favorite Jared McCain, there’s been a lot of movement in the odds table. At WSN, we’re locked in on the race for Rookie of the Year, offering the latest odds, predictions, and analyses for the 2024-25 NBA season!
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The 2025 NBA Rookie of the Year race is heating up after the top contender bowed out with injury. Stephon Castle leads the pack as the favorite, showcasing his versatility and playmaking ability for the ever-improving Spurs. Yves Missi follows closely, impressing with his defensive presence and consistent impact on a depleted Pelicans roster. Dalton Knecht and Zacharie Risacher remain in contention with flashes of brilliance despite their inconsistency, while Zach Edey rounds out the field, leveraging his singular size and skill after missing 11 games with injury.
By odd circumstances, Stephon Castle is the favorite to win Rookie of the Year in 2025. While his rise came at the misfortune of another, Castle has been a productive player for a Spurs team that is trying to push for the postseason. While he lacks shooting efficiency, Castle’s tenacious defense has been central to San Antonio’s success this season.
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Who Is the Favorite to Win NBA Rookie of the Year in 2025?
Stephon Castle - San Antonio Spurs (+150) at FanDuel
Season
Team
Age
PTS
REB
AST
BLK
STL
FG/FG%
3PM/3P%
2024-25
SAS
20
11.7
2.6
3.9
0.4
0.9
4.0/.378
1.2/.274
San Antonio Spurs rookie Stephon Castle takes the top spot in the Rookie of the Year race after Sixers rookie Jared McCain dropped out due to injury. Castle played in one game last week, putting up just two points, five assists, and two rebounds in a loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Despite that hiccup, he’s been excellent through December, averaging 12.5 points, 4.0 assists, and 1.2 steals per game.
Who Are the Other 2025 NBA Rookie of the Year Contenders?
Yves Missi - New Orleans Pelicans (+250) at FanDuel
Season
Team
Age
PTS
REB
AST
BLK
STL
FG/FG%
3PM/3P%
2024-25
WAS
19
9.2
8.5
1.2
1.2
0.7
3.7/.549
0.0/.000
In two games last week, New Orleans Pelicans rookie center Yves Missi continued to showcase his potential. In the December 12 game against the Sacramento Kings, Missi recorded seven points, 11 rebounds, one assist, one block, and one steal in 31 minutes. On December 15, in a loss to the Indiana Pacers, he contributed nine points, 14 rebounds, two assists, one block, and one steal in 34 minutes. While he's not a high-impact offensive player, Missi has been a step above his draft class on the defensive side of the ball. He's been a bright spot for the Pelicans in a season that has already been written off as a failure.
Dalton Knecht - Los Angeles Lakers (+500) at FanDuel
Season
Team
Age
PTS
REB
AST
BLK
STL
FG/FG%
3PM/3P%
2024-25
LAL
23
10.6
3.7
1.1
0.0
0.5
4.0/.468
1.9/.376
Los Angeles Lakers rookie Dalton Knecht struggled over the past week, putting up modest numbers through two games. In his December 13 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, Knecht recorded six points, nine rebounds, and one assist over 19 minutes. In his next game, a victory against the Memphis Grizzlies, he contributed five points and three rebounds in 13 minutes. Knecht is a shooter, but he's made just two of his last 21 three-point attempts. His potential impact is undeniable, but this down run of form has put others ahead of him in the Rookie of the Year race.
Zaccharie Risacher - Atlanta Hawks (+1000) at FanDuel
Season
Team
Age
PTS
REB
AST
BLK
STL
FG/FG%
3PM/3P%
2024-25
ATL
19
10.9
3.3
1.2
0.7
0.8
4.0/.399
1.2/.274
Over the last week, Atlanta Hawks rookie forward Zaccharie Risacher struggled in the team's only two games. In their December 11 victory against the New York Knicks, Risacher contributed just two points, one rebound, and two assists over 17 minutes. He followed that up with another two-point effort in a loss to the Milwaukee Bucks. While his recent performances have been poor, Risacher remains a contender in the Rookie of the Year race, as the last week looks like an aberration compared to his usual production.
Who is the Dark Horse to Win 2025 Rookie of the Year?
Zach Edey - Memphis Grizzlies (+1500) at FanDuel
Season
Team
Age
PTS
REB
AST
BLK
STL
FG/FG%
3PM/3P%
2024-25
MEM
22
11.3
7.1
0.8
1.0
0.9
4.7/.619
0.4/.600
Memphis Grizzlies' rookie center Zach Edey has been making notable contributions this season but only recently returned from injury. He made his return on December 15 against the Lakers after missing 11 straight games. In that matchup, Edey recorded a double-double with 13 points and ten rebounds in 24 minutes of play. Edey's consistent play kept him in the conversation for the NBA Rookie of the Year award despite his injury, and he didn't miss a step in his return.
Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs won the 2024 NBA Rookie of the Year Award. He was the third San Antonio Spurs rookie to win the award after David Robinson in 1990 and Tim Duncan in 1998.
Wembanyama stood out in his rookie season, playing 71 games, averaging 21.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, and 3.9 assists on 46.5% from the field and 32.5% from the three-point range. While Wembanyama’s Spurs failed to make the NBA Playoffs, he proved he’d be a solid foundation for the Spurs as well as one of the NBA’s brightest stars for the future. Banchero was the clear favorite to win Rookie of the Year through the 2023-24 NBA season.
The San Antonio Spurs center was the seventh unanimously voted NBA Rookie of the Year. He garnered 99.0 first-place votes, collecting 495.0 points through the voting process. Second was Thunder center Chet Holmgren in the award race, collecting 98.0 second-place votes. Third place was won by Charlotte Hornets forward Brandon Miller, who collected one second-place vote and 83.0 third-place votes.
When Will the NBA Rookie of the Year Winner Be Announced?
The Rookie of the Year Award winner is expected to be announced following the conclusion of the NBA regular season and Play-In Tournament. Last year, the winner's team announced the various NBA awards individually or on a live broadcast of Inside the NBA. These happen during unscheduled dates during the NBA Playoffs.
Does the NBA Rookie of the Year Receive a Prize?
The NBA Rookie of the Year Award winner doesn't receive a prize directly. The Rookie of the Year wins the Eddie Gottlieb Trophy to commemorate their accomplishment.
In terms of cash incentives or bonuses, there are few. While many player contracts have built-in performance incentives that provide bonuses based on statistical achievement, no such agreement exists in rookie contracts.
The Rookie of the Year prize is the ability to write their name into the annals of NBA history. Winning Rookie of the Year increases a player's opportunity for exposure, endorsements, and nationally broadcasted games.
NBA Rookie of the Year FAQ
Does Fan Vote Determine the NBA Rookie of the Year?
The Rookie of the Year is not decided by fan vote. Fan voting is reserved for the NBA All-Star game, as the event celebrates what the viewing public appreciates about the first phase of the NBA season. A panel of United States and Canadian sportswriters and broadcasters selects the Rookie of the Year Award winner. The panel casts a first-, second-, and third-place vote (worth five, three, and one point, respectively); the rookie with the highest combined vote wins the award.
Has an International Player Ever Won Rookie of the Year?
Five international players who are not American by nationality or representation won the Rookie of the Year Award.
Those players were:
Victor Wembanyama - France (2024)
Luka Doncic - Slovenia (2019)
Ben Simmons - Australia (2018)
Andrew Wiggins - Canada (2015)
Pau Gasol - Spain (2002)
Despite being American by nationality, additional players were born outside the United States to have won Rookie of the Year. Patrick Ewing (2002) was born in Jamaica, and Kyrie Irving was born in Australia, although both players own American nationality and have represented the United States Men's National Team.
Which College Produces the Most Rookie of the Year Winners?
The University of North Carolina has produced the most Rookie of the Year winners in NBA history.
Those winners were:
Bob McAdoo (1973) - Buffalo Braves
Walter Davis (1978) - Phoenix Suns
Phil Ford (1979) - Kansas City Kings
Michael Jordan (1985) - Chicago Bulls
Vince Carter (1999) - Toronto Raptors
Who Won the First NBA Rookie of the Year Award?
The inaugural winner of the Rookie of the Year Award was Don "Monk" Meineke of the Fort Wayne Pistons. A 6-7 power forward, Meineke averaged 10.7 points and 6.9 rebounds over 68 games played in his first NBA season.
Meineke also owns the dubious record of leading the league in personal fouls and disqualifications during his Rookie of the Year campaign. He recorded 334 personal fouls, 4.9 per game, over 68 games and was disqualified 26 times. Meineke still holds the NBA single-season record for disqualifications.
Which NBA Franchise Produced the Most NBA Rookie of the Year Winners?
The Golden State Warriors have produced the most Rookie of the Year winners in NBA history. With six different winners, the Golden State Warriors, San Francisco Warriors, and Philadelphia Warriors, no other team has produced more Rookie of the Year winners.
The Rookie of the Year Award winners for the Golden State Warriors were: Woody Sauldsberry (1958)
Wilt Chamberlain (1960)
Rick Barry (1966)
Jamaal Wilkes (1975)
Mitch Richmond (1989)
Chris Webber (1994)
Which NBA Franchises Have Never Produced a Rookie of the Year?
Only two teams have failed to produce a Rookie of the Year winner: the Denver Nuggets and Miami Heat.
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Christian Jope is a writer, social media strategist, and data analyst. A Queen’s University Alumni, Christian is an author and social media strategist with Raptors Cage, while also working closely with MLSE and Canada Basketball through community-driven events.
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