The NBA Draft Lottery has now come and gone, with the San Antonio Spurs hitting the jackpot and earning the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft. They will undoubtedly use this selection to nab prized phenom Victor Wembanyama. The NBA Rookie of the Year odds reveal Wembanyama as the favorite as he looks to take the Spurs to the next step in their rebuild, but perhaps Scoot Henderson will emerge as competition.
NBA Rookie of the Year Odds: Henderson vs. Wembanyama
Per DraftKings Sportsbook, Victor Wembanyama (-225) is a sizable favorite over Scoot Henderson (+300) and the rest of the field. Former Alabama standout Brandon Miller has the next best odds at +900.
There was some question as to who would go No. 2 overall in the draft between Henderson and Miller, but DraftKings has now made Henderson (-140) the slight favorite. New users looking to cash in on any of the NBA futures involving the star rookies can get $150 in bonus bets with any $5 wager!
Henderson opted to forego the college experience to play in the NBA G-League for the past two years. The 19-year-old guard showed flashes of why he’s the projected No. 2 pick, averaging 17.6 points, 6.4 assists, 5.1 rebounds and 1.2 steals in 30.2 minutes per game for the G-League’s Ignite. He was recently shut down for the season for precautionary reasons as he looks to begin his NBA Draft preparation.
Henderson has recently started a “strategic alliance” with Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry as he looks to build his brand both on and off the court. By all indications, Henderson is ready for the moment after his two seasons in the G-League. He already improved from 14.3 points in his first season to become one of the most dominant players in the league.
He recently played against Wembanyama in a highly anticipated showcase and portrayed his elite potential when draining a 3-pointer over Wembanyama before finishing on a nifty reverse layup. There are very few things that Henderson cannot do on a basketball court, and he certainly doesn’t lack confidence.
“I want to be the best point guard to ever play the game. That’s the legacy I want to leave behind. I’ve always thought to myself, how they say, you know, MJ and Kobe and those guys…I just want to kind of show people that like, you can be great no matter where you’re from. No matter how old you are, you could do what you got to do, as long as you put your mind to it. And you’d be ODD,” Henderson said to Slam Magazine during a recent profile.
Henderson will either play for the Charlotte Hornets (who got the No. 2 pick) or Portland Trail Blazers (No. 3). And while both of those teams already have a star point guard, there is no reason to think Henderson cannot co-exist and create a lethal backcourt in either scenario.
Sure, Wembanyama is the probably the biggest NBA Draft prospect since LeBron James. But beyond all the expectations, there is some reason to believe Henderson has the makeup to blossom into a superstar as well. Based on the initial NBA Rookie of the Year odds, it is Henderson who has the best chance to cut into some of the Wembanyama hype next season.
Bettors looking for all the best plays to take advantage of during the offseason can check out OddsShopper tools, including the Parlay Builder!
