NBA Rookie of the Year Race: Can Anyone Catch Cooper Flagg?

The NBA Draft is in the books, and University of Duke freshman star Cooper Flagg was selected No. 1 overall by the Dallas Mavericks.

Flagg is the odds-on favorite to win NBA Rookie of the Year at DraftKings, opening at -185 (bet $185 to win $100).

However, there’s no such thing as a lock — especially if Flagg either gets injured or doesn’t live up to the hype in his rookie campaign.

There are plenty of other players from this draft class who can make an impact and potentially steal the award at plus-money odds.

Let’s take a look at some of the top contenders to watch. Be sure to monitor the odds throughout the season, as this market is constantly shifting.

Dylan Harper – San Antonio Spurs (+900 at DraftKings)

The man picked right behind Flagg was another freshman standout, Dylan Harper from Rutgers. Harper averaged 19.4 points per game for the Scarlet Knights, including a 37-point performance against Alabama last November.

Harper heads to a San Antonio squad that boasts the last two Rookies of the Year in Victor Wembanyama and Stephon Castle. Although the Spurs missed the playoffs this past season, they improved from 22 wins in 2023–24 to 34 victories in 2024–25 and hope Harper is the missing piece.

Ace Bailey – Utah Jazz (+950 at DraftKings)

Harper’s Rutgers teammate, guard Ace Bailey, heads to a rebuilding situation with the Utah Jazz. Bailey posted 17.6 points and 7.3 rebounds per game in his freshman campaign.

Utah owned the worst record in the NBA last season at 17–65, so any immediate impact is a big deal for a franchise that has now missed the playoffs three straight years.

The question surrounding Bailey: Can he elevate this Jazz team enough — and shine bright enough — to outdo Flagg in the eyes of voters?

Tre Johnson – Washington Wizards (+1000 at DraftKings)

The Washington Wizards are in a similar situation as the Jazz — essentially starting from scratch. The Wizards selected University of Texas guard Tre Johnson with the No. 6 pick. Johnson led the SEC in scoring at 19.9 points per game.

Although Texas made an early NCAA Tournament exit, Johnson made a huge impact in his freshman season, including knocking down nearly 40% of his 3-point attempts.

The Wizards dealt leading scorer Jordan Poole to the New Orleans Pelicans and are now searching for their next cornerstone. Johnson could be it — and a legitimate threat to take home Rookie of the Year.