2026 NBA Summer League Rookies Shine

David Huber
Last Updated on Tue Jul 21 2026
Reviewed By Paul Skidmore
NCAA basketball game

The Golden State Warriors and Memphis Grizzlies played a competitive final game to close out the 2026 NBA Summer League. The tournament featured a lot of young talent from around the nation and gave prediction market traders a glimpse into Rookie of the Year prospects for the upcoming season.

The Warriors’ 94-90 victory was entertaining to watch in Las Vegas, where the NBA Summer League played its final two weeks. As we head into the preseason, here’s a look at the top contenders for NBA Rookie of the Year on prediction markets.

Cameron Boozer – Memphis Grizzlies

At just 19 years of age, Cameron Boozer has entered the NBA with a bang. The former Duke Blue Devils star was the number 3 overall pick in the NBA Draft and dominated the Summer League, capturing the tournament MVP award.

Boozer averaged 18.5 points, 8 rebounds, and 3.7 assists over the course of six games this summer, leading the Grizzlies to the final game. As a result, Cameron Boozer has moved up to the top spot within the Kalshi NBA Rookie of the Year market at 23 cents per contract.

If you’re looking for a solid “yes” option for Rookie of the Year during the 2026-27 NBA season, Boozer is a prime choice.

Caleb Wilson – Chicago Bulls

Caleb Wilson played college ball for the North Carolina Tar Heels and now finds himself as a member of the Chicago Bulls. Wilson is also 19 years old. He’s tied for first place in the Rookie of the Year forecasts that Kalshi traders are participating in.

You’ll need to pay 23 cents per contract on Wilson to win the NBA’s top rookie award for the upcoming season. His 35-point performance in his opening game of the NBA Summer League attracted a lot of attention from prediction market traders, as he made seven 3-pointers in his debut.

Darryn Peterson – Utah Jazz

Although technically listed as the third most likely player to win NBA Rookie of the Year, Darryn Peterson was the number 2 overall pick and carries a per-contract price of 22 cents. He was double-teamed during most of the minutes he played in the Summer League, but still managed to average 24 points per game.

The Utah Jazz are expected to rely heavily on Peterson’s talents during the regular season, which justifies his high price for Rookie of the Year.

AJ Dybantsa – Washington Wizards

The overall number 1 pick showed his skills during the 2026 NBA Summer League and was able to score at will against defenses that opposed him. At 19 years old, Dybantsa played for the BYU Cougars last year before committing to the NBA.

If you’re looking to pick up AJ Dybantsa for 2026 NBA Rookie of the Year, his per-contract price is currently 20 cents on Kalshi.

Yaxel Lendeborg – Golden State Warriors

Yaxel Lendeborg is the oldest player on this list at 23 years of age. He won the championship-game MVP award for the 2026 NBA Summer League, putting up 21 points with 10 rebounds. He’s currently listed at 7 cents per contract on Kalshi to win the Rookie of the Year award this season.

The star forward was a standout for the Michigan Wolverines and will look to make a difference for the Golden State Warriors this season. With the NBA Summer League behind us, fans can look forward to NBA preseason games starting in early October.

If you’d like to trade on which player you believe will win 2026-27 NBA Rookie of the Year honors, you can sign up for a new Kalshi account right now and get started.

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