What Prediction Markets Are Telling Us About NBA Rookie Of the Year

We could be in for another historic Rookie of the Year race this season. After last year’s nail biting race between Duke teammates Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel, the 2026 rookie classic appears to be loaded with versatile talent.

But who should be considered the favorite to win the award in 2027? 

Here are the four favorites to take home Rookie of the Year.

Cameron Boozer, Memphis Grizzlies (27% Chance on Kalshi, 27¢ Yes)

The third overall pick from Duke will have a lot of opportunities to showcase his skills with the Memphis Grizzlies. Boozer can do a little bit of everything. He has strength in the post, a tremendous feel for the game and strong playmaking skills for a big.

The 6-foot-10 forward will have to improve his perimeter game from deep, but with Boozer being the face of Memphis’s rebuild, he will have a chance to put up lots of numbers, which gives him a strong advantage in this race. The Grizzlies do not have many veteran players that will take away on-ball reps from Boozer, unlike most others.

Caleb Wilson, Chicago Bulls (22% Chance on Kalshi, 23¢ Yes)

The Chicago Bulls were very fortunate to jump into the top four to secure Caleb Wilson. The former North Carolina Tarheel put on a show at Summer League in Las Vegas, that really earned him a lot of believers.

In college, Wilson wowed the basketball world with his length and athleticism. In Vegas, he had a historic 35 point performance against Memphis, including seven made triples. Wilson only made seven three-pointers all of last season.

For the Bulls, with Josh Giddey, Matas Buzelis and their latest addition, Norman Powell, there will not be as many chances for Wilson to shine. In Chicago’s fast paced offense however, he may be able to thrive in transition, which will give him his best chance of winning Rookie of the Year.

AJ Dybantsa, Washington Wizards (17% Chance on Kalshi, 17¢ Yes)

The top pick in the draft is joining a terrific situation in Washington. The Wizards are looking to be competitive for the first time in several years, after acquiring veterans Anthony Davis and Trae Young last season. After leading the nation in scoring last season, AJ Dybantsa will have lots of chances to put up big numbers for Washington.

Trae Young is going to prioritize getting his rookie involved, with his elite playmaking skills. Dybantsa may lead the Wizards in scoring in his rookie season, even with all the other talent on their team. If Washington could make a postseason spot with Dybantsa making a huge impact, he could very well take this home.

Darryn Peterson, Utah Jazz (15% Odds, 15¢ Yes)

The second overall pick from Kansas could be the perfect fit in Utah. Similar to AJ Dybantsa in Washington, Peterson will be playing with a lot of established players. The Jazz have Lauri Markkanen, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Keyonte George as their top three. How will Peterson fit with them?

If Utah’s core can figure it out, then Peterson may be the finishing piece to push them to the playoffs, and maybe even more. But his numbers may not be super high this season, as he will share on-ball reps with Keyonte George in the backcourt.

But if Peterson can show early this season that he can make a positive impact on the Jazz, he could have the biggest impact on winning in his rookie season.