We’re nearly halfway through the 2020-21 NBA season, and one first-year player is miles ahead of the competition in the Rookie of the Year race. Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball is the clear frontrunner at DraftKings Sportsbook, and only one other player seems to have a shot at catching him.
Ball (-500) appears to have won ROTY weeks ago. He became the youngest player in NBA history to record a triple-double and is averaging 14.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 6.1 assists per game while primarily coming off the bench. He only trails the Minnesota Timberwolves’ Anthony Edwards (+1000) in total points and ranks first in total rebounds, assists, and steals. His toughest competition is Sacramento Kings guard Tyrese Haliburton.
Haliburton (+600) has the second-best odds and has also served as his team’s sixth man. He’s been extremely efficient as a shooter and boasts 49-44-84 shooting splits. Haliburton has also made his mark with excellent defense and reliability in the clutch. He’s among the league leaders in fourth-quarter minutes. It would take a lot for Haliburton to catch Ball, but he has a significant lead over Edwards and the Golden State Warriors’ James Wiseman.