The race for the NBA Rookie of the Year Award has become far more compelling than was expected before the season tipped off. While all signs continue to point toward Cooper Flagg as the frontrunner, several challengers have emerged, turning the award race into an intriguing storyline.
There is still a long road to the end of the regular season, and momentum will continue to shift. Even so, the list of top candidates is beginning to take shape.
Polymarket, a marketplace that blends traditional financial mechanisms with cutting-edge prediction systems, allows users to predict who will win the 2026 NBA Rookie of the Year Award. So, let's take a look at some of those predictions and try to figure out who will be the NBA Rookie of the Year.
NBA Rookie of the Year Odds
Odds are via Polymarket and update every hour.
Selected first overall in the NBA Draft, Cooper Flagg’s arrival was one of the most anticipated storylines of the season. After a difficult start for the Dallas Mavericks, the rookie quickly found his rhythm, showcasing his all-around game while logging heavy minutes and delivering standout performances.
Growing more comfortable with each game, Flagg has established himself as the clear favorite, holding roughly a 70% implied probability. That number surged following his performance against the Utah Jazz, when he scored a career-high 42 points and broke LeBron James’ record for the most points scored in a single game by an 18-year-old in NBA history.
His former Duke teammate, Kon Knueppel, has emerged as the most serious challenger in the Rookie of the Year race. The Charlotte Hornets forward briefly climbed to the top of the Polymarket board thanks to an electric start fueled by his elite shooting efficiency from beyond the arc.
“He’s winning ROTY,” predicted Reggie Miller, one of the greatest long-range shooters in NBA history.
V.J. Edgecombe also spent time atop the odds in late October, thanks to his seamless on-court chemistry with Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, and more recently with Paul George. The Philadelphia 76ers’ No. 3 overall pick has since slipped to third.
Derik Queen has been one of the few bright spots in an otherwise forgettable season for the New Orleans Pelicans. The 13th overall pick has displayed uncommon versatility for a center and has an outside shot to win the award, though his odds spiked after a dominant December 8 performance against the San Antonio Spurs, when he posted 33 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists, and four blocked shots.
What is Polymarket?
Different than a traditional sportsbook, Polymarket allows users to make predictions across several unique markets, including sports, entertainment, and elections.
