2026 NBA Rookie of the Year Odds: Ace Bailey Gaining Steam After Strong Preseason

The 2025 NBA Draft class was billed as a deep class and just a few games into the preseason, it’s already living up to the hype. From top overall pick Cooper Flagg to unexpected breakout candidates further down the draft board, this year’s class of newcomers are wasting no time making their mark. Below, we’ll reveal the latest 2026 NBA Rookie of the Year odds and name a few surprise candidates who are already emerging as potential darkhorse candidates for the award.

Flagg Remains The Odds-On Favorite To Win 2026 NBA ROY

When Cooper Flagg was taken with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, he was thought to be head and shoulders above the rest of the class. The oddsmakers appear to be in agreement, tabbing Flagg as the odds-on favorite to be named the league’s top rookie by  a wide margin. 

Heading into the regular season, Flagg currently owns -200 odds to win 2026 NBA Rookie of the Year, giving him an implied 66.7% chance of earning top honors. 

Flagg hasn’t disappointed in his first taste of NBA action, averaging 10.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.0 blocks and 1.7 steals through three preseason contests in under 20 minutes per game.

Ace Bailey & Kon Knueppel Among Top Darkhorse Candidates

While Flagg appears ready to contribute from Day 1, there is another player who is quickly gaining steam as one of the league’s most promising rookies following a strong preseason.

Utah Jazz rookie Ace Bailey has opened eyes with his excellent play during the preseason after nearly destroying his reputation during the NBA Draft process. Bailey, who was drafted No. 5 overall despite never working out for the Jazz, appears to have landed in the perfect spot. 

Bailey scored 25 points in his preseason debut and followed that up with another 20-point performance on Friday against the San Antonio Spurs. Both of those impressive scoring nights came without much dribbling. In fact, he scored 45 points on 29 shots and took only 28 dribbles in both games combined, showing off-ball movement skills that could make him a potent scorer even as a rookie.

As a result, his odds to be named the 2026 NBA Rookie of the Year have skyrocketed at the top online sportsbooks. Suddenly, the oddsmakers have Bailey (+500) down behind Flagg among the favorites to win the award, ahead of Dylan Harper (+800), VJ Edgecombe (+1000), and Kon Knueppel (+1800) who were drafted ahead of him.

Knueppel is expected to be among the top darkhorse candidates to win the award. The No. 4 overall pick is a sharpshooter with an underrated feel for the game, which has made him one of the most NBA-ready rookies during early preseason action. 

2026 NBA Rookie of the Year Odds

Here are the latest 2026 NBA Rookie of the Year odds, according to BetOnline.