2023 NBA Rookie Odds: Wembanyama Leads a Stacked Draft Class
Hyped Batch Could Be NBA’s Best Since 2003
Victor Wembanyama is the most hyped basketball prospect since LeBron James. The consensus first-overall pick (-20000 on the sportsbook!) is considered a surefire superstar. Imagine a 7’3” center with the skills of a guard. With how dominant Denver’s Nikola Jokic has been, it’s no wonder Wembanyama leads the 2023 NBA rookie odds by a ridiculous margin. But he’s just one of many potential superstars in this draft class.
Wembanyama and the 2023 NBA Draft Class
Any Value in Betting on Wembanyama?
2023 NBA rookie odds are out for both the NBA Draft and Wembanyama. With the former, it’s an easy $10 if you wager $2,000 for Wembanyama to get drafted first overall. But for more bang for your buck, fans can bet on how well Wembanyama will do using three basic stats: scoring, rebounding, and blocking.
The NBA odds have lined Wembanyama with 18.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks. The public leans on his scoring and shot blocking to go under (-130 and -140, respectively), while his rebounding will go over (-130). These stats make Wembanyama the Rookie of the Year favorite at -215.
Wembanyama not only has the physical tools and skills to be great right away. But he found himself in arguably the best place to be drafted: San Antonio. Gregg Popovich is considered the greatest coach by many, and he’s got plenty of experience molding highly-touted big men prospects like David Robinson and Tim Duncan into superstars.
Henderson, Miller, and the Best of the Rest
As enticing as Wembanyama, he is just one of a few notable prospects. After him, guard Scoot Henderson and forward Brandon Miller are expected to be drafted. The 2023 NBA rookie odds slightly favor Miller to be taken second overall (-140) by Charlotte, while Henderson goes third (+100) for Portland.
Henderson has the makings of a superstar guard like Ja Morant or Derrick Rose. He’s coming from the NBA’s G-League Ignite, while Miller has a more traditional background as a college star from Alabama. Miller is compared favorably to eight-time All-Star Paul George.
Others worth noting are the Thompson twins: Amen and Ausar. The former is heavily expected to get drafted fourth overall (-150), while Ausar should still be a top-10 pick. Both are listed at 6’7” and play in the Overtime Elite, a professional basketball league for 16-20-year-olds.
Jarace Walker and Cam Whitmore are the two best power forward prospects in the draft. Either could go fifth overall. Both offer different skill sets but are still versatile players with ideal frames for today’s NBA.
Wembanyama and Co. Will Be Must-See TV
The 2023-24 NBA schedule is yet to be revealed. But if the NBA’s scheduling and marketing department know what they’re doing, Wembanyama and the Spurs will be given a few national TV games. In fact, San Antonio may even be featured in the Christmas Day slate. Henderson’s and Miller’s teams should also get spotlights.
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