The 2024-2025 NBA season is seeing a lot of fresh talents. We’ve got hot names like Spurs Guard Stephon Castle, Zaccharie Risacher, Alexandre Sarr, and Kel’el Ware putting up impressive work in the league. These lads are talented and they’re not just filling roster spots in their teams. They’re climbing the Kia Rookie Ladder with one aim probably at the back of their minds. We’re talking about none other than the NBA Rookie of the Year title.
You’ve got to admit that this class has a lot of promise for the future. You don’t have to be deep into tracking stats or eyeing the best odds to win out there.
This guide breaks down the top prospects, their impact, and how to bet like a pro. Let’s ball.
Who is Considered a Rookie in the NBA?
In the NBA, a “rookie” is any player who hasn’t competed in a professional basketball game before the start of the current season. It doesn’t matter if they were drafted in prior years. For example, draftees like Hawks’ Zaccharie Risacher (1st overall pick) or Spurs’ Stephon Castle qualify. Meanwhile, overseas pros like Alex Sarr (Wizards) also count if this is their league debut.
According to the league’s age rule, players have to be at least age 19 during the NBA draft year. The current “one-and-done” era (post-2006) also means they have to play a year of college basketball before entering the league.
Here are other key facts you might want to know:
- The official rookie definition doesn’t include G League or international league veterans who’ve played over 25 games.
- Victor Wembanyama, last year’s RoTY, set a high bar with 21.4 points and 10.6 rebounds each game. Hard to imagine any of the crops do that.
- Only 13% of rookies since 2000 have averaged 15+ points in their debut season.
Top Performing NBA Rookies 2024-2025
So who will win RoTY for 2025? We can’t say yet. This current class is quite special. We’ve got a fine mix of NCAA standouts (like Zach Edey) with international prodigies (Risacher, Sarr). Looking at the latest Kia Rookie Ladder update, the top players can be ranked as follows:
1. Stephon Castle (San Antonio Spurs)
The top spot goes to Castle. The guard leads all prospects in points this season. He’s been teasing a triple double lately, too. We’re already seeing some (very respectful) comparisons to a young Dejounte Murray. Last year, Coach Gregg Popovich described him as a “really mature young man.”
Even teammate Devin Vassell had this to say: “I feel like he’s definitely Rookie of the Year. I’m biased, obviously, but I think that it is pretty easy.”
- Stats: 14.4 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 3.9 APG.
2. Zaccharie Risacher (Atlanta Hawks)
Risacher was the East’s top talent in February, winning Rookie of the Month. The French forward’s shooting brings a lot to Atlanta’s offense which already has Trae Young. He recently scored his season-high 36 points against the Milwaukee Bucks. It was the Hawk forward’s third 30+ game of the regular season, the most by a rookie.
The 2024 NBA draft first pick was also one of the first overall picks to record 35+ points, 5+ threes in a game as a rookie, joining LeBron James, Allen Iverson, and Antony Edwards. No other rookie in NBA history has done that.
- Stats: 12.3 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 1.2 APG, 34.5 3P%.
3. Alex Sarr (Washington Wizards)
Also in the race is Wizards center Alex Sarr. His rim protection has been of great help to the Wizards’ defense. He currently ranks 2nd among rookies in blocks this season, averaging 1.5 blocks. He’s also putting up 13.0 Points Per Game. His 7’0” frame makes him a nightmare during pick-and-roll.
- Stats: 13.0 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 2.3 APG, 1.5 BPG.
4. Yves Missi (New Orleans Pelicans)
It’s been a tough NBA regular season for the Pelicans with Zion Williamson and guard CJ McCollum out with season-ending injuries. But at least, they’ve got Missi. He was originally a member of the class of 2024 but later reclassified to the 2023 class. The Baylor product averages 1.4 blocks this season. He also leads the league in rebounds among all rookies.
- Stats: 9.0 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 1.4 APG, 1.4 BPG.
5. Zach Edey (Memphis Grizzlies)
Our fifth top pick goes to Zach Edey. The 7-foot-4 Purdue alum is a beast of a center in the paint. He’s averaging 8.0 rebounds per game (2nd among rookies). Edey’s playing a different role from what he did in college. Safe to say he’ll be a bigger problem in the league when he fully adapts.
- Stats: 9.2 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 1.0 APG, 1.3 BPG.
Of course, we have to mention some we left out:
- Jaylen Wells (Memphis Grizzlies): 10.5 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 1.7 APG, 35.5 3P%.
- Isaiah Collier (Utah Jazz): 8.5 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 6.2 APG.
- Kel’el Ware (Miami Heat): 9.0 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 0.9 APG, 1.1 BPG.
- Kyle Filipowski (Utah Jazz): 9.1 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 1.9 APG, 35.8 3P%.
Useful Tips for Betting on the NBA
There are very few things as thrilling as betting on starlets and established stars in the NBA. But we also know that it comes with some risk. Here are some pro tips from our sports betting expert, Evelyn Balyton to help you to stay ahead and play safe.
Track the Kia Rookie Ladder
The NBA.com monthly rankings are a great way to monitor rookies. A player like Collier could be a good pick for proposition bets. For instance, his assist totals (+5.5 per game) are a smart overbet.
Watch Team Context
Rookies on rebuilding teams, like the Spurs and Wizards, sometimes get more minutes to shine. This makes their prop bets (especially for stats like points, turnover, assists, or rebounds) easier to predict.
Take Advantage of Live Betting
First-year players often start slow. If Sarr blocks two early shots, target his defensive stats live. Similarly, Hawks forward Zaccharie Risacher has a noticeable 3-point volume (4.6 3-pointers attempted per game). This makes him a live-bet gem when hot.
Millions of fans around the world follow the NBA closely, but recently its popularity has grown significantly in the Philippines, where online NBA betting has become especially in demand.
Therefore, you can start by using platform reviews to find reliable NBA betting sites Philippines. Don’t forget to compare odds, bonuses and available betting markets to make a more informed choice.
Final Thoughts
The 2024-2025 season is really decorated with future All-Stars. Looking at our rookie of the year rankings, each of them are pretty unique. We’ve got San Antonio Spurs Guard Stephon Castle with his playmaking, Alex Sarr’s defense, and Zaccharie Risacher’s sharpshooting.
The race remains tight, and we wonder what the players themselves are thinking. Are they eying the prize or not? We know someone who wasn’t during the 2019/2020 season.
Remember when Ja Morant said he doesn’t “care about Rookie of the Year” and “they can give that to who they want.”
Pretty ironic, since the All-Star would eventually go on to win the award.
The article was provided by Evelyn Balyton
