Since the 1952-53 season, the NBA has typically honored the league’s most outstanding young player with the prestigious Rookie of the Year award. Over the past six decades, some of the world’s greatest baskeball names have won the coveted prize, including Wilt Chamberlain, Larry Bird, Michael Jordan, Shaquille O’Neal and LeBron James. The class of 2024 was no different as Victor Wembanyama showcased his generational talent with the San Antonio Spurs. His dominance left little room for debate, and he was unanimously named the winner of the Kia Rookie of the Year award at the end of the season.
Now, with the 2024-25 NBA season drawing to a close, the race for who will emerge the best among all rookies is starting to grow more intense. Want to take a lucky guess or even a hefty bet on who will be the first-year basketball player in the league?
Then you should read our analysis of all the top contenders for the prestigious award. In this article, Kate Richardson, a leading journalist highlights the best young players from this season and how their performances weigh up in the challenge for the Rookie of the Year.
The best part is that you can now wager on who will win the reputed award in advance, regardless of where you are in the world. Even if you’re placing bets from Bangladesh or any other place in South Asia, there are bookies worth their weight in gold that offer the best wagering options. These betting sites are famous for meeting licensing requirements and guaranteeing player security. Additionally, there’s an option to use both local and international payments to bet on your preferred player among rookies in contention.
Top NBA Rookie Contenders As It Stands
Luka Doncic, a one-time winner of the Rookie of the Year award and an eight-time career All-Star player once remarked about how contention for the rookie award dampens teamwork.
“Basketball is a team sport. Individual success means nothing without the team’s success,” Doncic said.
“I’ll always prefer the team, but, personally, I think every rookie wants to win Rookie of the Year.“
As the NBA is in that season again, all eyes will be on the players who have been deemed top contenders to prove their worth. In mid-March selections were announced for the Castrol Rising Stars, pitting rookies against NBA G League notables and NBA All-Stars 2025 in a new competition format.
That said, here are the top 10 players primed for the rookie award according to the latest ranking ladders.
1. Stephon Castle, San Antonio Spurs
With Victor Wembanyama out of the season due to injury, the San Antonio Spurs have had to rely largerly on their Draft Pick no. 4 to lead the attack. And as it turns out Stephon Castle has done a pretty good job salvaging the Spurs’ run this year. Castle has scored 13.8 points per game and is the only rookie to have hit over 900 points, while standing in fourth for the most assists and minutes logged.
2. Zaccharie Risacher, Atlanta Hawks
Risacher was No. 1 pick at the Draft, and was without doubt under immense pressure to live up to the NBA’s standards. Sadly, the 19-year-old forward has struggled with consistency. He currently stands at 11.9 points per game, with 51% shooting in the mid-March gameweeks. Nonetheless, his coach has stood up for him and his focusing on the better aspects of his game.
“I don’t want us to get hung up on Zacch making shots and saying he played well and him missing shots and saying he didn’t,” Quinn Snyder, Atlanta Hawks’ coach said. “I’m going to get a sign and say, ‘Zacch’s tough, Zacch competes, and Zacch loves to play – and Zacch loves to work.”
3. Jaylen Wells, Memphis Grizzlies
Wells has had an impressive season for the Memphis Grizzlies. He currently averages 10.8 points per game and at the time of writing has won his past four game minutes aggregating about 25 minutes per game. However, the forward has seen his accuracy drop by much when his team was losing. Nonetheless, Wells does have some advantage over other competitors and it is that he is starting for his team and winning games.
4. Zach Edey, Memphis Grizzlies
Born in Toronto, the Canadian is famous for leading the Purdue Boilermarkers to the NCAA Championship game as a final year student. Now playing center for the Grizzlies, Edey’s defensive form has picked up greatly and he averages 7.8 rebounds per game and 1.3 blocks per game. His minutes were down in February, with 26 mpg as against 17.7 in January but his defensive efficiency has even increased, making him a strong contender. Per 36 minutes of court time, his numbers are a rather impressive 1.8 blocks and 12.7 rpg.
5. Alexandre Sarr, Washington Wizards
Ranked fifth in scoring and making a name as the fourth rookie on record since 2020 to score 10 points, average one blocked shot and six rebounds, Alex Sarr has been remarkable for the Washington Wizards. The French power forward saw his stats, especially shooting, suffer in January after facing the Lakers.
But even then, he’s still leading the other rookies in many areas of the game. Unfortunately, he’s flunctuated in the rookie ladder, placing first in January, ninth in February and now fifth in mid-March. With some more consistency, he could well be crowned at the end of the season.
6. Kel’el Ware, Miami Heat
Ware’s season has been marked by a flurry of games against the big guns of the NBA. In January, Ware, who plays at Heat’s center, generated so much buzz, scoring 25 points in a match against Wembanyama and averaging 15.5 points in the week after. The 7′ 0″ foot player has been a starter for Miami’s finest earning 10+ rebounds and points in four consecutive games. As it stands, Ware has dropped one place from the previous ladder to sixth, but believes he’s learning and will get better.
7. Isaiah Collier, Utah Jazz
Every month, players from the two conferences win monthly rookie awards for their performances. The East’s best rookie for February was Risacher, while Isaiah Collier took it home for the West. The 6.5″ point guard recorded 123 assists in February, the most of any rookie since 1990. Isaiah Collier averaged 10.7 assists across three games in January, with his other colleagues also pulling up similar numbers. For instance, center Kyle Filipowski averaged 6.3 points in the same month. According to the latest rankings, Collier has an aggregate 7.8 ppg and 6.2 apg.
8. Yves Missi, New Orleans Pelicans
Despite a rough few weeks where he was listed as questionable for about two games due to an ankle injury, Missi only dropped one position on the Rookie Ladder. Coming back from his time on the sidelines, he hit 12 points and 10 boards, his first double scores in March and his eleventh of the season.
According to NBA.com correspondent, Steve Aschburner who has covered news on the NBA since 1980, the Cameroonian center is still adjusting to playing with Kelly Olynyk in the same lineup. However, the journalist’s projection is that if Missi finds his form and plays more often, he could make a return to number 2 on the ladder where he once was as at the start of January.
9. Bub Carrington, Washington Wizards
Carrington is one of four rookies who have averaged a minimum of 9 points, 3 assists and 3 rebounds for the Washington Wizards in over 50 years. Although he is not related to Bob Carrington who played for the New Jersey Nets, Atlanta Hawks and Indiana Pacers, he nonetheless shares a similar draft legacy. Bub was Draft Pick 14 and in February led all other rookies for court time and placed second in assist rankings. Currently, he averages 9.2 ppg and 4.1 apg.
10. Donovan Clingan, Portland Trail Blazers
Finally on this list is Donovan Clingan, 21-year-old center for the Portland Trail Blazers. He started the last 15 games for his team, contributing immensely to the offensive game of Rip City. Ryan Dunn averaging 4.4 fouls per 36 minutes in January is the closest any rookie has come to Clingan’s 5.5 fouls per minute. Interestingly, March is the first time that Clingan has made the Rookie Ladder, and it is yet to be seen if the 7′ 2″ player can go all the way.
Conclusion: Who Will be the Best Rookie of the Year for the 2024-25 Season?
There are other names that have had a remarkable display in the last weeks but have dropped in the Ladder very recently, Examples include Chet Holmgren, Bilal Coulibal and Reed Sheppard who scored 25 points plus three combined blocks and steals. Others are Bilal Coulibaly, Tristan da Silva, Kyshawn George with 2.3 apg and Kyshawn George who had six 3-pointers.
Most of these players had a fine display at the recently concluded All-Star weekend, but ultimately lost to the OGs. But with a few weeks to go till the Rookie of the Year will be decided, there’s enough time for upsets and underdogs to make some meaning of what’s to be for the rest of the season. Will one of Alex Sarr and Stephon Castle who have both stayed atop the leaderboard clinch the award? Fans and teams alike will be eager to see who walks home with the Wilt Chamberlain Trophy in April.