Sports Betting
Bronny James has 21.5% of all bets at BetMGM placed on him to win ROY
Zach Wolpin is an NBA and NFL expert who's been betting on the league for over three years now. Wolpin is a fan of the NFL and NBA and has been watching for a decade and a half. He covers the latest news and stories surrounding the league daily. His passion in life is sports and being able to share that through his writing. He has written about the NBA and other sports leagues through various media outlets over the years like Sir Charles In Charge, G-Men HQ, and TAP into South Plainfield. Before he became a Sports Editor, Wolpin attended Montclair State University where he graduated in 2021. He studied Sports Media and Writing while in school.
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On Tuesday, October 22, the 79th NBA season will begin. First, it’s the Knicks on the road at 7:30 p.m. EST to face the reigning champion Celtics. Later in the evening, the Timberwolves are on the road for a matchup vs. the Lakers. Los Angeles parted ways with head coach Darvin Ham this offseason. To replace him, the team hired former pro, JJ Redick.
A major talking point in Los Angeles this offseason was LeBron James and his son Bronny. The Lakers selected Bronny James out of USC with a second-round pick in the 2024 NBA draft. When LeBron and Bronny take the court together, it will be the first time in league history that a father-son duo will play together on the same team.
While Bronny is getting his shot in the NBA, there has been much backlash about the opportunity. Multiple analysts and media members believe Bronny got a chance in the NBA only because his dad is LeBron. Odds for Rookie of the Year in 2024-25 reflect that. James is (+25,000) on BetMGM to win ROY this season. Despite his odds, BetMGM has still seen 21.5% of all ROY bets placed on James. Bettors are not afraid to take a chance on James even if his odds are much higher than the rest.
What was Bronny’s path to the NBA?
As the son of LeBron James, there’s no denying that Bronny’s path to the NBA was easier than most players. After high school, James committed to the Univerity of Southern California for the 2023-24 season. During a workout with the team in the summer, Bronny went into cardiac arrest and had to miss time to begin the year.
Luckily, James was able to return to the team last season and he played in 25 games as a freshman. Bronny averaged (4.8) points and (2.8) rebounds per game. Despite the slow start to his college career, James did enough to impress scouts in Los Angeles. The 20-year-old was the 55th pick by the Lakers in the 2024 draft. Now, he gets the opportunity to play with his dad during the 2024-25 season.
Who are the favorites to win ROY in 2024-25?
The 2024-25 draft class was not as strong as others in the past. However, there are still some exciting players at the top of the odds chart. As it stands, the current betting favorite is Grizzlies rookie center Zach Edey. He had a dominant career at Purdue and was back-to-back Nasmith Player of the Year in his final two seasons. Edey is (+350) to win.
Next up is Rockets rookie Reed Sheppard. The 20-year-old played one season at Kentucky and proved he was one of the country’s best long-range shooters. Sheppard shot an incredible (.521) percent from beyond the arc in 2023-24. He averaged 12.5 points per game and led the nation with (2.5) steals per game. Oddsmakers have him at (+700) to win. Finally, there is Hawks rookie forward Zaccharie Risacher at (+900). The 19-year-old played professionally in France before he was drafted first overall by the Hawks in 2024.
