Is Scottie Barnes (+200) Running Away With ROY?

Welcome new readers and shoutout to Zach Cohen and Jack Nordyke for cashing in on our MNF parlay 🤑. Let’s talk NBA ROY 👇

NBA Rookie Of The Year

We’re nearly a quarter of the way through the NBA season and several rookies have already begun to make their mark on the league. The 2021 Draft Class was one of the best in recent years — take a look at the statistical leaders as of November 23rd 📈

• PPG: Scottie Barnes & Evan Mobley, 14.6

• APG: Josh Giddey, 5.7

• RPG: Scottie Barnes, 8.4

• MPG: Scottie Barnes, 34.9

As you can see, Scottie Barnes is at the top of almost every major category. While there’s still 60+ games left and we expect these odds to continue to change, it’s no surprise Barnes is the current ROY favorite

2021-22 ROY Odds

• Scottie Barnes: +200 (bet $100, win $200)

• Cade Cunningham: +250

• Evan Mobley: +275

• Jalen Green: +500

• Josh Giddey: +1600

Trivia question: since 1989, only two ROY winners were drafted outside of the Top 10 — one in 2013 and one in 2016 — can you name them? (answer below)

Toronto’s Finest

With last year’s fourth pick, the Raptors went against “draft rankings” and selected the lanky forward from Florida State over Gonzaga’s Jalen Suggs. So far, Scottie Barnes has been sensational, leading Nick Nurse’s Raptors to an 8-10 record with his Swiss Army Knife-like versatility

Through 16 games, Barnes is stuffing the stat sheet like no other rookie 👶🏾

• 14.6 points per game (T-1st among rookies)

• 8.4 rebounds per game (1st)

• 3.3 assists per game (5th)

While the Raptors have won just three of their last 10 games, they’ve had the seventh-hardest schedule in the NBA to date, giving reason to believe they might hang around .500 the rest of the way

• If Scottie can continue to thrive, while giving the Raptors a chance to compete for the play-in, he could continue to pull away with the award that many thought Cade Cunningham and Jalen Green would be battling for

A Real-Life Unicorn

Before going down with a sprained right elbow, the Cavaliers’ standout from USC looked like he was primed to be the first big man to win ROY since KAT in 2015-16. While Mobley leads all rookies in scoring (tied with Barnes), he was also proving himself to be a capable centerpiece to a top defense. Peep his stats

• 14.6 points per game (T-1st among rookies)

• 1.6 blocks per game (1st)

• 8.0 rebounds per game (2nd)

• 2.5 assists per game (6th)

With Mobley in the lineup for 15 of 18 games, the Cavs have charged ahead to a surprising 9-9 record, despite starting off the season with the league’s toughest schedule

• Without him though, they’ve lost their last three — dropping two to the Nets and one to the Warriors

The only obstacle impeding Mobley’s path to the award is his health. He’s been by far the best rookie on a per-minute basis and should be a sleeper pick to win ROY if he’s able to come back on the short end of his two-to-four-week recovery timeline

The Rivals

The top two picks in the 2021 NBA Draft — Cade Cunningham and Jalen Green — look poised to go at each other for years to come. Although each has struggled to shoot the ball as efficiently as they did before reaching the pros, they’ve had chances to display the gifts that made them worthy of their early selection

• Jalen is crazy athletic

• Cade is crafty and fills up the stat sheet 

Cunningham’s poise and patience is beyond his age, while Green’s generational ability to create space will pay off as soon as his jumper starts falling more consistently

• The 20-year-old Cade was the one Piston most intent on stopping Isaiah Stewart from charging at LeBron James

• Green’s range and ability to create separation, displayed on this insane step-back three, offers a glimpse of what’s to come

However, as long as they both struggle to shoot consistently, they’ll likely have trouble catching Mobley or Barnes in the ROY race 🤕

For My Parlay Gurus

For tonight’s parlay we’re going to ride the youth movement, as several of the top rookies are in action for a packed Wednesday night 🍿. Here’s our play

• Magic +4.5 vs. the Hornets: -110

• Bucks -14 vs. the Pistons: -110

$100 on this would payout $264, almost enough to grab this Scottie Barnes Top Shot moment. If it hits, email [email protected] to claim your winnings 🤑

Trivia answer: Michael Carter-Williams won ROY in 2013-14 after being drafted 11th by the Sixers. Malcolm Brogdon was picked 36th by the Bucks in 2016 before winning ROY in 2016-17