LaMelo Ball Injury Gives Anthony Edwards Shortest ROTY Odds

  • Anthony Edwards now has -200 short odds to win Rookie of the Year.
  • Tyrese Haliburton has +275 longshot odds to win.
  • LaMelo Ball odds fall to +175 underdog odds.

CHARLOTTE – The NBA Rookie of the Year (ROTY) award has just become thrown in a whack after heavy favorite LaMelo Ball off the Charlotte Hornets suffers a potentially season-ending injury.

Now the odds have shifted, with those betting on the NBA placing heavy action on Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards.

Tyrese Haliburton of the Sacramento Kings, Immanuel Quickley of the New York Knicks, and James Wiseman of the Golden State Warriors are also in the mix a USA online sportsbooks following Ball’s injury.

Ball Down, Odds Shorten

LaMelo’s injury came following a spill after being fouled on a potential layup. This resulted in a  fracture in his right wrist that is expected to sideline him for the remainder of the season.

Now, Edwards has managed to overtake Ball as the new favorite at online sportsbooks to take the coveted award.

2021 NBA Rookie of the Year

  • Anthony Edwards -200
  • LaMelo Ball +175
  • Tyrese Haliburton +275
  • Immanuel Quickley +2500
  • James Wiseman +5000

Edwards is currently averaging 16.7 PPG, 4.3 RPG, and 2.5 APG on the season.

He recently showed out for 42 points against the Phoenix Suns, becoming the third-youngest player to score 40 in an NBA game. He has also dazzled fans and potential voters with his strong athleticism for major highlights on the season.

Longshot betting fans should be looking to place action on the longshot odds for Tyrese Haliburton, however, as the young Kings guard has one main thing over Edwards, and that’s efficiency.

While Edwards is shooting 47.1% from the field and 41.0% from beyond the arc, Edwards is shooting 38.5% from the field and 31.9% from three.

The lack of efficiency could sway voters away from Edwards, particularly if he continues to have games like his 12 points on 3/11 shooting night against the New York Knicks.

Sports betting fans may want to lean in on the longshot odds on Haliburton as the rookie has also had his share of big scoring nights and has remained consistent throughout the season while Edwards has been streaky.

Another interesting wager sports betting fans could make is to take LaMelo Ball to win, even with his injuries.

Ball was the clear front runner for ROTY. After earning his starting spot in Charlotte on February 1, the young PG averaged 19.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, 6.2 assists and 1.7 steals all while shooting 46% from the field and 42% from the three-point line.

At the all-star break, Ball lead all rookies in total points, rebounds, and assists, becoming only the sixth player in NBA history to achieve that feat.

It is possible that Ball’s play early on in the season is just too impressive for voters to vote against, leaving him with the ROTY award despite having so much more season to go.