- Chet Holmgren is the new betting favorite to be the no. 1 pick of the 2022 NBA Draft.
- Holmgren is averaging 13.3 points, 7.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 3.9 blocks per game this season.
- Duke’s Paolo Banchero, who was the odds on favorite in Bovada’s previous betting board last October is now second favorite at +105.
Unlike in some previous NBA Drafts where is a consensus no. 1 overall pick, the 2022 NBA Draft does not have that guy. What it has though are two youngsters who could be going back and forth in the NBA Draft betting odds boards until Draft night.
Last October, Bovada had Duke freshman Paolo Banchero as its -105 betting favorite to be the top pick of next year’s draft. Gonzaga’s first-year big man Chet Holmgren was second at +105 with G League recruit Jaden Hardy third at +700. Michigan’s Caleb Houstan and Banchero’s Duke teammate AJ Griffin completed the Top 5 at +1000 and +2000, respectively.
But with the NCAA men’s college basketball season in full swing, the odds have flipped as Bovada now has Holmgren as the -105 odds on favorite and Banchero the second favorite at +105. Hardy, Houston, and Griffin are still 3,4, and 5 at +700, +1100, and +1600, respectively.
Second Double-Double of the Season for Holmgren
10 PTS, 11 REBS, 4 BLK for Chet Holmgren, who watched from the bench down the stretch (just 22 minutes). Had bright spots & battled but also went went 0-4 from 3 & still has to prove he can keep up in an uptempo game. No. 1 pick still wide open with Jabari, Banchero on his heels. pic.twitter.com/ii81BPSDbE
— Mike Schmitz (@Mike_Schmitz) December 5, 2021
Holmgren registered his first double-double since Gonzaga’s opening game of the season with 10 points and 11 rebounds to go along with four blocks shots on Saturday night. However, he shot just 3-9 from the floor and 0-4 from a three-point distance while watching from the bench down the stretch as no. 16 Alabama upset no.3 Gonzaga 91-82 as +9.5 point spread underdogs.
For the season, Holmgren is averaging 13.3 points, 7.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 3.9 blocks per game through his first nine games in college. Holmgren came up big when the Zags played no. 5 Duke last week, scoring 16 points on 8-13 shooting and grabbing seven rebounds while blocking three shots. The Blue Devils however had the last laugh as they dealt Gonzaga its first loss of the season.
Despite showing several weaknesses like his inconsistency from three-point distance and his inability to keep up in an up-tempo game, Holmgren has shown flashes of brilliance that have made Bovada decide to put him ahead of Banchero in their latest NBA Draft odds board.
Banchero New NPOY Favorite
Our NPOY odds have been updated! ?
Paolo Banchero ?
Drew Timme ?➡️ https://t.co/lTjQ3OR0ig pic.twitter.com/l3kgJ8x9sc
— WynnBET (@WynnBET) November 30, 2021
The 6-10 Banchero is the new odds on favorite to win the National Player of the Year (NPOY) award at WynnBET. According to the said sportsbook, Banchero is now at +500, putting him ahead of erstwhile favorite Drew Timme and Ohio State’s EJ Liddell who is listed at +600. Holmgren is listed at 6th with his +1200 odds. At BetMGM and some of the top NCAAB sportsbooks, Banchero and Time are tied on top of the oddsboards at +450.
He is averaging 17.8 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.4 steals per game with shooting splits of .500/.333./.838 through 8 games played this season. Banchero balled out during his first meeting against Holmgren, scoring 21 points, grabbing 5 rebounds, and issuing 2 assists.
Banchero however struggled in Duke’s loss to Ohio State last week, scoring only 14 points on 4-14 shooting in 35 minutes of action. Despite that, Banchero’s size and skillset, like those of Holmgren, are seen as a premium in the NBA. Once Duke bounces back with a couple of wins and Banchero continues his solid play, it won’t be a surprise to see him back on top of the Draft betting boards soon.
