NBA Rookie of the Year Predictions: Ranking the Top 5 Best NBA Rookies

A brand new NBA season is already off and running, as games for the 2026-27 campaign got underway on Tuesday. While proven veterans will help teams navigate the regular season, first-year players are expected to add some depth and upside to each club as well.

This year’s NBA Draft class was regarded by most as possessing future key role players, All-Stars, and maybe even someone worthy of MVP buzz. Right out of the gate, however, who could contend for a rookies-only award?

Below, we’ll make our NBA Rookie of the Year award predictions, including a ranking of the top five rookies for the 2026 season. Scoring chops, ancillary offensive skills, defense, supporting cast, and more are all taken into account.

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NBA Rookie of the Year Predictions: Top 5 NBA Rookies of 2026

Here are our NBA Rookie of the Year predictions for 2026-27, consisting of a breakdown of the top five rookies for this season. We’ll also list each player’s payout multipliers for NBA Rookie of the Year picks on PrizePicks.

Payouts show potential returns on correct Team Picks predictions. A 2x payout returns $200 on a $100 entry. Lower multipliers reflect outcomes users are picking as more likely. Payouts are live as of writing and subject to change.

1. Darryn Peterson (SG, Utah Jazz)

As a one-and-done at Kansas, Darryn Peterson went through a complex sequence with his health and saw both his play and availability fluctuate because of it. What many didn’t anticipate was the former McDonald’s All-American turning into one of the premier off-ball threats in the country.

Peterson was a 3-point sniper for the Jayhawks, firing up 6.9 per game and draining them at a 38.2% clip. His burst seemed to be back this summer for the Utah Jazz, which is massive for his three-level scoring upside.

The swing skill for Peterson is whether he can continue to mature as a defender. He’ll never be a truly elite playmaker and may cap out as an Anthony Edwards-level facilitator, but that’s still enough to be the driving force of an offense.

Pair that with a projected creation role for a Jazz squad that could make as big of a leap as any, and you get a bona fide Rookie of the Year candidate right here.

Darryn Peterson Rookie of the Year Payouts: 5.55x Yes | 1.12x No

2. Cameron Boozer (PF, Memphis Grizzlies)

Was there a more efficient collegiate player than Duke’s Cameron Boozer a season ago? The versatile forward did a bit of everything for the Blue Devils, and it reflected in impact metrics like Bart Torvik giving him the highest BPM (box plus-minus) of anyone in the country.

Don’t let Boozer’s dreaded “tweener” label from lazy analysts fool you. He’s a malleable piece who can set up teammates, run traditional or inverted pick-and-roll sets, shoot the basketball better than he should and maintain sound defensive fundamentals. 

Because his game isn’t flashy, some folks think he can’t develop into a star. Avoid those people. 

Boozer shot a healthy 47.1% from the field during the preseason and brought down 5.5 rebounds with 3.0 assists each time out, showcasing his well-rounded profile. Paired with C Zach Edey in the Memphis Grizzlies’ frontcourt, the era of PG Ja Morant and big man Jaren Jackson Jr. is over with.

The new kids on the block are here, with Boozer leading the way. 

Cameron Boozer Rookie of the Year Payouts: 3.33x Yes | 1.29x No

3. Caleb Wilson (PF, Chicago Bulls)

Compared by many to Kevin Garnett during the pre-draft process, North Carolina product Caleb Wilson came into the NBA Draft as a lengthy PF prospect with insane verticality, an intriguing midrange jumper, and an immense ceiling on the defensive end. 

There’s a lot to like with his scouting report, and that’s without even considering that he carried a 96th-percentile free throw rate (per draftballr) and was a menace on the glass. 

Shooting touch appears to be there for Wilson; it’s his 3-point shot that’ll make or break his value at the professional level. He took 5.8 of them a night in five preseason games and made 31.0%, so it’s still clearly a work in progress. 

After going 31-51 in 2025-26, the Chicago Bulls seem to finally be stripping everything down to the studs and committing to building the right way. Time will tell if it pays off, but that process could be expedited if Wilson’s shooting and defensive chops are real.

Caleb Wilson Rookie of the Year Payouts: 4x Yes | 1.21x No

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4. AJ Dybantsa (SF, Washington Wizards)

There weren’t many more polarizing players in this rookie class than F AJ Dybantsa. 

On the offensive end, his 7-foot wingspan and 42-inch max vertical give him tantalizing physical tools, but his off-the-dribble burst doesn’t quite align. Still, he managed to put tremendous pressure on the rim at BYU and had a 33.5% usage rate that resided in the 100th percentile. 

Putting the ball in the basket clearly isn’t an issue for Dybantsa, although he’ll need to improve over the 28th-percentile 3-point rate and 34th-percentile efficiency he produced. 

The red flags come in other areas of the game like turnover suppression and defense. Dybantsa is more of a Kevin Durant-tier processor, meaning he could struggle to make the correct reads when sped up in the NBA. He also didn’t apply himself or disrupt nearly as many possessions on D as folks (including this writer) wanted. 

Having a viable table-setter like PG Trae Young and being alongside an All-Star big man in Anthony Davis means Dybantsa doesn’t have to be a fully realized product right now. With that said, a lot of eyes will be on the Washington Wizards, so making an early impact would turn heads.

AJ Dybantsa Rookie of the Year Payouts: 5.55x yes | 1.12x No

5. Yaxel Lendeborg (F, Golden State Warriors)

An older rookie, Yaxel Lendeborg is already 24 before he’s even played a single regular-season game at the NBA level. That’d deter plenty of teams from being high about his room for growth, but the Golden State Warriors need real players right now.

That’s precisely what the former Michigan championship-winning man looks to be based on his profile and recent performances.

The forward’s 15.1 BPM trailed only Boozer in 2025-26, and he produced excellent marks for offensive rating (137.5), true shooting clip (64.7%), and turnover rate (9.5%), underscoring his thoroughness on that side. Defensively, Lendeborg’s impact was shown by way of efficient movement and a solid share of stops. His feel for the game is stellar. 

Lendeborg parlayed his collegiate success into a stellar preseason stint, canning 43.8% of his shots from deep and being a connector to the tune of 7.4 RPG and 4.0 APG. He also averaged a pair of stocks (steals and blocks) across his five games. 

F Jimmy Butler isn’t ready to start the season due to his ongoing recovery from a torn ACL. Lendeborg figures to get significant run early and often — winning games while doing so could get his name squarely on the radar. 

Yaxel Lendeborg Rookie of the Year Payouts: 5.55x Yes | 1.11x No

Honorable Mention: Darius Acuff Jr. (PG, Sacramento Kings)

Let’s get this out of the way: Darius Acuff Jr.’s team might finish with the worst record in the NBA. The Sacramento Kings won’t get much national attention for whatever success they accumulate, especially with F Ben Simmons’ comeback bid cut short by a torn Achilles.

Still, there are many reasons to believe the former Arkansas floor general can produce several highlights and go off on numerous occasions over the course of his debut campaign.

Despite being 6-foot-2, Acuff has a 6-foot-7 wingspan and has some room to add muscle to his frame. He does plenty right as a ball handler, including getting to the basket (91st percentile), firing off midrange jumpers (75th percentile), and setting up his teammates (81st percentile assist rate). It’s some horrific defense that holds Acuff’s overall impact back and could hurt him in the NBA.

Acuff finished the preseason ranking 15th among all players in scoring at 17.3 PPG, also flashing his range with a 42.1% clip on 4.8 3-pointers each game. There’s little denying the opportunity that’s ahead of him pertaining to scoring volume in year one.

The former Razorback has his work cut out for him and has a glaring red flag, but he deserves note here. 

Darius Acuff Jr. Rookie of the Year Payouts: 7.69x Yes | 1.06x No

Make 2026 NBA Picks on PrizePicks

The 2026 NBA Draft class certainly brought plenty of hype, but only time will tell whether that buzz is justified over the course of this season. With games ramping back up, we’ll get plenty of early looks at which first-year players could compete for one of hoops’ most prestigious awards.

Don’t wait — make your NBA Rookie of the Year picks on PrizePicks now and earn real money if you’re right.

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