2021 NBA Rookie of the Year odds: LaMelo Ball, Hornets' No. 3 overall pick in 2020 draft, now lapping field as clear betting favorite

The Charlotte NBA franchise – remember, it was called Bobcats for a while – has had two NBA Rookie of the Year winners: Larry Johnson in the 1991-92 season and Emeka Okafor in 2004-05; the Hornets' team owner, a guy named Michael Jordan, also won it in 1984-85 with the Bulls. Barring injury, it sure looks like guard LaMelo Ball will become the third player in franchise history to take home top rookie honors as he's now the clear-cut -300 moneyline favorite at William Hill Sportsbook following a huge game Monday. Ball was priced as high as +650 early in the season. 

At 12-13 (14-10-1 against the spread), the Hornets have been much better than expected considering they were given a season Over/Under win total of 25.5 for the 72-game slate. Ball, the No. 3 overall pick who didn't play a second of college basketball, has been a big reason why.

In Monday's 119-94 rout of Houston, Ball became the youngest player in NBA history to make seven three-pointers and finished with 24 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds. He's now the third player age 19 or younger in NBA history with multiple games of 20 points, 10 rebounds and five assists, joining LeBron James and Luka Doncic. Both those guys won NBA Rookie of the Year. Ball was the third rookie to have a game of at least seven made three-pointers and 10 assists, joining Steph Curry and Jason Kidd (won ROY).

Ball, who will be 20 in August, is averaging 14.2 points (first among rookies), 6.2 assists (first) and 5.9 rebounds (second) per game.  The only other rookies to average those marks or better are Ben Simmons, Michael Carter-Williams, Magic Johnson and Oscar Robertson. Simmons, Carter-Williams and Robertson won Rookie of the Year, but Magic finished a distant second to Larry Bird in the 1979-80 campaign.

Minnesota chose Anthony Edwards No. 1 overall in the draft and he's +1100 on this prop.  Golden State took James Wiseman at No. 2, and he was the favorite early in the season but is now +800 and out injured. Sacramento guard Tyrese Haliburton, chosen 12th, is the +425 second favorite at William Hill.

Ball and the Hornets visit Memphis and reigning NBA Rookie of the Year Ja Morant on Wednesday in what should be a very intriguing individual matchup. Charlotte lost 108-93 at home to the Grizzlies on New Year's Day when Morant was out injured (and Ball was coming off the bench), so Wednesday will their lone meeting of the season.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times, and it returned over $5,000 in profit on its top-rated NBA picks last season. The model is also up more than $8,300 on top-rated NBA picks over the past two-plus seasons. Dating back to last season, it enters Week 8 of the 2020-21 NBA schedule on a stunning 79-46 roll on top-rated NBA picks against the spread. Anybody who has followed it has seen HUGE returns.