2021 NBA Draft Odds & Lottery Odds

May 9, 2021

by VI News
VegasInsider.com

2021 NBA Draft No. 1 Pick Odds

Odds Provided by BetMGM - Subject to Change

2021 NBA Draft No. 1 Pick Contenders

• Cade Cunningham (Oklahoma State) -500
• Jalen Suggs (Gonzaga) +800
• Evan Mobley (USC) +800

Cade Cunningham of Oklahoma State is the top betting choice at BetMGM.

The 2021 NBA Draft is currently scheduled to take place on July 29th. (AP)

NBA Draft Order Process

• All 14 NBA teams that miss the NBA Playoffs are eligible for the NBA Draft Lottery
• NBA teams with the worst record receive more chances (ping-pong balls) at winning a top-four selection
• Picks 1 through 4 of the NBA Draft are determined by drawing of the ping pong balls
• After the order of the top four teams are in place, the remaining lottery teams will fill into picks 5 through 14 by their record
• The 16 teams that made the NBA Playoffs will fill out the order of the NBA Draft first round

While picks Nos. 15-30 are determined by record, the top 14 selections are subject to the lottery process. Teams that fail to make the playoffs all have an opportunity to secure a top-four pick. Under the new system that debuted in 2019, the three teams with the worst records have an equal chance (14 percent) to secure the top pick through 140 ping-pong ball combinations. The 14th-ranked team has just five, giving them a 0.5 percent chance.

NBA Draft History No. 1 Picks

Betting on the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA Draft doesn't always produce the greatest returns since the top prospect from the college and international ranks has been determined prior to the NBA Draft Lottery.

In 2019, Zion Williamson from Duke was considered a no-brainer to go No. 1 before the New Orleans Pelicans won the 2019 NBA Draft Lottery. Williamson closed as a -2500 favorite and bettors wagering $100 on the standout would've won 40-cents.

NBA No. 1 Draft History (Odds)

• 2020 - Anthony Edwards (-125)
• 2019 - Zion Williamson (-2500)
• 2018 - Deandre Ayton (-2500)
• 2017 - Markelle Fultz (-750)
• 2016 - Ben Simmons (-650)
• 2015 - Karl-Anthony Towns (-200)
• 2014 - Andrew Wiggins (-250)
• 2013 - Anthony Bennett (+500)