2024 NBA Draft Odds: Risacher, Sarr Could Continue French Revolution as No. 1 Pick

Last year's NBA Draft was a memorable one, not only for the overall deep class headlined by goliath Victor Wembanyama, but the ridiculous flip-flopping of the No. 2 pick's market in the hours leading up to the Draft.

The 2024 Draft will have big shoes to fill in more ways than one, and despite what's viewed by scouts as a highly-uncertain and relatively weak class, sportsbooks are posting NBA odds for bettors to sink their teeth into ahead of the now-two-night draft on June 26 and 27. 

As these prospects prepare for combines and workouts, let's dip into this NBA futures market and check out the 2024 NBA Draft odds.

2024 NBA Draft: Odds to be first overall pick

Odds as of April 4, 2024.

Favorite to be picked first overall in the 2024 NBA Draft

The eye on who's next hasn't shifted away from France after Wembanyama and Bilal Coulibaly's rookie campaigns, with books slotting forward Zaccharie Risacher as the odds-on favorite to go No. 1. The rangy combo-forward is a versatile building block with a solid jumper, and at barely 19 has plenty of raw upside. 

Trailing him closely is another Frenchman, Alex Sarr of the NBL's Perth Wildcats. A high-motor defensive dynamo with a 7'4" wingspan, Sarr is also a capable passer and ball-handler for a player his size, and could conceivably play either "big man" spot in a variety of lineups. 

The top NCAA prospect on this odds board is Colorado's Cody Williams; younger brother of the Thunder's Jalen, and himself an intriguing prospect. Williams is a dynamic athlete with size and a rounded skill set; he could be plugged into numerous roles at the pro level. 

While the top of last year's draft seemed fairly iron-clad (Victor Wembanyama was clearly going first, and some permutation of Wemby-Brandon Miller-Scoot Henderson was a mortal lock for the Top 3), there seems to be very little consensus to this year's lottery. 

The rankings of top scouting sites like nbadraft.net and The Ringer show few similarities, and true to form, these odds also seem to disagree. More uniform thought will likely emerge after the combine, and teams start to get a look at these players close-up. But for now, there's nothing resembling a consensus, which is perhaps why many major books have been hesitant to post this market, which is typically live by mid-March. 

Which team will select Bronny James in the 2024 NBA Draft?

Bronny James is sure to be a hot target for teams hoping to either lure his father away from the Lakers, or command a healthy return in a trade as Bron Sr. possibly angles to play the twilight of his career with his son. 

With Bronny declaring for the Draft on Friday, books re-launched a market that had been dormant for a few months — which team will draft Bronny — with more surely on the way.

Stay tuned for more updates as draft night approaches!

Team
Los Angeles Lakers	+450
Philadelphia 76ers	+900
New York Knicks	+900
Oklahoma City Thunder	+1,000
Cleveland Cavaliers	+1,000
Los Angeles Clippers	+1,500
Atlanta Hawks	+1,600
Miami Heat	+1,600
San Antonio Spurs	+2,000
Milwaukee Bucks	+2,000

Odds as of April 5, 2024.

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Understanding NBA Draft betting

Most sportsbooks will display odds in the American format as listed above. When Victor Wembanyama opened as the heavy favorite to go first overall in the 2023 NBA Draft, his odds had a minus (-) sign ahead of the number. 

• Victor Wembanyama -3,000

This meant that a bettor needed to wager $3,000 to win $100 by betting on Wemby. Everyone else in that field had plus (+) odds to be first.

• Brandon Miller +1,000

Alabama's Brandon Miller had the second-best odds at +1,000. A bettor would stand to profit $1,000 for every $100 wagered on Miller. 

If American odds aren't your thing, simply use a tool like our odds converter to switch the odds to decimal or fractional format. Most online sportsbooks also give you the option to change the odds format that you see.

What is the NBA Draft?

The NBA Draft is an annual event conducted by the National Basketball Association to select new players for its 30 teams. It serves as a mechanism for distributing talent among the clubs and ensuring competitive balance in the league. The draft allows teams with poorer records from the previous season to have a higher chance of selecting top-rated players, while teams with better records receive lower picks.

The NBA Draft has a rich history that dates back to the early years of the league. The inaugural NBA Draft took place in 1947, although it was known as the BAA (Basketball Association of America) Draft at the time. The BAA and the National Basketball League (NBL) merged in 1949 to form the NBA, and since then, the league has continued to conduct its annual player draft.

In the early years, the draft process was much less formalized compared to today. Teams would often discover and sign players directly without going through a structured selection process. However, as the league grew in popularity and the number of teams increased, a more organized approach became necessary.

Over the years, the NBA has made several changes to the draft format to ensure fairness and promote parity. In 1966, the NBA introduced the coin flip system, where the two worst teams in each division would compete in a coin flip to determine who would receive the top pick. This system was later replaced by a lottery system in 1985 to deter teams from intentionally losing games to secure better draft positions. The lottery system provides higher chances of obtaining a higher pick for teams with poorer records.

There have been many memorable Draft classes throughout the years. In 1984, the class featured future superstars such as Michael Jordan, Hakeem Olajuwon, and Charles Barkley. The 1996 draft produced an extraordinary group of players including Allen Iverson, Kobe Bryant, Ray Allen, and Steve Nash, among others. 2003's Draft also stands out historically, birthing the careers of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony, and Chris Bosh, among others.

In recent years, the NBA Draft has become a highly anticipated event, attracting significant media coverage and fan interest. Draft prospects are scouted extensively, and their performances in college basketball, international leagues, or the G-League can greatly impact their draft stock. The draft provides an opportunity for teams to add young, promising talent to their rosters and potentially reshape the future of their franchises.

NBA Draft betting trends

Here are some recent trends you'll want to keep in mind when betting on NBA Draft odds:

• Positions have been reasonably well-distributed among the No. 1 picks. Over the past 20 NBA Drafts, seven have been forwards, seven guards, and six centers.
  
  
• "One-and-done" college freshmen make up the overwhelming majority of recent top picks, being selected No. 1 in 16 of the past 18 seasons since high schoolers were ruled ineligible.
  
  
• Among NCAA schools, Duke leads the all-time count with five No. 1 overall picks, including Paolo Banchero in 2022.

How to watch the NBA Draft

The 2024 NBA Draft will be shown in its entirety on ESPN. For the first time, the draft will span two nights, with the first round on June 26, followed by the second on June 27.

History of first overall NBA Draft picks

Wembanyama's 2023 selection with the No. 1 pick marked just the second time since 2005 that an international player was taken first overall (Andrea Bargnani, 2006). 

NBA Draft Odds FAQ

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