With the college basketball season over and the NBA's soon to follow, the hoops world's eyes are naturally turning to the 2022 NBA Draft.
NBA Draft odds are garnering more attention as the top NCAA (and G-League) prospects prepare for combines and workouts as they jockey for position on mock drafts and in the minds of NBA GMs.
We've got an updated look at the odds to go first overall in the 2022 NBA Draft, with a breakdown of the top candidates:
2022 NBA Draft: Odds to go first overall
| Player | Odds to go first overall |
|---|---|
| Jabari Smith Jr. | +100 |
| Chet Holmgren | +130 |
| Paolo Banchero | +350 |
| Jaden Ivey | +5,000 |
| Shaedon Sharpe | +7,500 |
| Keegan Murray | +20,000 |
| Bennedict Mathurin | +20,000 |
| A.J. Griffin | +20,000 |
| Johnny Davis | +30,000 |
| Jalen Duren | +30,000 |
Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook on May 5, 2022.
Favorites to be picked first overall in the 2022 NBA Draft
Jabari Smith Jr. (+100)
Despite Auburn's disappointing oustings from the SEC and NCAA Tournaments, Jabari Smith Jr. has tantalized scouts with his two-way potential as a rangy forward with great length, mobility, and skill. Smith exceeded his 16.9 points and 7.4 rebounds per game averages down the stretch, dropping 19.5 and 9.1 over Auburn's last nine.
With an NBA pedigree (his father was a 10-year veteran), an already-polished game, and a large palette of upside, Smith might bring the fewest questions of the top prospects.
Chet Holmgren (+130)
Holmgren's a lanky do-it-all 7-footer, who, while rail-thin by NBA standards, has a unique skill set on both sides of the ball. He can shoot and score off the dribble, while running the floor with ease and having great court vision for a player of his size. He's also very mobile on defense and has unreal shot-blocking instincts.
Holmgren poured in 14.2 points and 9.8 rebounds per game this season, with 3.4 blocks as a freshman. With some NBA conditioning, it's not difficult to see him becoming a game-changer at the next level.
Paolo Banchero (+350)
Banchero had the pressure of delivering for Duke in legendary coach Mike Krzyzewski's final season but has seemed up to the challenge, dropping 17 points and 7.7 rebounds on 48% shooting for a Blue Devils team that made it all the way to the Final Four.
An athletic, physical forward with an NBA-ready body, Banchero can be a three-level scoring threat for whichever team lucks into his services next season.
Jaden Ivey (+5,000)
Purdue sophomore Ivey is a get-buckets two-guard with explosive athleticism, a crafty handle, and a knack for death-defying takes to the hoop. Tenacious on defense, with long arms and quick reflexes, he projects as a strong NBA defender with the build to guard multiple wing positions.
Purdue, like so many before it, fell victim to the Saint Peter's Peacocks in March Madness, but the upset should have no ill effect on the draft stock of a highly-intriguing prospect.
Shaedon Sharpe (+7.500)
Sharpe has climbed many draft boards since the tournament after showing out as a freshman for early-ousted Kentucky.
A rangy swingman with deadly precision from distance and the length and athleticism to become a disruptive force in passing lanes and perimeter lockdowns, Sharpe has all the makings of this draft's token "3-and-D" prospect.
Sharpe is also a solid ball-handler and finisher who rose from relative obscurity in high school. He may be somewhat of a late bloomer skill-wise and could continue to fill out his set as he trains at the next level.
Understanding NBA Draft betting
Most sportsbooks will display odds in the American format as listed above. When Zion Williamson opened as the heavy favorite to go first overall in the 2019 NBA Draft, his odds had a minus (-) sign ahead of the number.
- Zion Williamson -2,000
This meant that a bettor needed to wager $2000 to win $100 by betting on Zion. Everyone else in that field had plus (+) odds to win.
- RJ Barrett +550
Williamson's teammate at Duke, RJ Barrett had the second-best odds at +550. A bettor would stand to profit $550 for every $100 wagered on Barrett.
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.
First overall NBA Draft picks since 2000
| Year | Player | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Kenyon Martin | PF |
| 2001 | Kwame Brown | C |
| 2002 | Yao Ming | C |
| 2003 | LeBron James | PG/F |
| 2004 | Dwight Howard | C |
| 2005 | Andrew Bogut | C |
| 2006 | Andrea Bargnani | F/C |
| 2007 | Greg Oden | C |
| 2008 | Derrick Rose | PG |
| 2009 | Blake Griffin | PF |
| 2010 | John Wall | PG |
| 2011 | Kyrie Irving | PG |
| 2012 | Anthony Davis | PF |
| 2013 | Anthony Bennett | PF |
| 2014 | Andrew Wiggins | G/F |
| 2015 | Karl-Anthony Towns | C |
| 2016 | Ben Simmons | PG/F |
| 2017 | Markelle Fultz | PG |
| 2018 | DeAndre Ayton | C |
| 2019 | Zion Williamson | PF |
| 2020 | Anthony Edwards | SG |
| 2021 | Cade Cunningham | PG |
NBA Draft Odds FAQ
Auburn forward Jabari Smith Jr. is the current favorite at +100.
Teams can either draft based on positional needs or take the "best player available" if their value is too great. Centers used to be coveted building blocks, but only two true centers have been drafted first overall since 2007.
Duke leads the all-time NCAA tally with four players taken first overall.
