We’re into the second half of the 2022-23 NBA regular season, but for college basketball fanatics or antsy fans of up-and-coming NBA prospects, the NBA draft odds can always provide a kick of hope and excitement.
For the upcoming 2023 NBA Draft, there’s a consensus No. 1 pick, which is reflected in the heavily chalked odds. Victor Wembanyama, a seven-foot-two French basketball phenom, is widely expected to be the first overall pick and is a massive minus-money favorite in the NBA draft odds.
Wembanyama’s odds to be drafted first overall are at -4000 (up from -700 when the season began), which our odds calculator equates to an implied probability of 87.50 percent. If you were to place $100 on that bet, your payout would be $102.50.
If you’re new to betting on basketball or NBA props, don’t sweat it. Check out our How to Bet on Basketball Guide, NBA futures page or NBA championship odds.
2023 NBA Draft Odds: First Overall
| Player | Odds |
|---|---|
| Victor Wembanyama | -4000 |
| Scoot Henderson | +1600 |
| Amen Thompson | +10000 |
| Nick Smith Jr. | +10000 |
| Cam Whitmore | +15000 |
| Dariq Whitehead | +15000 |
| Ausar Thompson | +15000 |
| Gregory Jackson | +15000 |
Odds as of January 25
Who Is Victor Wembanyama And Why Is He Favored In The NBA Draft Odds?
Wembanyama is a rare talent. The 18-year-old of Congolese descent was born in France and took quickly to basketball. As he dominated the amateur French basketball scene, he began to attract international acclaim.
In June, Wembanyama’s French pro basketball club played an exhibition game on United States soil, where the big man dominated, posting 37 points, recording five blocks and shooting 7-for-11 from three-point range.
The NBA wants its teams to not tank for Victor Wembanyama but will stream all his games on league pass. Sure that’ll help.
— PBA insider 🏀 (@PBAinsider) October 28, 2022
pic.twitter.com/HUgb1ciwbe
The praise from the NBA world quickly rushed in. During this year’s Summer League, LeBron James complimented Wembanyama’s unique skill set, calling him an “alien” in terms of his talent on the court.
“I’ve never seen – no one’s ever seen – anyone as tall as he is, but as fluid and as graceful as he is on the floor,” said James.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski called Wembanyama “the singular greatest prospect in NBA history.”
This kid is very, very special, and as the current NBA season winds to its conclusion, it’ll be interesting to see how/if teams tank for a chance at Wembanyama’s services.
2023 NBA Draft Odds: The Odds For Second Overall
| Player | Odds |
|---|---|
| Scoot Henderson | -1500 |
| Victor Wembanyama | +1500 |
| Amen Thompson | +2500 |
| Nick Smith Jr. | +2500 |
| Cam Whitmore | +2500 |
| Brandon Miller | +2500 |
Odds as of January 25
In a normal year, without a player of Wembanyama’s nature ahead of him, Henderson would be an easy pick to lead the 2023 NBA Draft class. The 6-2 point guard is a pure scorer, known for his explosiveness, vertical jumping ability and knack for cutting to the rim with force. He’s a fierce offensive finisher and operates best with the ball in his hands. His pro comparables are Russell Westbrook and Derrick Rose.
Henderson, who’s currently playing for the NBA G League Ignite, is a shoo-in for second overall.
2023 NBA Draft Odds: The Odds For Third Overall
| Player | Odds |
|---|---|
| Amen Thompson | -150 |
| Brandon Miller | +400 |
| Scoot Henderson | +650 |
| Nick Smith Jr. | +800 |
| Victor Wembanyama | +2500 |
| Cam Whitmore | +2500 |
Odds as of January 25
The third pick introduces some parity to the NBA draft odds. Amen Thompson, an explosive combo guard, is the chalk right now, but he’s certainly no guarantee to get picked in the top three.
It’s unlikely Henderson (+650) falls to third overall, meaning Brandon Miller (+400) and Nick Smith Jr. (+800) offer the best value on the board. If I had to pick, my money is on Miller. The Alabama forward is on fire this season, shooting 46 percent from the floor while averaging 3.3 threes made per game and 19.8 PPG. The 20-year-old is wickedly talented, and his draft stock will rise as we inch closer to draft day.
2023 NBA Draft Odds: Player OVER/UNDERs
Sportsbooks are offering markets on the draft position of specific players. Let’s take a look and make some picks.
Amen Thompson
| Position | Odds |
|---|---|
| OVER 3.5 | +160 |
| UNDER 3.5 | -230 |
Odds as of January 25
This is an easy bet on the OVER at +160. Thompson is good, but as we discussed earlier, he’s in no way a lock to get picked third overall. First off, Miller and Smith are arguably better. On top of that, with Wembanyama and Henderson locked in for No. 1 and 2, respectively, that leaves just one slot for Thompson or someone else at 3. The implied probability doesn’t match the actual probability on this one.
Ausar Thompson
| Position | Odds |
|---|---|
| OVER 5.5 | -120 |
| UNDER 5.5 | -120 |
Odds as of January 25
The market for Ausar Thompson, Amen’s twin brother, is harder to predict. Most mock drafts have Ausar around the fifth or sixth spot in the 2023 NBA Draft odds. Naturally, his OVER/UNDER sits at 5.5 with pick’em odds.
Like his brother, Ausar’s shooting abilities aren’t as polished as his other tools. He might never be a guy who shoots well from deep, but his jump shot will be a work in progress as we get closer to draft day. All to say, I like the OVER 5.5 draft position for Ausar, though I’d avoid this market entirely.
Cam Whitmore
| Position | Odds |
|---|---|
| OVER 7.5 | -120 |
| UNDER 7.5 | -120 |
Odds as of January 25
The Villanova product is a powerful forward, capable of snapping off fierce jams at the rim, and has the energy to succeed at the NBA level. His size and strength are already NBA-ready, too.
I’m taking the UNDER 7.5 on Whitmore’s draft position. There aren’t many forwards who could go above him, plus his raw tools are very tough to deny.
How To Understand 1st Overall Pick NBA Odds
You’ll see odds for this prop bet displayed like this:
- Victor Wembanyama -700
- Scoot Henderson +350
- Nick Smith +1000
In this case, there is a clear favorite like betting on a moneyline or spread bet. If there isn’t an option with a minus sign (-) beside them, then the player with the lowest odds is the fave. The rest are considered underdogs.
If you think Scoot Henderson will be selected first overall in the 2023 NBA Draft and you bet $100 on him, you’d get a payout of $450 – you get your $100 back along with your winnings of $350.
Our Odds Calculator will show you how much you’d win based on the odds and amount bet.
What Is A Prop Bet On The NBA Draft?
A prop is a wager on the occurrence or non-occurrence of specific team or player milestones that don’t always relate to the results of a particular game. In this case, the prop is a prospect’s chances of being picked first in the next NBA draft.
The betting lines will move as players show what they can do on the court. If you see odds you like, we suggest taking them sooner rather than later to get the maximum betting value should you win.
NBA Draft Odds FAQ
Who is the favorite to be picked first in the 2023 NBA Draft?
French phenom Victor Wembanyama is heavily favored (-4000) to be the first pick in the 2023 NBA Draft.
When is the 2023 NBA Draft?
The 2023 NBA Draft is set for June 23. The draft order will be determined during the 2022-23 NBA season.