Basketball Betting News: 2011-12 NBA Rookie of the Year Odds

With the 2011 NBA Draft in the books, the race will soon get underway to determine which rookie will shine the most in the 2011-12 campaign. Without a clear frontrunner, several players are viable candidates to win the voting for the 2011-12 rookie honors. Here's a look at how things stack up after the draft: Williams installed as early favorite Despite not being the top overall choice in the draft, Derrick Williams of the Minnesota Timberwolves is a +350 favorite to win the 2011-12 NBA Rookie of the Year Award. The forward out of Arizona was the second overall pick in last Thursday's draft. With a frontcourt that already features Kevin Love, Michael Beasley and Wesley Johnson, it might take a little while for Williams to put up some huge numbers with the Timberwolves. Since the rookie honors were first awarded in 1952-53, 13 pure forwards have won the award. Blake Griffin (2010-11) and Kevin Durant (2007-08) are the most recent forwards to have won the honor. As the top overall choice by the Cleveland Cavaliers, guard Kyrie Irving (+500) will try to aid a squad that stumbled badly after the departure of LeBron James. After appearing in just 11 collegiate games for the Duke Blue Devils, Irving should get a solid opportunity to play some significant minutes with the rebuilding Cavs this season. Over the years, 18 pure guards have won the NBA Rookie of the Year voting. Guards have won the honors in four of the last six years. After being one of the most hyped players in college basketball last season, Jimmer Fredette (+500) of the Sacramento Kings is another guard to watch in 2011-12. He was dealt to the Kings after being selected by the Milwaukee Bucks with the tenth choice in the draft. While Fredette led the nation in scoring at BYU, he will have to share the basketball more in a Sacramento backcourt that is paced by Tyreke Evans (2009-10 NBA Rookie of the Year). As the third overall choice in the draft by the Utah Jazz,?  Entes Kanter (+500) is the leading rookie candidate at the center position. While seven pure centers have come away with the rookie honors, it has been nearly two decades since the position has produced an award winner. Shaquille O' Neal (1992-93) was the last pure center to capture the rookie award.