Despite the NBA season being over, basketball enthusiasts can still place bets on their beloved teams this week. On Thursday night, the 2021 NBA draft will be held, and West Virginia sportsbooks offer a wide range of betting options for fans.
Similar to the NFL draft, individuals interested in betting can also place bets on the NBA draft. The upcoming NBA draft is scheduled to commence at 8 p.m. EST on July 29.
There are numerous options available for betting on the event at WV online sportsbooks.
This year, the first overall pick in the draft is not expected to be much of a surprise, although it is typically the most popular market.
Cade Cunningham from Oklahoma State is the unanimous favorite pick for the Detroit Pistons. WVU Mountaineer basketball fans will surely remember how Cunningham’s remarkable performance of 17 points and eight rebounds led to their team’s elimination from the Big 12 tournament.
He is listed at approximately -7000 to be selected as the first overall pick, although the odds may differ among WV sportsbooks.
However, the real excitement begins after the top selection. This year’s class boasts numerous talented players, ensuring a surplus of potential trades.
Some teams aim to secure top-tier talent by moving up, while others strive to gain additional draft picks by moving back.
We will analyze the odds for the 2021 NBA draft and explore how Thursday night’s events might unfold.
2021 NBA Draft Odds At WV Sportsbooks
If you hold the belief that Cunningham will not be the first to hear his name, you have the opportunity to take advantage of favorable odds for the other players.
Jalen Green, hailing from the NBA’s G League, holds the second-highest chance of success according to DraftKings Sportsbook WV. He can be obtained at a favorable rate of +1500.
There are only two other players listed on the online sportsbook whose odds are worth considering for the top spot.
Both Evan Mobley from USC and Jalen Suggs from Gonzaga share the same odds of +2500 for being selected as the first overall pick.
Additionally, these players are also available for the second and third picks.
At -400, Green is the undeniable frontrunner, followed by Mobley at +350 and Suggs at +800 odds.
If those results remain consistent, Mobley is expected to be selected as the third choice in the draft. According to DraftKings, Mobley’s odds are -245, Green’s odds are +275, and Suggs’ odds are +350.
While mock drafts naturally vary, the consensus among many is that these four players are likely to be selected within the first few picks on Thursday.
The betting odds become highly intriguing for the fifth selection. With trades being more frequent than in the NFL, numerous players have the potential to be chosen at this spot.
While Scottie Barnes of Florida State may be favored at -230, there are plenty of other opportunities to find value.
The odds displayed on FanDuel Sportsbook WV indicate the potential players who could be selected as the fifth overall pick.
- James Bouknight +320
- Suggs +380
- Jonathan Kuminga +400
- Green +2300
- Mobley +2300
- Moses Moody +2900
- Keon Johnson +2900
- Alperen Sengun +3400
- Josh Giddey +3400
- Franz Wagner +3400
WVU Basketball In The NBA Draft
Although no player from WVU is expected to be drafted in the lottery, Miles McBride is highly likely to deliver significant contributions in the next stage of his career.
At the start of the month, the ex-Mountaineer solidified his position, whereas Sean McNeil made the decision to extend his stay in Morgantown for another season.
After assuming a leadership role in the team during the previous campaign, McBride has set his sights on joining the NBA. Demonstrating exceptional performance, he emerged as the top scorer and assists provider for WVU, averaging almost 16 points and five assists per game last year.
McBride is offered in various markets at DraftKings.
He is expected to be drafted at the 29.5 position for Thursday night. You have the option to bet the under at -135 or the over at +100.
Even though it may appear unconventional, placing a bet on the under in this market indicates that McBride will be selected among the first 29 picks.
It is challenging to predict his potential landing spot on draft night due to the numerous trades that usually occur. Currently, the Phoenix Suns hold the 29th pick, while the Utah Jazz are positioned at No. 30.
McBride has the potential to join a competent team if he goes later in the opening round, which is one of the benefits.
McBride’s odds to win the Rookie of the Year, as per DraftKings, stand at +6000. This has the potential to have a significant impact on his rookie season and future prospects.
Predicting the performance of college players in the professional league is always challenging, but McBride possesses the necessary skills to succeed in the NBA. He demonstrates the ability to generate scoring opportunities for both himself and his teammates, which typically translates effectively at the higher level.
2021 NBA Draft Props
Besides determining the initial draft picks, many sportsbooks are also providing additional proposition bets.
At present, DraftKings offers over 50 players in its Player Draft Position market. This enables you to place bets on the over/under for each player’s projected draft spot according to the online sportsbook.
Baylor’s Davion Mitchell, a player expected to be selected in the first round, has been set at pick 12.5. The odds for him being chosen before pick 12.5 are -125, while the odds for him being chosen after pick 12.5 are -105.
Greg Brown, a player from Texas, is expected to be selected much later in the draft. Currently, the odds for his draft position at pick 45.5 are set at -115 for both the over and under.
Bettors have the option to place bets on head-to-head matchups determining the first player to be drafted.
According to the online sportsbook, Stanford’s Ziaire Williams (-130) is considered the frontrunner, albeit by a small margin, over Kentucky’s Isaiah Jackson (+100).
Taking Duke forward Jalen Johnson (-125) over the Longhorns’ Kai Jones (-105) is another viable option.
Another popular prop bet available at WV sportsbooks is predicting the exact order of the first three or four picks.
The preferred option is to group Cunningham, Green, and Mobley together, but a small adjustment including an underdog could result in a lucrative payout.