Bronny James' underwhelming debut should serve as a reality check for overzealous Rookie of the Year bettors

Bronny James’ NBA debut Tuesday nighttime was special. But not for thing he did successful nan game.

James’ specified information made him and LeBron James nan first father-son duo to play successful an NBA crippled together. But erstwhile we moved past nan theatrics of nan 2 checking successful together successful nan 2nd quarter, and nan timepiece started rolling, Bronny did small to effect a triumph for nan Los Angeles Lakers.

In fact, his full clip connected nan tribunal lasted conscionable 3 minutes. He missed his only 2 changeable attempts, and nan only stat he recorded was a rebound. It was a sobering reality cheque for nan galore NBA bettors who put money connected James to triumph nan 2024-25 NBA Rookie of nan Year award.

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James’ 300-1 likelihood astatine BetMGM are nan longest of immoderate subordinate connected nan board. To opportunity he’s a long-shot is an understatement. Yet, he’s nan astir ticketed subordinate to triumph Rookie of nan Year astatine nan sportsbook, attracting 17.6% of bets going into Tuesday’s game. That makes him nan biggest liability successful nan awards marketplace astatine BetMGM.

“Bronny James winning rookie of nan twelvemonth is nan worst NBA awards consequence correct now,” BetMGM trading strategy head Halvor Egeland said.

Based connected what we saw against nan Minnesota Timberwolves, BetMGM won’t person to interest much. Or immoderate sportsbook for that matter. Forget astir playing well, James whitethorn not play overmuch astatine all.

There’s really a bully chance galore of nan Bronny James bettors cognize really unrealistic his chances are. James was BetMGM’s biggest liability successful nan No. 1 wide draught prime marketplace too, moreover arsenic he was ever apt to gaffe to nan 2nd round. However, ESPN reported that immoderate of those bets were placed by sharp bettors trying to fool sportsbooks.

They were dumbing down their bets successful an effort to person limits removed.

I’m not judge really good nan strategy worked, but possibly it proved to beryllium effective. That’s nan only mentation for why truthful galore group are betting connected James to triumph Rookie of nan Year.