Gambling
2024 NBA Draft odds: French star Alexandre Sarr projected to go No. 1
The NBA Draft is a little more than a month away and we have a clear expectation of the No. 1 pick.
French big man Alexandre Sarr (-280, FanDuel) is the consensus favorite to go at the top of the draft as we start counting down the days to June 27.
Experts across the board are down on this class, which should only add intrigue as to which prospect will be selected at the top.
There’s still plenty of time for the odds to shift as information begins to leak about who the Hawks believe is the top player in this year’s draft.
Here’s a look at where we stand, according to oddsmakers at FanDuel Sportsbook.
NBA Draft odds: No. 1 overall pick |
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Alexandre Sarr -280 |
Zaccharie Risacher +410 |
Donovan Clingan +1100 |
Robert Dillingham 35/1 |
Reed Sheppard 40/1 |
Matas Buzelis 50/1 |
Nikola Topic 50/1 |
Stephon Castle 50/1 |
Bronny James 150/1 |
Zach Edey 150/1 |
The Hawks won the No. 1 pick thanks to some luck in the lottery, where they were expected to have the 10th pick.
Now they are faced with the prospect of adding a long, athletic wing like Sarr to pair with guards Trae Young and Dejounte Murray.
Trade rumors around the franchise are swirling, though, so there’s a shot that their roster will look much different—with or without Sarr—come the fall.
Sitting behind Sarr is Zaccharie Risacher, another French product.
Risacher is more of a mystery to draft experts — The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor has him at No. 7 in his mock draft, while Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Wasserman has him going second overall.
Donovan Clingan, the former UConn center and two-time national champion, is lurking after Sarr and Risacher at +1100 odds.
Clingan has rocketed up draft boards since his dominant title run and should slot in as a plus interior defender for whichever team uses decides to bring him in.
Betting on the NBA?
Nothing highlights the lack of star power in this draft more than the two names at the bottom of this odds board: Bronny James and Zach Edey, who are both 150/1 to go No. 1.
The pair are perhaps the most recognizable in this draft despite being much lesser talents than the likes of Sarr, Risacher and Clingan.
James, in particular, is generating a ton of interest from BetMGM Sportsbook gamblers, garnering 22.5 percent of bets to go first overall, which is tied with Sarr for the most in the field, despite being widely projected to go in the second round — potentially to the Lakers with the 55th pick.