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Kentucky Basketball: 2018 NBA Rookie of The Year odds and projections

By Frank Spencer

Jun 22, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; De'Aaron Fox (Kentucky) shows off the inside of his suit after being introduced as the number five overall pick to the Sacramento Kings in the first round of the 2017 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 22, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; De'Aaron Fox (Kentucky) shows off the inside of his suit after being introduced as the number five overall pick to the Sacramento Kings in the first round of the 2017 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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The NBA is a tough place to make a living. When it comes to the opening rookie of the year odds, a couple of Kentucky Basketball stars are near the top of the list.

The odds are out for the way too early predictions for the 2017-18 NBA Rookie of the year award. A couple of Kentucky Basketball stars find themselves near the top of the list.

A lot of new talent will be entering the NBA this season. Lonzo Ball, Markelle Fultz and De’Aaron Fox lead the way as the top three point guards entering the league. Other stars such as Josh Jackson and Jayson Tatum are also in the hunt with their new respective teams.

A name that many people would forget about is Ben Simmons. Although Simmons has been in the league for a year, he has yet to play in a game for the Philadelphia 76ers.

Rookie of the Year?

As you can see from the tweet above, De’Aaron Fox is the Kentucky Basketball alumnus with the best odds to win the Rookie of the Year award. It doesn’t seem too farfetched to think that Fox, entering his first season in Sacramento, could bring home the award. Lonzo Ball leads the way at 5/2 odds because he will have a great supporting staff and more of the spotlight in Los Angeles.

I cannot see Markelle Fultz leading the way as the player from Philadelphia who has the best chance of winning the award is Ben Simmons. Kentucky Basketball fans know Simmons all too well. The former LSU star defeated Kentucky on two separate occasions in his single season as the Tigers go-to player. The two 76ers stars may hurt each other in the rookie of the year voting.

Next: Building Kentucky's perfect 2018 recruiting class

Malik Monk is quietly coming into the conversation at 16/1 odds. Monk has a great opportunity to do some damage in the Rookie of the Year voting. For one, he doesn’t have the pressure of being the go-to guy on his team. He can relax, sit out on the three point line and knock down shots for his team. By playing with a guard heavy Charlotte Hornets squad, Malik can best exhibit his skills. The other major candidates will be the focus of their team. If they don’t perform, their team will not win. That’s a lot of pressure on a rookie.

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