(Photo Credit: Charlotte Observer)
It happened - again! For the third time in a week, the betting market for the #2 Overall Pick in the 2023 NBA Draft has been turned upside down. Scoot Henderson is again the favorite – for now!
To recap:
G-League Ignite Guard, Scoot Henderson was the clear favorite to be the second overall pick for the majority of the most recent NBA and college basketball seasons. As of March 29th, as the NCAA tournament was ending, FanDuel Sportsbook had Henderson as a -350 favorite to go second, with Brandon Miller at +300.
Fast forward to today, draft day, and despite the fluctuations, the odds interestingly are not too far removed from where they were back in March.
In the intervening period, there was a mid-April surge for Miller to be the favorite up until the draft lottery (Miller reached -200 here). Henderson regained a slight edge after the players' first visit with the Hornets earlier this month (Henderson reached as high as -260 on Monday). This seemed to affirm reports suggesting Henderson's NBA readiness, reputed chemistry with LaMelo Ball & area legend Steph Curry, and a solid performance in the G-League, which had made him the frontrunner for the Hornets' No. 2 pick. Then, earlier this week, Miller took a surge of bets after the second visit on Monday went well for the Alabama Forward.
As of Wednesday morning, Brandon Miller had emerged as the betting favorite with odds at -400, superseding Scoot Henderson, after the Hornets had Miller & Henderson return for a second workout, implying that the market had reacted to positive media reports about Miller's performance and subsequent conversation with Michael Jordan.
But in the final hours before the draft, the tables have turned again: From Wednesday night through draft day morning, money has come in on Henderson who now stands as a -360 favorite to be the second overall pick based on a consensus from Pregame.com at 2 PM Eastern on draft day. Miller is now relegated to +220 to go second.
This turmoil resembles the intense rivalry between Henderson and Miller that had emerged before the draft. The dramatic shifts in their betting odds echo the volatility of the pre-draft speculation and resemble similar ups and downs in the odds for the #1 Overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft between Duke's Paolo Banchero and Jabari Smith Jr.
The excitement surrounding the No. 2 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft is palpable. The final decision will answer whether the Hornets will lean towards Miller's versatility and defensive capabilities or Henderson's dynamism and existing rapport with LaMelo Ball. As betting lines fluctuate, the anticipation continues to build!
Related: The Great Debate: Scoot Henderson Reclaims Status As Favorite Over Brandon Miller to go No. 2 After Victor Wembanyama in 2023 NBA Draft, Victor Wembanyama Favored Over the Field to Win NBA ROY, Once-in-a-lifetime prospect, Victor Wembayama Is Going to the San Antonio Spurs
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