Six Former ACC Players Listed as Contenders for Major NBA Awards

The ACC is one of college basketball’s premier conferences with a long history of putting top-flight players into the league. There are many current superstar talents who have played at the iconic schools that are a part of the ACC.

Some of these current players are currently contending for awards, with sportsbooks listing their odds this late in the season. If a betting site has your odds listed nearly 70 games into the NBA season, that means there is a real possibility. So, let’s look at some of the former ACC college hoopers currently contending for major NBA awards.

Malik Beasley (+250 6MOY)

ACC fans may remember Malik Beasley from his one-and-done season for Florida State, where he averaged more than 15 points per game as a freshman. He has turned into a true sniper in the NBA and is authoring arguably his best season for the Detroit Pistons. Beasley has bounced around the league, but he seems to have found an ideal role as a high-quality shooter off the bench for a Pistons team that badly needed spacing. Beasley is averaging more than 16 points per game. He is currently the second-favorite for the Sixth Man of the Year award, behind just Payton Pritchard. If he continues his hot shooting and gets the Pistons into the playoffs, which seems extremely likely, he could be a smart bet to take home the hardware.

Jayson Tatum (+50000 MVP)

While the odds are currently heavily stacked against Jayson Tatum earning his first MVP award, do not be deceived. This former Duke hooper actually has the third-highest odds of anyone on betting apps for the MVP award. Tatum is having a typical season by his standards. He is dominating competition as a high-level, silky scorer, efficient passer, and quality defender. His team is, once again, one of the best in the NBA. The Celtics are the current second-seed in the Eastern Conference, and Tatum remains the engine that makes everything run. He was a star for the Blue Devils and has been even better in the NBA.

De’Andre Hunter (+1100 6MOY)

D’Andre Hunter had a legendary career for the Virginia Cavaliers in the ACC. He was injured before the tournament where the Cavaliers lost to a 16th seed and returned the next year to lead Virginia to victory in March Madness. He was then selected in the top five of the NBA. While he has been consistently solid throughout his career, he has taken his game to the next level since he started coming off the bench. He is now a real contender for the Sixth Man of the Year Award. The odds show that he is a bit of a longshot, but Hunter has been incredible. He's averaging more than 17 points per game and playing quality defence.

Ty Jerome (+3000 6MOY)

Ty Jerome is another player who won a national championship with Virginia in 2019. He followed a much less straightforward path to success, bouncing around the NBA and G-League. He has found a home in Cleveland, where he is shining off the bench. His sports betting odds are quite long to earn the Sixth Man of the Year award, but to even be in the conversation represents a massive step forward for Jerome. He is shooting the ball incredibly well and helping to drive the Cavaliers when one of their star guards is on the bench. He is also showcasing the familiar swagger ACC fans remember.

Kyle Filipowski (+15000 ROY)

Admittedly, the odds are quite long for Kyle Filipowski to win Rookie of the Year. But given the unsettled nature of the race at this point, sportsbooks have not taken his name off the list. Even that is a tremendous accomplishment for the former Duke Blue Devil. Filipowski was a monster in two years for the Blue Devils but slipped to the second round of the draft. The Utah Jazz snatched him up, and he has been getting regular minutes for the team. While he has hardly been dominant, this has been a weak year for rookies. Filpowski has shown much of the same skill that made him a quality player at Duke.

Paolo Banchero (+360000 ECMVP)

This one appears incredibly unlikely, but Banchero’s odds are still listed on betting sites for Eastern Conference MVP. The Magic will have to scratch and claw their way to the playoffs and have been navigating a ton of injuries. But if they make it there, Paolo Banchero will be a force to be reckoned with. The former Blue Devil has struggled at times this year, but he possesses skill and physicality that few in the league can match. He has had nights where he looks like an ascending top-five player, so if he can lead the Magic into the postseason, he may make these odds look foolish.