Isaiah Evans 2026 NBA Draft Odds: Will He Go Pro or Return to Duke?

By Christopher Boan

Apr 17th, 2026 2:39 PM EDT

Duke guard Isaiah Evans improved his scoring average from 6.8 ppg the previous season to 15 ppg in the 2025-26 season. (Amber Searls-Imagn Images)

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The window for NCAA underclassmen to make up their minds about the committing for another year in college or heading to the NBA Draft closes May 27. So all eyes are on the nation’s top college stars, such as Duke sophomore guard Isaiah Evans.

With that in mind, in our continued college basketball betting analysis, Bookies.com broke down Isaiah Evans NBA draft odds on what he will do: Stay in the NBA Draft, return to Duke for a third season or transfer to a different school.

Isiah Evans at a Glance

Evans, who averaged 15 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game this year for the Blue Devils, has already made this decision once. He withdrew from the 2025 NBA Draft as a freshman and it paid off. He had a breakout sophomore season in 2025-26, more than doubling his scoring and evolving from a catch-and-shoot specialist into a true three-level scorer.

With the 2026 NBA Draft coming in the summer, the 6-foot-6 wing faces a far more consequential version of the same choice.

Isaiah Evans NBA Draft Odds: Why He Declares in 2026

Odds -115 (53.5% implied chance)

The most likely option for Evans is to turn pro. If this prop were offered at online sports betting sites, it would be the favorite.

The Tankathon website has Evans going 26th overall to the Los Angeles Lakers if he declares for the draft, while CBS Sports has him going 27th overall. That type of late-first round projection for a 3-and-D wing means that Evans can count on making between $2 million and $4 million as a rookie, with significantly more coming via a second NBA contract if he plays well.

His year-over-year jump from averaging 6.8 points per game as a bench player to 15 ppg as a starter for Jon Scheyer proves that his on-court evolution is real. Evans has expanded from being a pure catch-and-shoot guard/wing to a three-level scorer who can attack the rim and create shots in the mid-range.

His growth is why we’re giving Evans the best odds (-115, or 53.5%) of staying in the NBA Draft field. That would end his NCAA career after 74 games in Durham and pave the way for what could be a highly successful professional career.

Leading sports betting apps will have more 2026 NBA Draft props as the event gets closer.

Should Isaiah Evans Return to Duke? The Case for Coming Back

Odds +175 (36.4% implied chance)

The next most likely outcome for Evans this offseason is to return to Duke for a third season. The Blue Devils have an NIL budget reported to be between $8 million and $12 million.

After the program lost Cameron Boozer and Patrick Ngongba to the draft, Evans could come back as a clear No. 1 option and command a much better draft position in what’s considered a weak class in 2027.

Another solid season at Duke could push Evans into lottery consideration next year. If he is in the 2027 NBA Draft, and keeps improving, he could net an extra $10 million in guaranteed earnings in a projected No. 14 draft slot.

A potential model that Evans could follow is Yaxel Lendeborg of Michigan. Lendeborg returned to Ann Arbor after bypassing the draft as a late-round prospect and was named Big Ten Player of the Year. The 6-9 forward also won a national championship and pushed himself into a likely lottery pick in this year’s draft.

If Evans also wants an NCAA Tournament championship ring, next season should offer another chance. At DraftKings Sportsbook, Duke is second on the futures board to win the 2027 title at +850 odds, behind only the Wolverines (+700).

Lendeborg’s case shows that patience might be the best strategy for Evans, which is why we’re giving him real odds (+175, or 36.4%) of coming back to Duke for a junior season.

Isaiah Evans Transfer Portal Odds: Why Leaving Duke Makes No Sense

Odds +1800 (5.3% implied chance)

Finally, the most unlikely option for Evans is to return to college but to do so via the transfer portal, at +1800 (or 5.3%). Given Duke’s chance to be a preseason No. 1 team and the Blue Devils’ constant status as a bona fide national title contender each year, there’s no real upside for Evans to leave Durham via the portal.

Duke has an NIL war chest and a developmental pedigree that few others can match. Plus, Evans already has displayed loyalty by coming back to Durham this past season. We’re going to wager that he’s going to play for Scheyer if he’s in college basketball next season.

In our opinion, the only reason Evans would enter the portal involves circumstances that currently don’t exist. We think he’s almost guaranteed to be on the Blue Devils roster if he’s not preparing for the NBA in the fall.

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