The NBA season never quite seems to go according to plan. Nobody seems to understand that better than those who play fantasy basketball. While some of the usual suspects are off to great starts this season, there are also some surprises among the top fantasy performers during the first month of the NBA season. Whether you’re competing in a season-long league or participate in one of the best DFS sites in the U.S., here is a look at the best NBA fantasy players of the season thus far.
Best NBA Fantasy Performers
Most Points Per Minute this season:
0.92 — Giannis Antetokounmpo
0.92 — Joel Embiid
0.91 — Stephen Curry
0.88 — Luka Doncic
0.87 — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander pic.twitter.com/B8cinBun5Q— Hoop Muse (@HoopMuse) November 22, 2023
Nikola Jokic
It should be no surprise that Jokic is the top fantasy player of the season. He’s a few assists away from averaging a triple-double while also putting up monster rebounding numbers. Jokic recently had a game with 26 points, 16 rebounds, and 18 assists. Jokic goes above and beyond being a stat stuffer, making him the ultimate fantasy player.
Joel Embiid
Embiid this season:
31.9 PPG
11.2 RPG
6.2 APG
1.5 BPG
50.2 FG%How many players are better right now? https://t.co/wyWqdz53iY
— StatMuse (@statmuse) November 21, 2023
The reigning NBA MVP is off to another brilliant start and is an early candidate for 2023-24 MVP. Embiid is leading the league in scoring early in the season, averaging over 30 points per game. At the same time, Embiid has a healthy rebounding total and is also averaging around six assists per game. The kicker is that he’s also averaging more than a block per game, so he’s picking up fantasy points on both ends.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the only player to
Score 40+ points
On 2 or less FTA
And 3 or less 3PAIn the last 10 seasons. 🤯 pic.twitter.com/gueR8JFnFR
— Thunder Muse (@ThunderMuse_) November 21, 2023
Gilgeous-Alexander took things to a new level last season when he averaged 31.4 points per game and he’s proving that wasn’t an aberration. The former Kentucky guard continues to score at a high volume. But at the same time, Gilgeous-Alexander has also increased his assist, rebound, and steal numbers from last season, making him even more valuable as a fantasy player this season than he was last season.
Tyrese Haliburton
The NBA might have a new superstar and a new fantasy star. Haliburton averaged over 20 points and 10 assists per game last season but has averaged better than 24 points and 12 assists per game thus far during the new season. He’s arguably been the best point guard in the league this season and has also become a top-five fantasy player. With his team also off to a promising start, there is every reason to think that Haliburton can continue to produce at such high levels.
Anthony Davis
Staying healthy tends to be an issue with Davis, but when he’s healthy, there aren’t many better fantasy options. He’s a double-double machine with the way he scores and rebounds. Meanwhile, Davis is still among the best shot blockers in the NBA, averaging 3.5 blocks per game this season, which is well above his career average. As long as he’s healthy, Davis is a top-notch fantasy option.
Luka Doncic
While Doncic isn’t a lock to record a double-double every night, he’s a threat to get a triple-double every night, which makes his fantasy upside incredibly high. The Dallas point guard averages over 30 points per game, so we know he’s productive from a fantasy perspective that way. But he’s also averaging just over eight assists and just under eight rebounds per game. If he goes over in both categories in the same game, Doncic is capable of getting a triple-double and having a massive game from a fantasy perspective.
De’Aaron Fox
Fox is the seventh and final player averaging at least 50 fantasy points per game in most scoring systems. Despite missing some time with an ankle injury early in the season, he has posted some insane scoring totals when healthy. Fox also has healthy steal and assist numbers, helping to make him a top-flight fantasy option.
