At around 15 games in, we currently stand just shy of the 20% mark of the 2024-2025 NBA season. Can you believe it? A mere 15 games ago — 4 weeks! — everyone assumed the very best of their favorite team and its players. Hope sprang eternal across the NBA and its fanbases. Even 76ers and Bucks fans had reason to believe in their teams 15 days ago!
Apologies to both fanbases. You’ve already suffered enough.
While it is still relatively early, it’s never too early to jump to conclusions by handing out a few “way, way too early” fantasy basketball awards. I expect a few of these picks to hold for the entire season, but this is really meant to be an early canvassing of the fantasy landscape and an attempt to bring attention to some of the best and worst performances to date.
(Drum roll, please!)
And the winners are…
Fantasy MVP – Nikola Jokic, C
I’m beginning to sound like a broken record by constantly claiming Jokic is off to the best start in modern NBA history. It doesn’t even feel like a bold statement anymore. What’s even less bold is to crown Jokic the early season MVP. The 30 point per game triple-double is impressive enough, but throw in the well above-average shooting percentages and the 2.7 STOCKS per game and, well, nobody even comes close. If this were a horse race — which I’m sure Joker wishes it was — he would be far out in front.
Honorable Mentions: Anthony Davis, Jayson Tatum
Fantasy LVP – Kawhi Leonard, F
Not much to say here except I feel bad for anyone who drafted Kawhi. When will he play this season? Heck, will he play this season? Time will tell. Probably a lot of time.
Honorable Mentions: Khris Middleton, Joel Embiid
Biggest Surprise – Nikola Vucevic
If you drafted Vucevic expecting him to shoot nearly 70% from the field, 50% percent from three, or being the 12 ranked player in fantasy, then you’re not just good — you’re a liar. Nobody could’ve possibly expected this. Not at age 34, especially. Hence, Vuc is the biggest fantasy surprise.
Honorable Mention: Zach LaVine
Biggest Leap – Dyson Daniels, G
Lots of people had Daniels pegged as a breakout candidate going into the season. Currently ranked 36 overall (Yahoo!) in fantasy on an average basis, Daniels is shattering even the highest of expectations. His three-game stretch where he racked up a total of 19 steals is one of the most impressive defensive feats I’ve seen. Daniels ranks second only to Wemby in STOCKS. Is there a new alien in town?
Honorable Mentions: Christian Braun, Bilal Coulibaly
Best Defensive Player – Victor Wembanyama, F/C
I laid out the case for Daniels above, but it’s Wemby who has had the greatest overall defensive impact in terms of STOCKS. Wemby averages 5.0 STOCKS per game to Daniels’ 4.5. The next closest is Brook Lopez at 3.8. While Wemby has been somewhat disappointing offensively, he has not disappointed even the slightest bit on the defensive end. In fact, he has somehow managed to improve his defensive stats from last season, ever so slightly. While Daniels has been incredible defensively, Wemby has been other-worldly.
Honorable Mentions: Dyson Daniels, Brook Lopez
Best Rookie – Carlton Carrington, G
Ranked 116 overall on Yahoo , “Bub” is the highest ranked rookie in fantasy this season. Those who knew him coming into the season are not surprised that he’s talented, but few probably expected him to stuff the stat-sheet so effortlessly at the tender age of 19. I have stock in Carrington in both of my leagues and I am especially excited about him in my dynasty. While he won’t be a league changer this season, he has provided a nice boost for managers who were quick to grab him after a strong start. Not bad, Bub. Not bad at all.
Honorable Mentions: Alex Sarr, Jared McCain
Biggest Resurgence – Karl-Anthony Towns, C
Towns went from averaging 25-26 points and 11-12 points per game when he entered the league to roughly 21 and 8 the past two seasons. I wondered if his numbers would fall even further when he was traded to the Knicks this summer, in large part because of the Knicks talented starting lineup led by elite guard, Jalen Brunson. Instead, it’s Brunson who has taken a bit of a back seat to Towns, who leads the team in scoring at just over 26 points per game. More impressively is the rebirth Towns has had as an elite rebounder, improving from 8.3 boards per game last season to 12.4 so far this year. His shooting percentages are also up, particularly from three where Towns is shooting an incredible 51.5%! As the number 7 overall ranked player in fantasy right now, this was an easy pick for me.
Honorable Mentions: Darius Garland, OG Anunoby
Biggest Tease – Jabari Smith Jr., F/C
To qualify for this category you have to be young and talented with people’s perception of you largely fueled by hype. Jabari entered the season a consensus top 100 pick in fantasy drafts and most hoped this would be the year he finally lived up to the massive hype that made him a contender for top pick in the 2022 draft. Instead, he seems to have taken a step back. His FG%, scoring, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks are all down from last season and while he has had a couple of big games that hint at his upside, he has largely left fantasy managers feeling frustrated and underwhelmed. I wish I could say I expect him to turn things around, but I’m starting to wonder if this is just who he is. What’s worse for fantasy managers is Jabari continues to get outplayed by teammate Tari Eason. It seems like only a matter of time before their roles are reversed, with Eason starting and Jabari coming off the bench. Such a move could spell death for Jabari’s fantasy value and any hope that he’ll finally live up to the hype. Such a tease, indeed.
Honorable Mentions: Jalen Duren, Keyonte George
