With the actual NBA All-Star Game now complete, let's review the
first four months of the 2021-22 NBA season and acknowledge those
players who have established themselves as stars in fantasy hoop
leagues.
Listed below are the starters and reserves for each
conference:
Western Conference
Starters
Guard: Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
Shockingly, Steph Curry was mired in a nasty slump for much of
January and, as a result, is shooting 42.7% from the floor this
season overal (he's never shot below 45% in any other season of his
career). However, Curry's game remains well-rounded, as he's
averaging 6.3 dimes and 5.3 rebounds. He is such a prolific
three-pointer shooter (he's made at least 50 more treys than every
other player in the NBA this season) and consistent free-thrower
(converting 91.9% of his freebies) that he still ranks top-five in
nine-category fantasy formats. Steph showed why he's the greatest
shooter of all time on Sunday night, pouring in 50 points on 15
made treys.
Guard: Chris Paul, Phoenix Suns
King James has received abundant (and well-deserved) recognition
for the numbers he's posted at an advanced age this season, but
Chris Paul's production has been equally impressive. The
36-year-old CP3 is on pace to become the first player in NBA
history to average at least 4.5 rebounds and 10.5 assists while
also averaging fewer than 2.5 turnovers per game. (Unfortunately,
we learned over the weekend that Paul suffered a right thumb
avulsion fracture and is expected to miss six-to-eight
weeks.)
Center: Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
Coming into 2021-22, most pundits assumed Nikola Jokic wouldn't
be able to match the incredible all-around fantasy numbers he
posted last season. Yet, the No. 1 overall-ranked fantasy player in
the sport has exceeded his stats from a year ago. He's currently
averaging more points than Curry and Devin Booker each, more
rebounds than Giannis Antetokounmpo and Joel Embiid each, more
assists than Ja Morant and LeBron each, more steals than Mikal
Bridges and Patrick Beverley each, and more three-pointers than
Paul and Bradley Beal each. Think about that for a
second.
Forward: LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers
Maybe, at some point, Father Time will catch up with LeBron
James. But not this year. Somehow, James is averaging more points
(29.1), assists (6.5) and rebounds (7.9) this season than he did 10
years ago in 2011-12, when he won the regular-season MVP award and
Finals MVP after leading the Miami Heat to a title. Oh, and LeBron
is also averaging a career-high in treys (2.8), as well as a block
per game for the first time since 2009-10.
Karl-Anthony Towns is a center, but carries power-forward
eligibility in many fantasy formats, so we'll slide him into the
starting lineup here. KAT proclaimed himself the best big-man
shooter of all-time earlier this season, and his long-range skills
were on display during All-Star weekend when he captured the
3-Point Shooting Contest crown. On the season, Towns ranks seventh
overall in per-game value due to his versatile production and
accuracy from downtown (40.9%).
Dejounte Murray has been a beast in fantasy hoops this season.
In October, his average draft position was 52 overall in Yahoo
leagues, but he now ranks inside the top-10 overall in per-game
value. Not only does Murray lead the league in steals, but he's
also averaging career-highs in assists (9.3) and rebounds
(8.3).
Donovan Mitchell, Utah Jazz
Donovan Mitchell has taken his fantasy game to a new level this
season by drastically improving his efficiency. Donovan is posting
career-highs in field goal percentage (45.6%) and free-throw
percentage (87.3%), as well as steals (1.6) to go along with his
25.7-point, 5.2-assist and 4.2-rebound season-average line. Sum it
all up, and Mitchell ranks just outside the top-10 overall in
nine-cat formats.
Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns
Devin Booker has been solid all season but was red-hot over this
past month. Book entered the break averaging 29.4 points, 4.8
rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.2 steals to go along with 2.7 made
triples per contest over the Suns' last 18 games.
Rudy Gobert, Utah Jazz
Rudy Gobert is currently averaging 15.9 points (on 71.1%
shooting) and 14.8 rebounds per game. He has a chance to become the
first and only player in NBA history to average 15+ points and 15+
boards while also shooting above 70% from the field.
Tyrese Haliburton exploded onto the scene this season and did
the vast majority of his damage in Sacramento before being shipped
off to Indiana. When the Kings handed Haliburton the keys in
December until he was moved, he averaged 16.1 points, 8.9 assists,
3.9 rebounds and 5.6 triples while slashing .472/.428/.868. He is
on pace to become just the second player in NBA history to average
at least 5 assists and two made three-pointers per game while
shooting over 40% from deep in each of his first two pro seasons.
The only player to have previously accomplished this feat is
Curry.
Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks
Luka Doncic was a bit inconsistent over the first half of the
year, but he entered the All-Star break on a mind-boggling tear. In
the four games the Mavs played after trading away Kristaps
Porzingis at the deadline, Doncic averaged 41.5 points, 12.3
rebounds, 7.0 assists and 5.5 made three-pointers (shooting 45.8%
from deep).
Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves
Ant-Man is establishing himself as a fantasy stud early on in
his career. Earlier this month, he scored his 2,500th career point,
making him the fourth-youngest player in NBA history to reach the
2,500-point plateau. LeBron, KD and Booker are the only players to
get there faster.
Ja Morant, Memphis Grizzlies
Ja Morant is on pace to become the sixth player in league
history to average at least 25 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists per
game over an entire season before turning 23 years old. The other
members of this club are Oscar Robertson, Michael Jordan, Tracy
McGrady, LeBron and Luka.
Eastern Conference
Starters
Guard: Fred VanVleet, Toronto Raptors
Freddy VanVleet had been making steady progress in recent years,
but established himself as an unquestioned All-Star this season by
posting career-highs across the board. He is currently on pace to
join James Harden and Damian Lillard as just the third player in
NBA history to average at least 7 dimes and 4 made three-pointers
over an entire season. FVV ranks eighth overall in per-game fantasy
value.
Guard: Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks
The Hawks have stumbled this season, but their disappointing
record can't be pinned on Trae Young, who is again posting
awe-inspiring numbers — particularly in the point and assist
categories. In his career, Young has scored at least 20 points and
dished out 10 or more assists in the same game 84 times. That's the
most such games by any individual player dating back to the start
of the 2018-19 season (Harden and Doncic rank second and third,
respectively).
Center: Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers
Considered by many the odds-on favorite to take home the 2021-22
MVP award, Joel Embiid leads the league in scoring at 29.6 points
to go along with 11.2 boards, 1.4 blocks and a steal per game. He's
also averaging career-highs in assists (4.5) and treys (1.3). Just
as importantly, he's avoided injury this season, only missing
multiple games due to COVID-19 protocols.
Forward: Jimmy Butler, Miami Heat
Despite struggling from downtown (shooting below 20% from behind
the arc), Jimmy Buckets is stuffing the stat sheet on a nightly
basis once again this season. Due to his well-rounded game, Butler
ranks sixth overall in nine-category fantasy formats, one spot
behind Curry and one spot ahead of KAT.
Forward: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee
Bucks
Giannis somehow keeps improving. He's currently averaging a
whopping 29.4 points (on 54.7% shooting), 11.2 rebounds, 1.0
steals, 1.4 blocks and a career-high 6.0 assists. He's on pace to
finish the season at 25/10/5 for the fourth consecutive season. No
player in NBA history has ever averaged 25+ points, 10+ rebounds
and 5+ assists in four separate seasons — let alone four in a
row.
Eastern Conference Reserves:
James Harden, Philadelphia 76ers
Despite dealing with hamstring injuries (and a desire to leave
Brooklyn) that have kept him out of 15 games this season, The Beard
is still posting Harden-like fantasy numbers. It will be
fascinating to see how he meshes with Embiid now that he's in
Philly.
Kevin Durant, Brooklyn Nets
Had it not been for the sprained medial collateral in his left
knee that has sidelined him since mid-January, Kevin Durant would
undoubtedly be a fantasy All-Star and, quite possibly, the favorite
to win the 2021-22 MVP award. KD was playing at an insanely high
level before going down.
LaMelo Ball, Charlotte Hornets
LaMelo exceeded expectations as a rookie and has taken an even
more impressive step forward this season, averaging 20.0 points,
7.5 assists and 7.1 assists per game. Once he improves his
field-goal percentage and cuts down on his turnovers, he'll be a
first-round fantasy pick for the next decade or so. When Ball
entered Sunday's contest, he became the fourth-youngest player to
appear in an All-Star game, behind only LeBron, Kobe Bryant and
Magic Johnson.
DeMar DeRozan, Chicago Bulls
Over the final two weeks before the All-Star break, DeRozan
became the first player in NBA history to score 35 or more points
and shoot 50% or better in seven consecutive games. That's
something neither Wilt Chamberlain nor MJ ever did. So, yeah,
that's pretty good.
Tatum's Effective Field Goal percentage has dipped from 53.0% in
2020-21 to 50.0% this season, but all of his other numbers have
remained solid. In addition, he's pulling down a career-best 8.4
rebounds per game, which have enabled him to return second-round
fantasy value.
Robert Williams, Boston Celtics
Although Williams receives far less national attention than
Tatum, he ranks slightly higher in nine-category fantasy leagues.
The key to the Time Lord's fantasy value is his unique combination
of insanely efficient offense (10 points per game on 73% shooting),
rebounding prowess (9.7 rebounds) and defensive stats (2.2 blocks
and 0.9 steals).
Nikola Vucevic, Chicago Bulls
Vooch has seen his scoring average dip a bit this season, but
he's still found ways to keep fantasy GMs happy. He has a chance to
become just the fourth player in NBA history to average at least
one block, one steal, 1.5 made treys and 11 rebounds per
game.
Miles Bridges, Charlotte Hornets
Remarkably, Miles Bridges' ADP in fantasy drafts last fall was
outside the top-100, but he currently ranks 29th overall in
nine-cat formats, meaning he has provided incredible value for
managers that were able to scoop him up in the eighth or ninth
round back in October.
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