Six NBA Fantasy players on the rise
The NBA season now has 25 games remaining. It’s time to look at how everyone in the league performed and identify potential future fantasy basketball stars.
Ivica Zubac, Los Angeles Clippers
Last season, Zubac averaged 10.3 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 1.0 shots blocked per game. He could only play for 24 minutes in each game. Despite the constraints, it was a career high point.
Because Zubac was so little, the Clippers felt compelled to release him. He averages 10.7 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks in 31.7 minutes per game. His field goal percentage is 61.6%, but his free throw percentage is only 68.1%. Over the course of his career, he has made 59.9 percent of his field goals. If the Clippers don’t become bigger, Zubac’s playing time will remain the same.
Nicolas Claxton, Brooklyn Nets
Claxton didn’t get much action last season because the Nets are a club that wants to win right away. He averaged 11.3, 6.9, and 1.4 points, rebounds, and blocks in 27 games. Claxton was brought in after the Nets were unable to re-sign starting center Andre Drummond.
Claxton is surrounded by smaller players on the Nets, same as Zubac was on the Clippers. He spends an average of 27 minutes on the field every game. He averages 11.7 points per game, 8.5 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks per game.
In addition, he makes 72.5% of his field goals. Despite making 45.6% of his free throws, he barely takes 2.6% each game. Because Ben Simmons injured his knee, the Nets are unable to start him at No. 5. Claxton wins because Simmons hasn’t demonstrated his ability to stay fit.
Jalen Green, Houston Rockets
Green had only one dimension in his debut fantasy season. On average, he made 2.3% of his three-point attempts and 17.3% of his points each game. He made 42.6% of his shots overall. He averaged 0.70 steals, 2.60 assists, and 3.40 rebounds a game this season.
This season, the use of Green increased by three percentage points to 27.2%. He averages 2.6 three-point attempts and 21.3 points per game. He averages 4.1 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game, therefore he has a bright fantasy football future. As a result, the Rockets will continue to hunt for ways to get the ball to their promising rookie guard.
Tyrese Haliburton, Indiana Pacers
The Pacers received the most for Domantas Sabonis last season when they handed up Haliburton. He and De’Aaron Fox were both strong passers in Sacramento. For the Pacers, he started 21 games at point guard and averaged 17.5 points, 4.3 rebounds, 9.0 assists, and 2.2 three-pointers per game. His 50.2% field goal success rate is excellent, especially for a fantasy player.
The Haliburton season performed better than predicted. Several leagues selected him in the late first round. His per-game statistics of 19.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, 11.2 assists, 1.8 steals, and 2.6 three-pointers were higher than predicted. He recorded 40 assists in his past three games and did not give the ball over once. He won’t be 23 until February, but he is already the Pacers’ undisputed leader. Haliburton’s stock is currently rising.
Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves
The Timberwolves enhanced their standing as one of the strongest teams in the Western Conference by acquiring Rudy Gobert from the Jazz. In both occasions, the score is 11-11. Karl-Anthony Towns will miss the next four games due to a calf ailment.
Edwards scored 29 points, grabbed 8 rebounds, gave 2 assists, swiped 2 balls, and hit 1 of the team’s 2 three-point tries in Towns’ 37 minutes of injured time against the Wizards. The Grizzlies won thanks to his 29 points, three rebounds, five assists, five steals, three blocks, and two three-pointers. Gobert excels at defense and getting the ball back, but he struggles to score. Edwards will undoubtedly be given more opportunities to contribute now that Towns has departed.
Mikal Bridges, Phoenix Suns
Bridges does not stand out in any particular way. He averaged 14.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.2 steals, 1.4 three-pointers, and 53.4% field goal percentage and 83.4% free throw percentage the previous season. His worth rises by nine leagues due to his low turnover rate (0.8 per game).
Bridges is needed more by the Suns now that Chris Paul and Cameron Johnson are out (knee). Jae Crowder was also relocated. Without them, Bridges has 1.5 three-pointers, 3.5 assists, 1.2 steals, 5.3 rebounds, 15.7 points, and 3.5 rebounds.
He also blocks more shots this season than previous, with 1.1 blocks per game compared to 0.4 last season. Bridges’ value has risen as a result of Crowder’s absence, Johnson’s possible absence for another month, and Paul’s questionable condition.
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