Are these players' latest hot runs sustainable for the rest of the 2024 NBA Fantasy Season?
Every so often, there are players who run into blazing hot streaks that entice the eye of fantasy owners. Players who find a spark and their numbers balloon past what they usually put up during the season. Gauging whether or not these spikes in numbers are sustainable or a quick lightning strike is a dilemma fantasy owners face while choosing to hold, sell, or drop said player. Here are some hot names that I've determined are either having REAL or FAKE runs for the rest of the season.
KEYONTE GEORGE - (REAL)
The rookie has put up his best stretch since earlier this season when he took over the starting role before suffering an injury mid-December. During the stretch, George has put up double-digit points in each of his last six games, averaging 15.3 points 5 rebounds 3.3 assists 3.3 threes on 54% shooting. This run can be sustainable because of George's fixed role as the backup point, and I believe the numbers can get even better if Jordan Clarkson or Collin Sexton get shipped out of Utah. George's time and usage isn't the problem with his fantasy value; it's all about maintaining good shooting efficiency from the floor.
Donte DiVincenzo - (Fake)
Probably the best basketball of his career so far, DiVincenzo, during the last week, is averaging 26 points, 4 assists, 4.3 rebounds, 1.7 steals, 4.7 threes on 45% shooting. A couple of factors come up when deciding that this run is unsustainable for the rest of the season for Donte, with the apparent being he's never put these types of numbers in his five seasons in the NBA. Also, the run coincides with the absences of Julius Randle and OG Anunoby, who both will be slated to come back later this month and take a big chunk of the added shot attempts that DiVincenzo has seen recently. He will be nowhere near his 27th-ranked run toward the beginning of the fantasy playoffs.
Onyeka Okongwu - (Fake)
Fantasy owners of his throughout the years have salivated over the "hypothetical" Clint Capela trade that would catapult Okongwu into top 25 status. Unfortunately for these wishful thinkers, this trade has never come to be, and the talented Center continues to split time the starting Capela. Over the last week, he has seen an uptick in minutes due to the injury to Capela, and Okungwu has benefited by averaging 18.3 points, 9.3 rebounds, 1.7 blocks, 1.7 threes on 77% shooting. He's doubled his season scoring and has shown all the promise of being a great starting Center, but until the day the Atlanta Hawks decide to ship away Capela finally, these numbers are filled with hot air and won't be kept up by the return of Capela.
Brandon Miller - (Real)
The more and more I watch the rookie, I realize the Charlotte Hornets may have stumbled on a player they could actually build around. He is the 46th-ranked player in the past two weeks and has elevated his game to new heights that owners couldn't even imagine. Over the past week, he has put up a scorching 29.3 points a game while adding 3.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 2.3 steals on 47% shooting. He's been given the green light to take more shots and be more in control of the offense with the uncertain return of players like Lamelo Ball and Mark Williams. Miller's high usage can be sustained now that guard Terry Rozier has been dealt to the Miami Heat earlier this month, and he will be pushed to develop his game on a team going nowhere fast.
R.J Barrett - (Fake)
Since the from the Knicks, Barrett has seemed to fit right in place with the Toronto Raptors, averaging 21.2 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 3.7 assists on 55% shooting in the last month. The "red flag" in that stat line is the unrecognizable 55% shooting from the field. Barrett has never shot the ball so hot during a season. Also, Barrett has done most of his damage with starting Center Jakob Poetl not being out there with an injury, but he has since returned and will likely take some attempts away from Barrett. I see Barrett being closer to his "inefficient" Knicks self as the season progresses past the all-star break.
Jonathan Kuminga - (Fake)
Who knew all it would take was a simple haircut (with no line-up is tragic) to get this 3rd-year player starting to tap into the high potential set forth by the Warriors organization when they chose him 9th overall. Over the past two weeks, Kuminga has put up 25.3 points, 6.9 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.6 steals on 62% shooting. Of course, the first clear reason for these numbers being unsustainable is the 62% "Wilt Chamberlain" type shooting he's been able to carry. Also, his usage will take a dip with Chris Paul due to his return post-all-star break. Kuminga almost definitely won't be able to hold on to these gigantic numbers and is a sell-high option to the fullest while the iron strikes hot.
Coby White - (REAL)
What a draft day steal this was. White is putting up career-best numbers as the starting point guard for the Chicago Bulls. Averaging career highs across the board throughout the season, but as of late, he has put up even bigger numbers, averaging 24.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 6.3 assists on 49% shooting over the last two weeks. He is in the top 70 rankings this season in standard leagues, and I can see him rising even higher with the end-of-season injury to guard Zach Lavine. Also, rumors have been swirling about an Alex Caruso trade that would leave no doubt on who the head honcho guard is for the Chicago Bulls. The attempts and usage will remain high with no threat to his role as starting point guard in sight.
Scoot Henderson - (Real)
Expectations for this rookie point guard were way too high to begin the season around fantasy circles. So when Scoot didn't put out the value to start the season that some people projected him to have as the new face of the Portland Trailblazers franchise, it left an unsatisfied taste for owners who took a gamble on him in the middle rounds, but I think Scoot has been just fine. He fits a certain mold of the team in terms of category leagues. Punt FG% would be the play, and for points leagues, if he's at the ladder part of your roster, you can't be mad at the productions he's given you. He's increased his scoring every month, and during the past week, he averaged 22 points, 6.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 2.5 threes, and 94% from the line. The more the season progresses and the whole digs deeper for Portland, the objective of the team will be a full push on Scoot to end the season, and we could see even greater value toward the fantasy playoff run.
Bradley Beal - (REAL)
Could we now be in the clear skies as a Beal owner after a frustrating start to the season with injuries? Beal is coming off his best week yet of the season, averaging 27.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, 6.3 assists, and 1.7 assists on 52% shooting. The former all-star has shown that his game hasn't derailed, but it's just the case of remaining on the court. He's now settled into being the elite player the SUNS traded for this off-season, and as the third option, he will see the best scoring opportunities he has ever had playing alongside two assassins, Kevin Durant and Devin Booker. I can see him staying around the 20-shot attempt range with high efficiency that could result in a top 50 rest-of-season ranking, which is above what most people thought after the first couple of months of the season.
D'Angelo Russell - (FAKE)
LeBron James, as he does so often when he feels frustrated with the play of his teammates, "cracked the whip" for the Lakers organization to hear, and D'Angelo has stepped up his game ever since. Over the last 30 days, he's averaged more than 5 points above his season average from 17.3 to 22.8 and has increased his three-point makes by 1.3. He is the 34th ranked player in that time in standard leagues, a big leap from his 70th ranking for the season. A key factor that would end this run from Russell is his history of inconsistent play. With every great month, a stinker is waiting just around the corner. Also, the Lakers will be buyers at the trade deadline so either Russell could see himself shipped away to a lesser role or have his role decreased with an addition to the Lakers roster.
Jalen Green - (FAKE)
This run faker is the Gucci Bag being sold at your local barber shop. Over the past two weeks, Jalen has put off the stretch of his young career, averaging 25.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.3 steals on 49% shooting. He's the 25th ranked player during that time in standard leagues, a far leap from his 148th ranking the entire season. He is shooting the ball with efficiency he has never shown to have in his career, shooting almost 10% better than he had during the season. It won't last, and he will go back to killing your percentage very soon. And with this drastic imbalance, there will be a drastic correction that will result in a horrific run coming in the next weeks. SELL!
Ausar Thompson - (REAL)
I have held my Thompson stock all season with hopes this defensive rookie star would reclaim his early season run. This kid is super talented and plays with great effort, and if the Pistons would finally get their head out of their asses, he should be one of the key players they should push forward to end the season. Thompson has cracked the top 100 the past two weeks with his 2.7 stocks per game, adding five rebounds and 9 points on 62 percent shooting. He isn't for everyone, especially for owners who look for high-level scoring, but he is an excellent stabilizer for teams looking to win their defensive categories each week. The Pistons are on a selling spree right now, sending away F-Kevin Knox in a recent trade, and should be looking to dump away some more veteran assets, clearing a permanent role for Thompson for the rest of the season.
