Most fantasy leagues have started the playoffs this week or will be starting next week. Seasons have been decided by draft results, trades, and waiver wire pickups. The best teams are still alive, hoping to win their leagues. That said, let's take a quick recap and break down the 2024 fantasy basketball award winners. Fantasy value will be the only thing that matters when awarding the following names to help us from the statistical side of basketball.
MVP: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Any fantasy drafters who doubted Shai Gilgeous-Alexander regret passing on him. Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 31.4 points in the previous 2022-2023 season, and there was doubt about him having the same success this season. The point average has regressed to 30.9 points, but his numbers have gone up in every other relevant statistic. An astonishing stat has seen Gilgeous-Alexander score 30+ points in 50 of 67 games so far.
Gilgeous-Alexander is also currently averaging 6.4 assists, 5.6 rebounds, and a league-leading 2.1 steals per game on a 54% field goal percentage. On top of that, Gilgeous-Alexander has a 37.6 three-point percentage. The real-life MVP candidate only turned it over 2.1 turnovers per game, which is great for someone with his usage. Health is another huge positive, with just one missed game for Gilgeous-Alexander so far. No superstar has been more consistent or reliable for fantasy players all season long.
Honorable Mentions: Nikola Jokic, Luka Doncic, Victor Wembanyama
Rookie of the Year: Victor Wembanyama
Victor Wembanyama is on pace to have the greatest fantasy season for a rookie since fantasy sports became prominent. This may not be the only time we’ll see Wembanyama win an award in this article, but it is important to recognize how great he is from year one in the league.
San Antonio’s lack of success will take away from how the traditional NBA outlook remembers Wembanyama’s rookie season. However, fantasy players know just how great the rookie phenom has been carrying some teams in the second half of the season. Chet Holmgren would have won this most years, but he’s the only rookie even close to Wembanyama this season.
Honorable Mentions: Chet Holmgren
Defensive Player of the Year: Victor Wembanyama
The San Antonio Spurs lucked out by winning the draft lottery of all draft lotteries last year to get the honor of drafting Victor Wembanyama. Rudy Gobert is likely the easy winner of the real Defensive Player of the Year Award this year if he can play a few more games to qualify for it. However, team success does not matter in the fantasy world, so his advantage is removed.
Wembanyama has dominated the defensive fantasy stats of blocks and steals all season. 3.5 blocks per game currently sees him a full block above Walker Kessler in second place. The post-All-Star break dominance of Wembanyama has seen him averaging 4.8 blocks since then. Wembanyama, averaging 1.3 steals per game, sees his “stocks” average of combined steals and blocks at 4.8. Anthony Davis is far behind him for second place to show how dominant Wembanyama is on the defensive side already. For this reason, expect him to go #1 in fantasy drafts next year.
Honorable Mentions: Anthony Davis, Chet Holmgren, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Sixth Man of the Year: Bobby Portis
The Sixth Man of the Year is the most difficult award to deliver from a fantasy perspective, since bench play is so unpredictable. Many great bench scorers to win this award in real life have weaker efficiency since they score at a high clip, but there were some strong options this year. Bench players that give us bigger stretches during injuries are more appreciated in fantasy.
Bobby Portis edges out Malik Monk as the best bench player in fantasy basketball based on the all-around stats. Monk will likely win the real award for his impact as an elite scorer off the bench, but Portis has helped his fantasy players more.
Milwaukee giving Portis extra playing time with various injuries limiting the roster leads to him currently 13.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 1.2 assists on averages of 50% field goal shooting and 39.7% three-point shooting. Doc Rivers has relied on Portis more since the All-Star break, for averages of 17.2 points and 8.5 rebounds since that time.
Honorable Mentions: Malik Monk, Naz Reid, Caris LeVert
Most Improved Player: Scottie Barnes
The NBA Most Improved Award sees Tyrese Maxey as the favorite to win the real thing, but the fantasy version would be much different. Maxey has improved greatly due to his role on the Philadelphia 76ers, making up for James Harden’s absence in an All-Star season. However, another first-time All-Star deserves the fantasy version of such an award.
Scottie Barnes has become an easy top-25 fantasy player in the entire NBA based on his stats improving. The Toronto Raptors making bold changes clearly helped Barnes more than anyone else after losing Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby as the franchise cornerstones. Scottie may miss the rest of the season with a hand injury, but he’s done enough to be named most improved.
Barnes's averages of 19.9 points, 8.2 rebounds, 6.1 assists, 1.5 blocks, and 1.3 steals show just how much he padded stats all across the board. The overall statistical greatness put Barnes over a deep list of tremendous names that deserve consideration otherwise.
Honorable Mentions: Alperen Sengun, Coby White, Tyrese Maxey, Jalen Johnson
All-NBA Fantasy Team:
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City Thunder)
Luka Doncic (Dallas Mavericks)
Nikola Jokic (Denver Nuggets)
Victor Wembanyama (San Antonio Spurs)
Anthony Davis (Los Angeles Lakers)
All-NBA 2nd Fantasy Team:
Domantas Sabonis (Sacramento Kings)
Jayson Tatum (Boston Celtics)
Kawhi Leonard (Los Angeles Clippers)
Chet Holmgren (Oklahoma City Thunder)
Kevin Durant (Phoenix Suns)
(All-NBA teams are position-less, much like the real awards will be this season)
