Finest No. 2 choose after Nikola Jokic in fantasy basketball

Nikola Jokic is not simply the back-to-back NBA MVP, he is additionally confirmed to be a league-winning fantasy choice in every of the previous two seasons. Just about everybody desires him at No. 1 in factors, class and roto leagues this season.

In order that begs the query: If Jokic is off the board, who do you have to draft at No. 2 in factors, class and roto leagues in 2022-23?

Here is who our fantasy basketball consultants Andre’ Snellings, Eric Moody, Eric Karabell, Jim McCormick and John Cregan have their sights on.

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Snellings: In factors leagues, the selection is easy: Giannis Antetokounmpo. Whereas Jokic stands out as the clear-cut No. 1, Giannis is simply as clear at No. 2. For illustration functions, let us take a look at the top-11 gamers from final season, sorted by fantasy factors per recreation. Jokic was first at 61.4 FP/G, Giannis was second at 56.1 FP/G, then there have been 9 different gamers that averaged greater than 46 FP/G. Of these 9, teammates LeBron James and Anthony Davis missed a mixed 68 video games final season and teammates Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving missed a mixed 80 video games. Joel Embiid and James Harden simply grew to become teammates late within the season whereas Trae Young and Dejounte Murray grew to become teammates this offseason, probably limiting one another’s upsides. That leaves Luka Doncic (52.2 FP/G final yr) as the one different participant on that listing, and he is a worthy candidate, however Giannis has the upper common and an analogous file of availability during the last a number of seasons.

I would take Giannis second in class H2H leagues as properly, however in roto leagues I’d take into account Stephen Curry, Jayson Tatum or Karl-Anthony Towns as dominant class performers with out an egregious weak class. Giannis and Luka are each shaky free throw shooters at excessive quantity, which might harm them in roto rankings. However, in class H2H, I am keen to fret much less a few dangerous class in alternate for total dominance in a number of different classes.

Karabell: It does appear a bit wide-open for the No. 2 choose and I’ve to confess I am stunning myself a bit by choosing Antetokounmpo, since he is usually a little bit of an issue in class leagues for the low free throw share (although it rose some final season). Nonetheless, he is simply so good in each different class that I might have a tough time passing him up at No. 2 no matter format. Antetokounmpo scores, rebounds, passes, steals, blocks and hits his subject targets, is comparatively sturdy, particularly when in comparison with different notables, and is exhibiting no indicators of decline. He is dependable. That counts for lots.

Moody: I might not hesitate to pick out Giannis Antetokounmpo No. 2 total in a factors or class league. For the fourth straight season, he was among the many prime 4 in MVP voting. In each codecs, Antetokounmpo presents fantasy managers with a really excessive flooring and upside to complete as the highest participant in each codecs. Subject aim share is one in every of his largest attracts. However as well as, the 53.5% profession shooter averaged 29.9 PPG, 11.6 RPG, 5.8 APG, 1.4 BPG, and 1.1 SPG whereas having one of many highest utilization charges within the league at 34.5% final season.

McCormick: Doncic is the uncommon heliocentric playmaker who can rival the sheer stat-stuffing quantity of Antetokounmpo and Embiid and nonetheless counter the elite capturing and scoring quantity of Durant and Curry, all whereas a nightly menace to flirt with a triple-double. It is superb to contemplate that there’s nearly a level of Doncic fatigue in fantasy phrases; which is to say, he is been so good for a number of seasons that it appears his wealthy manufacturing has change into mundane and anticipated. When the fact is, Doncic continues to be simply 23 and scratching his statistical ceiling. No participant has a clearer path to league-leading utilization, particularly within the wake of Jalen Brunson‘s exit. It is wild to contemplate, however this man is simply getting began.

Cregan: In factors, one might marshal arguments for seven gamers worthy of silver medal valuation. In roto: 4. In factors, when unsure, this outdated head seems in direction of two dynamics: well being and positional shortage. In roto: well being and true capturing share (TS%) shortage.

If in case you have a tricky resolution at any level in any draft, take a look at mixture worth, not per-game worth. In factors, that narrows it right down to Antetokounmpo, Doncic and Tatum (who all have historic damage purple flags, and will miss six-to-eight video games). Roto-wise, that will get you right down to Tatum and Joel Embiid.

Now apply shortage. In factors we’re taking a look at a dust-bowl paucity of SF manufacturing for 2022-23. Deciding on Tatum units the desk for remainder of your draft, whereas taking a piece of SF manufacturing off the desk. In roto, prioritizing TS% shortage provides Embiid the nod.