However, while the debate rages about who the best in the game really is the statistics make it much easier to break down who the top fantasy players are as well as which player deserves to be the No. 1 pick. Here is a look at the top players in fantasy basketball heading into this season with the order they should be drafted in this season beginning with the consensus No. 1 pick.
Anthony Davis, New Orleans Hornets
Power Forward
A number of NBA GM’s have already said that Davis is the one player they would build their team around if they could choose from anyone and that includes LeBron James, Stephen Curry and James Harden. That is because Davis is an absolute freak of an athlete that excels in every single area and is still only 22 years old. Fantasy basketball GM’s should take the same approach when it comes to the draft as the statistics support the idea that Davis should be an absolute lock as the No. 1 pick.
The 2012 first-overall pick averaged 24.4 points, 10.2 rebounds, 2.9 blocks, 2.0 assists and 1.5 steals per game while hitting 54% of his shots from the field. Davis can consistently put up big numbers across the board and his ability to stuff the stat sheet in so many different areas is what makes him the consensus No. 1 pick.
Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
Point Guard
If there is one player that could potentially challenge Davis as the No. 1 pick in this year’s drafts it would be Curry, who won the league’s MVP award last year and led the Warriors to an NBA title. Curry averaged 23.8 points, 7.7 assists, 4.3 rebounds, 2.0 steals and 3.6 three-point shots per game last season. The assist and three-point totals in particular are what makes him so special.
It’s also worth mentioning that Curry’s numbers could have been even better last season if he wasn’t sitting on the bench in the fourth quarter of blowout wins so often and the potential is certainly there for marginal improvement in his point and assist totals this season. Davis should be a lock as the No. 1 pick, but Curry is right there behind him.
James Harden, Houston Rockets
Shooting Guard
Harden finished second in NBA scoring with 27.4 points per game last season while averaging 7.0 assists, 5.7 rebounds, 2.6 three-point shots and 1.9 steals per game, so it’s not a surprise he is in this conversation as well. The question is whether Harden could possibly produce any better numbers and the likely answer is no. Harden is undoubtedly a top-five fantasy pick but he isn’t worthy of going ahead of Davis and Curry.
LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers
Small Forward
LeBron was right there with Harden among the league’s leading scorers as he averaged 25.3 points, 7.4 assists, 6.0 rebounds, 1.7 three-point shots and 1.6 steals per game last season. Those are solid numbers across the board but he will turn 31 years old this season and there is a lot of miles on those legs after five consecutive trips to the NBA Finals.
It wouldn’t be a surprise if LeBron paced himself even more this season as the Cavaliers gear up for another NBA title run but he should still be a lock as a top-five pick.
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Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder
Point Guard
Westbrook actually led the NBA with 28.1 points per game last season and his ability to do it all made him a top-three fantasy player as he averaged 8.6 assists, 7.3 rebounds, 2.1 steals and 1.3 three-point shots per game. Westbrook could very well put up similar totals this year but with the return of a healthy Kevin Durant, he will have a tough time matching last year’s gaudy statistics. Westbrook should still be a top-five fantasy player but Durant’s return will put a cap on his potential as the No. 1 overall pick.
Consensus: Davis still the consensus best bet to go first overall in this year’s fantasy basketball drafts.
