The first month of NBA basketball is past us and what a month it’s been. A bunch of basketball games were played a a bunch of stats were produced, which is what we’re all about. That’s what we love the most – basketball stats! The passing of the first month gives us an opportunity to summarize said statistics. By the way – for the purposes of this article, October is part of November. But don’t tell that to the Libras – you know what they’re like! Anyway, without further adieu, scroll below for the winners of the first monthly FantraxHQ Fantasy Basketball Awards.
Fantasy Basketball Awards November 2023
Most Valuable Player – Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City Thunder)
Stats: 17 GP, 34.4 MIN, 20.6 FGA, .541 FG%, 1.2 3PTM, 7.5 FTA, .945 FT%, 30.6 PTS, 5.9 REB, 6.1 AST, 2.3 STL, 0.9 BLK, 2.2 TO
In a close battle with the consensus #1 draft pick, Gilgeous-Alexander just ekes out Nikola Jokic for the fantasy MVP award. Having drafted SGA at a lower price, SGA owners are probably enjoying more success than the Jokic owners right now. Going forward the pair can be assumed to be equally valued fantasy players. In a trade would I prefer one over the other? Not particularly. The decision would be made based on what the rest of the squad is built like.
Rookie of the Month – Chet Holmgren (Oklahoma City Thunder)
Stats: 18 GP, 30.1 MIN, 11.9 FGA, .537 FG%, 1.8 3PTM, 3.9 FTA, .871 FT%, 17.9 PTS, 7.8 REB, 2.6 AST, 0.9 STL, 2.1 BLK, 1.9 TO
Complete domination by Holmgren. No other rookie comes close to his fantasy output. Chet ranks in the top 10 of all fantasy players so far. The last time this was done by rookies over the whole season was by Karl-Anthony Towns and Stephen Curry. Can he keep it up? Sure, why not. But, this could also be a decent sell-high opportunity if you’re antsy about, say, injuries.
Sophomore of the Month – Mark Williams (Charlotte Hornets)
Stats: 17 GP, 27 MIN, 8.3 FGA, .65.2 FG%, 0 3PTM, 3.5 FTA, .717 FT%, 13.4 PTS, 10.3 REB, 1.2 AST, 0.9 STL, 1.1 BLK, 0.9 TO
In a pretty uninspiring draft class, at least for fantasy, Williams comes out on top for November. Paolo Banchero and Jalen Williams have just not met expectations so far. In fact, both could be buy-low opportunities and Williams a sell-high. If, indeed, you can convince a trade partner that Williams is actually on a high. He is, but field goal percentage as a top category may be a tough sell.
Most Improved Player – Tyrese Maxey (Philadelphia 76ers)
Stats (2022-23): 60 GP, 33.6 MIN, 15.2 FGA, .481 FG%, 2.7 3PTM, 3.5 FTA, .845 FT%, 20.3 PTS, 2.9 REB, 3.5 AST, 0.8 STL, 0.1 BLK, 1.3 TO
Stats (November): 18 GP, 38.3 MIN, 20.2 FGA, .464 FG%, 3.3 3PTM, 5.5 FTA, .899 FT%, 27 PTS, 4.6 REB, 6.7 AST, 0.8 STL, 0.7 BLK, 2.6 TO
James Harden skipping town has cleared the way for Maxey and moved him among the fantasy elite. Maxey went from a top 100 player last year to a top 10 player this year with a stat boost, pretty much, across the board. The Sixers seem to be a well-put-together team now so there is no reason for Maxey’s run to not continue. If it doesn’t continue, he will always have this award to look back to.
Most Declined Player – Jaren Jackson Jr. (Memphis Grizzlies)
Stats (2022-23): 63 GP, 28.4 MIN, 13 FGA, .506 FG%, 1.6 3PTM, 4.9 FTA, .788 FT%, 18.6 PTS, 6.8 REB, 1 AST, 1 STL, 3 BLK, 1.7 TO
Stats (November): 17 GP, 31.5 MIN, 15.7 FGA, .412 FG%, 1.4 3PTM, 6.2 FTA, .821 FT%, 19.5 PTS, 6.1 REB, 1.9 AST, 0.6 STL, 1.8 BLK, 1.9 TO
Yeah, I’ll do a negative award, I don’t care. The reigning defending NBA Defensive Player of the Year Jackson Jr. has taken a major step backwards. Having always been somewhat of a one-category man, his one category went from 3 blocks per game to 1.8. Add a major decline in field goal percentage and you get a major disappointment this season. The expectation that JJJ can take a bigger role and therefore deliver more stats with Ja Morant suspended has not been met so far. Perhaps he needs Morant back and is a buy-low candidate.
Best Single-Category Player – Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks) – FG%
Stats: 18 GP, 34.3 MIN, 18.9 FGA, .601 FG%
In November, if you had to take one player to give you the best chance of winning one category in fantasy, that player would be Giannis Antetokounmpo and the category FG%. On the other side – if you needed a player to lose a category, that player would still be Giannis Antetokounmpo and the category FT% this time. So there. Quite a yin and yang situation we have here.
Performance of the Month – Nikola Jokic (Denver Nuggets) – 2023-11-22 @ORL
Stats: 36 MIN, 18 FGA, .666 FG%, 1 3PTM, 5 FTA, 1.000 FT%, 30 PTS, 13 REB, 12 AST, 3 STL, 2 BLK, 1 TO
What looks like a routine Jokic stat line is actually the best single-game fantasy performance so far this season. It’s a great return across 8 categories with, perhaps, only the three-pointers lacking.