This time it’s time for the March awards. That’s right – one of the longest months of the calendar. In fact, tied for the first place in the number of days. Scroll below to see who shone (and didn’t) in March 2024.
Fantasy Basketball Awards March 2024
Most Valuable Player – Nikola Jokic (Denver Nuggets)
Stats: 14 GP, 37.3 MIN, 19 FGA, 0.575 FG%, 0.9 3PTM, 5.7 FTA, 0.837 FT%, 27.6 PTS, 12.2 REB, 8.1 AST, 1.5 STL, 0.7 BLK, 2.9 TO
The big fella wins his first Player of the Month award for the 23-24 season. Just as well since there ain’t going to be one for April. Is there anything left to be said about Nikola Jokic? He just keeps chugging along with near-triple double performances. Paul George, Anthony Davis, Fred VanVleet, and Kawhi Leonard made up the rest of the top 5 of March.
Rookie of the Month – Amen Thompson (Houston Rockets)
Stats: 15 GP, 26.4 MIN, 9.3 FGA, 0.576 FG%, 0.1 3PTM, 3.1 FTA, 0.766 FT%, 13.1 PTS, 8.2 REB, 2.5 AST, 1.4 STL, 0.7 BLK, 1.2 TO
Where’s Wemby, you might ask. As it happens, Amen played three more games in March than Victor Wembanyama, which is enough to narrowly beat him for the Rookie of the Month honours. And it is an honour. What about Chet, I see you ponder. Well, Chet Holmgren was close to the other two, too, but ultimately didn’t have a good enough shooting month to win. Amen Thompson can’t shoot either but that doesn’t stop him from being a whirling dervish on the court. This new Şengün-less Rockets team is a sight to behold.
Sophomore of the Month – Jalen Williams (Oklahoma City Thunder)
Stats: 14 GP, 30.4 MIN, 15.3 FGA, 0.528 FG%, 1.4 3PTM, 3.4 FTA, 0.833 FT%, 20.4 PTS, 3.6 REB, 4.5 AST, 1.6 STL, 1.1 BLK, 2 TO
Jalen Williams ranks as the 20th-best fantasy player for the season and, somehow, only the third-best on his team. The future is bright in Oklahoma City. Williams does it all in 9-cat fantasy, and, particularly impressively for a wing player, has strong percentages. For comparison, Paolo Banchero, Williams’ main rival, scores as many points but much less efficiently.
Most Improved Player – Miles McBride (New York Knicks)
Stats (2022-23): 64 GP, 11.9 MIN, 3.4 FGA, 0.358 FG%, 0.6 3PTM, 0.7 FTA, 0.667 FT%, 3.5 PTS, 0.8 REB, 1.1 AST, 0.6 STL, 0.1 BLK, 0.4 TO
Stats (March): 14 GP, 35.6 MIN, 10.6 FGA, 0.466 FG%, 2.9 3PTM, 1.1 FTA, 0.938 FT%, 13.9 PTS, 2.3 REB, 3.1 AST, 1.2 STL, 0.1 BLK, 0.6 TO
When you make it inside Tom Thibodeau’s trust circle, expect good things to happen to your stat line. Also, expect 40+ minutes of playing time most nights. With the Knicks missing two of their starters, Miles McBride has stepped in and contributed solid mid-round fantasy value. Will it last? Probably not. But I did see a YouTube video titled “Why Miles McBride will be a star” while doing research so there you go.
Most Declined Player – Bojan Bogdanovic (New York Knicks)
Stats (2022-23): 59 GP, 32 MIN, 14.9 FGA, 0.488 FG%, 2.5 3PTM, 5.1 FTA, 0.884 FT%, 21.6 PTS, 3.8 REB, 2.6 AST, 0.6 STL, 0.1 BLK, 2.3 TO
Stats (March): 14 GP, 17.8 MIN, 8 FGA, 0.402 FG%, 1.2 3PTM, 1.1 FTA, 0.8 FT%, 8.5 PTS, 1.5 REB, 0.9 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 1.6 TO
One man’s gain is another man’s loss. Particularly in a zero-sum game that is NBA playing time. Miles McBride is going up in the world and therefore Bojan Bogdanovic must go on. Look at the lowly shooting numbers in March. In fantasy terms, Bogdanovic is unrosterable.
Best Single-Category Player – Victor Wembanyama (San Antonio Spurs) – BLK
Stats: 12 GP, 31.5 MIN, 3.8 BLK
Another stellar blocking month for Victor Wembanyama. In most months in most seasons, this award would be locked down by players with high percentages, but we’re in a new era. If you have Wembanyama, you’re very likely to win blocks in your matchups. In fact, more likely than any other player is to win any other category, which is demonstrated by Victor winning this award.
Performance of the Month – Nikola Jokic (Denver Nuggets) – 2024-03-11 vs. TOR
Stats: 38 MIN, 26 FGA, 0.538 FG%, 1 3PTM, 6 FTA, 1.000 FT%, 35 PTS, 17 REB, 12 AST, 6 STL, 2 BLK, 2 TO
A massive triple-double in a win over the Raptors by Jokic. What puts this one over the top are the 6 steals. For the competition, Wembanyama had a couple of big games, D’Angelo Russell had 44 points in a game, Brunson scored 61, Anthony Davis had a 27-point and 25-rebound game, and Şengün scored 45.