This time it’s time for the February awards. That’s right – the shortest month on the calendar. Though not as short this time as in most years. Scroll below to see who shone (and didn’t) in February 2024.
Fantasy Basketball Awards February 2024
Most Valuable Player – Anthony Davis (Los Angeles Lakers)
Stats: 11 GP, 35.2 MIN, 17.2 FGA, .579 FG%, 0.2 3PTM, 6.6 FTA, .849 FT%, 25.8 PTS, 13.3 REB, 3.4 AST, 1.1 STL, 2.8 BLK, 1.7 TO
Anthony Davis takes down the monthly MVP award for February as the first non-Shai player to do so in 2023-24. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander finished lowly second this time. Jokic, Doncic, and Wembanyama made up the rest of the top five. Davis produced elite numbers in field goal percentage, rebounds, and blocks with solid stats elsewhere across the board.
Rookie of the Month – Victor Wembanyama (San Antonio Spurs)
Stats: 12 GP, 28.8 MIN, 15.8 FGA, .474 FG%, 2.2 3PTM, 4.9 FTA, .831 FT%, 21.2 PTS, 10.7 REB, 4.5 AST, 2 STL, 3.9 BLK, 3.7 TO
Wemby gets his second Rookie of the Month award narrowly beating out Chet Holmgren. For the whole league, the two rookies ranked fifth and sixth in February. It’s hard to imagine Wembanyama not putting up crazy stats going forward. In February he’s already had a game with a 5×5 and a game with 10 blocks as a rookie. What will he do in 2-3-4 years?!
Sophomore of the Month – Jalen Duren (Detroit Pistons)
Stats: 11 GP, 30.7 MIN, 9.5 FGA, .587 FG%, 0 3PTM, 3.5 FTA, .842 FT%, 14 PTS, 12.7 REB, 2.8 AST, 0.7 STL, 1.1 BLK, 2 TO
An excellent month for the young center Duren as he outplays his sophomore competitors headlined by Paolo Banchero and Jalen Williams. Duren’s lacking the 20+ scoring, which might throw off some but he more than makes up for it with strong percentages, rebounds, and blocks. I suppose this is where real life and fantasy differ since Banchero is considered far and away the better player. However, the inefficient scoring might catch up to him in the real world too.
Most Improved Player – Jalen Johnson (Atlanta Hawks)
Stats (2022-23): 70 GP, 14.9 MIN, 4.6 FGA, .491 FG%, 0.4 3PTM, 1.1 FTA, .628 FT%, 5.6 PTS, 4 REB, 1.2 AST, 0.5 STL, 0.5 BLK, 0.6 TO
Stats (February): 12 GP, 37 MIN, 14.3 FGA, .477 FG%, 1.2 3PTM, 2.5 FTA, .667 FT%, 16.5 PTS, 9.9 REB, 4.1 AST, 0.8 STL, 1.3 BLK, 1.4 TO
Jalen Johnson’s minutes have gone from 5.5 to 14.9 to 34.2 in his three first seasons. The 22-year-old is considered one of the few bright spots going forward for the middling Hawks. He ranked 50th in 9-cat fantasy in February and doesn’t look to be slowing down any time soon. Maybe stash his name away as a sleeper for the 24-25 fantasy draft?!
Most Declined Player – Mikal Bridges (Brooklyn Nets)
Stats (2022-23): 83 GP, 35.6 MIN, 15.3 FGA, .468 FG%, 2 3PTM, 4.3 FTA, .895 FT%, 20.1 PTS, 4.4 REB, 3.3 AST, 1.1 STL, 0.7 BLK, 1.5 TO
Stats (February): 12 GP, 34.4 MIN, 16 FGA, .401 FG%, 2.8 3PTM, 2.2 FTA, .769 FT%, 17.2 PTS, 3.9 REB, 3.8 AST, 0.9 STL, 0.2 BLK, 1.4 TO
Mikal ranked 148th in 9-cat per game in February after ranking in the top 30 in 2022-23. And if you were to only count his Brooklyn stint last year, he was in the top 15. Now, however, he’s come down from his hot streak and is miscast as the number one option on a team going nowhere. That is best highlighted by the inefficient scoring numbers.
Best Single-Category Player – Victor Wembanyama (San Antonio Spurs) – BLK
Stats: 12 GP, 28.8 MIN, 3.9 BLK
After winning the January award with 3.3 blocks per game, Wembanyama upped the stakes with 3.9 blocks per game in February. In a week with four games, he could win the category on his own for you. The biggest competition in February was from Stephen Curry who made 5.6 three-pointers per game.
Performance of the Month – Victor Wembanyama (San Antonio Spurs) – 2024-02-23 @LAL
Stats: 31 MIN, 16 FGA, .437 FG%, 3 3PTM, 11 FTA, .910 FT%, 27 PTS, 10 REB, 8 AST, 5 STL, 5 BLK, 2 TO
Another award for the big guy from France. This is the first 5×5 in the NBA since Jusuf Nurkic did it in 2019 if you want an indication of the heights Wemby is reaching. Wembanyama had another game in the month’s top 5 with 10 blocks. It’s really coming up Milhouse for him!