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Dawn Tepper gives her five bold fantasy basketball predictions for the 2024-25 season. Which players could surprise and possibly lead your team to unexpected heights?
The 2024-25 NBA season is almost upon us. Let the storylines begin! LaMelo Ball, Zion Williamson, Ben Simmons, and others have plenty to prove this season. Will they come through? Confidence is low for some; the sky should be the limit for others, but will they come through? Let's dig in and take a look!
Every year brings big surprises, both good and bad. Some players decline faster than expected, while others quickly rise to the top of the league. Who will be the next unexpected standout?
Here are five bold predictions for the 2024-25 NBA season to help fantasy managers take some risks and consider mid-round players with the upside of earlier-round players. Playing it safe can only get you so far, so let's dive into the names that could be worth gambling on in your fantasy draft.
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LaMelo Ball Leads the Hornets to the Playoffs
LaMelo Ball burst onto the NBA scene in the 2020-21 season, winning Rookie of the Year and becoming the youngest player in league history to play in an All-Star Game. Charlotte rewarded him with a five-year max deal and dreamed of what was to come. We know what came next: injuries.
The younger Ball brother has only played more than 60 games in a season once throughout his career and just 22 last season. The Hornets have surrounded Ball with young, exciting players who thrive when they are on the court with the energetic point guard.
Lamelo ball might actually be top 5 in mvp voting this year if he doesn’t get hurt. pic.twitter.com/6GUQd4vl3k
— JD5️⃣🐐 (@DanielsROTY) October 15, 2024
A healthy Ball is an assist machine, contributing to his 10 career triple-doubles and 54 double-doubles. In the 2021-22 season, Ball recorded 23 double-doubles in 75 games, a reminder of what the talented point guard can do when he stays healthy.
Zion Williamson Plays The Entire 2024-25 Season
I love watching Zion Williamson play. He's explosive and genuinely loves playing basketball. What I don’t love is his inability to complete a season due to injury. Could that change this year? I say, "yes!"
As of early August, he weighs 281 pounds and aims to reduce it to 271 by the start of the season -- his lightest weight since high school. His lowest weight at Duke was 285 lbs, and he has only weighed more with the Pelicans.
Zion Williamson in just 36 minutes this Preseason:
29 PTS
5 AST
10 REB
13/21 (62 FG%)The Franchise. pic.twitter.com/KBbwfyaJ4J
— ① (@BodiedByZion) October 16, 2024
I've been anticipating Williamson's breakout season, and this might finally be it. On the opening day of camp, Pelicans head coach Willie Green emphasized that it was time for everyone to rethink their use of the three-point line.
“The message has been pretty clear to get up at least 40 (3s) a game,” Williamson said on Monday. “That means we’ve got to play with pace. … In the grand scheme of things, it’s definitely going to be a positive for us.”
Williamson playing with pace is already like a freight train coming at you. If he lasts the season, fantasy managers will be licking their chops.
JJ Redick Is The New Thibs
After experiencing JJ Redick as an analyst and ESPN morning show guest, watching Coach Redick with the Lakers this year will be a must-see TV (along with Bronny James, but that’s another article).
Redick and the Lakers will be running a tighter rotation this year. Players who may see an uptick in fantasy relevance include Max Christie and Jaxson Hayes, who will likely be integrated into the rotation. Christie, in particular, has been mentioned as a potential breakout candidate under Redick's system.
Jaxson Hayes is cleared for lift off 🚀
(🎥: @Lakers) pic.twitter.com/wGYOVuuez9
— Lakers Nation (@LakersNation) October 16, 2024
While Anthony Davis and LeBron James will remain key players, a tighter rotation will increase the opportunities and playing time for players like D'Angelo Russell and Austin Reaves.
Similarly, veterans like Gabe Vincent and Jarred Vanderbilt could see significant minutes, making them valuable late-round picks or waiver-wire targets, especially for their defensive contributions and hustle stats like steals and rebounds.
Ben Simmons Returns To His (Mostly) Original Form
We all saw this earlier this year, and many of us, including me, laughed maniacally and tweeted, “Again?”
“Ben Simmons is back to playing All-Star talent level basketball. Big season loading.”🔥
- @Cbrickley603 pic.twitter.com/WQuLjcFWP1
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) September 17, 2024
The Nets skill coach, Chris Brickley, is confident that Simmons is back. NBA fans have seen Simmons at his best, but most of us are hesitant to believe he will be back. There is no doubt in his skills (well, some doubt with his jumper, but let’s see how this year goes), but after inconsistent playing time along with off-court issues, Simmons has a lot to prove -- to the fans, his team, and himself.
The point guard was a fantasy cheat code, especially in DFS. While in Philly, his peripherals would always get you there, especially if Joel Embiid was out for the night. That was then; his tenure with the Nets has gone much differently.
And yet, here we are! He has had a good preseason, and it’s a contract year -- again. Put all these together and what do we have? A possibly overlooked fantasy diamond in the rough who will be ignored by those of us who have grown tired of his so-called antics and are afraid to be hurt again.
Ben Simmons in the 1st half:
11 Points
5 Rebounds
2 Assists
71 FG%— Brooklyn Netcast (@BrooklynNetcast) October 15, 2024
Andre Drummond Thrives In His Return to Philly
Drummond played 49 games during his first stint with the Sixers in the 2021-22 season, averaging 8.8 rebounds, 6.1 points, and 2.0 assists per game. We already know that Joel Embiid won't play every game, and he has said he doesn't think he'll play another back-to-back this season.
Andre Drummond 3. 🔥👀
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) October 7, 2024
The 31-year-old two-time All-Star has a career average of 12.7 points and 12.4 rebounds. Oh, and he shoots threes from time to time. Having a solid backup to Embiid could be a, well, game-changer for the Sixers and fantasy managers this season.
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