Giannis Antetokounmpo’s past few weeks have been a demonstration of dominance from the nine-time NBA All-Star.
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The rumor mill is rotating at full tilt with the NBA trade deadline one week away.
Big names are said to be on the trading block around the league, and should they find new destinations, fantasy numbers can fluctuate accordingly. That will be a forthcoming focus point for NBA Fantasy Salary Game players.
Here are all the need-to-knows midway through Week 15:
Jimmy Butler figures to have a new basketball home soon, currently serving an indefinite suspension for the Miami Heat (23-23) and his third overall since Jan. 3 amid demands of a trade. The six-time NBA All-Star played his longest stretch this season from Nov. 18 to Dec. 20, during which he averaged 38.7 fantasy points across 12 games played. That span was highlighted by a campaign-best 87.8 on a 35-point, 19-rebound, and 10-assist triple-double on Dec. 16.
The 14th-year forward has topped 50 fantasy points five times over – good for 20% of his total games played. An array of absences, though, has undermined his ability to scale the total fantasy points (TFP) rankings, as he sits outside the top 150 with 844.2. Butler averages 33.8 fantasy points per game (FPPG), which is a poor deal at the moment for his $13.9M salary, but a reliable role with a new team could make him a useful late-season pickup.
Talks of the Sacramento Kings (24-23) moving De’Aaron Fox in the coming days have also been circulating. Consistency has been the name of the game for the eighth-year guard, playing 43 of Sacramento’s 47 games thus far, and opening the campaign with 35 consecutive starts en route to his current marks of 1900.2 TFP and 43.2 FPPG. Those qualify as 15th and 19th in the NBA, respectively.
Fox has surpassed the 40-point fantasy threshold 29 times, highlighted by 13 straight from Dec. 16 to Jan. 19. The 2023 NBA All-Star and Comeback Player of the Year remains the only player this season to score 60 points in a single game – doing so Nov. 15 against the Minnesota Timberwolves (26-21). Fantasy general managers will have to dish out $15.3M to acquire him, but his consistency constitutes a safe investment.
Anthony Davis commenced the week with a bang, cruising to a season-high 74.6 fantasy points Monday in a 112-107 victory for the Los Angeles Lakers (26-19) over the Charlotte Hornets (12-32). The 13th-year center thrived at the basket while dominating the glass on the other end, racking up 42 points and 23 rebounds – both his best marks this campaign. It was the first time he’s reached the 70-point plateau since Dec. 19, and the third overall, adding to what’s now 27 outings with 50 or more fantasy points across 42 starts thus far in 2024-2025.
Following that lengthy highlight reel was further scoring prowess from Giannis Antetokounmpo in the form of 71.1 fantasy points tallied against the Utah Jazz (10-35) in a 125-110 win for the Milwaukee Bucks (26-19) – also registered Monday. The past few weeks have been a demonstration of dominance from the nine-time NBA All-Star, as he’s now strung together six consecutive games with 50-plus fantasy points as part of nine in the last 11. Totals of 35 points, 18 rebounds, and seven assists versus the Jazz served as the cherry on top for such a stretch.
Rounding out the top three – all of which were submitted Monday night – was Nikola Jokić and his 70.4 fantasy points for the Denver Nuggets (28-19) in their 129-121 defeat at the hands of the Chicago Bulls (20-28). Opponents can only hope to limit the league leader’s 2648.5 total fantasy points (TFP) and 64.6 fantasy points per game (FPPG), and that was just the case on this occasion, as he put up 33 points, 12 rebounds, and 14 assists for his 21st triple-double this season. The three-time NBA MVP is responsible for 15 showings with 70 or more fantasy points.
Put your money towards budget players on the Los Angeles Clippers (27-20) for a high-probability point boost for the latter half of Week 15. The group hits the road for matchups against the Hornets and Toronto Raptors (15-32) on Friday and Sunday, respectively.
Both upcoming foes possess bottom-half defensive ratings in the league and could be susceptible to big numbers from non-stars on the Clippers. Top candidates should be Derrick Jones Jr. with 891.3 TFP for $7.0M and Kevin Porter Jr. with a not-so-far-behind 843.2 TFP for $6.9M.
Jones is the more consistent option as of late, submitting 20 or more fantasy points in four of the last five games while scoring less than 10 in just one of the previous 10. The ninth-year forward has continued to ride the high of his season-best 50.9 versus the Boston Celtics (33-15) on Jan. 22.
