The final of the Emirates NBA Cup is upon us, and it’s a battle of old blood versus new blood.
The Milwaukee Bucks are the incumbent threat, former champions with an all-world superstar and an aging core. Their average age of 27.9 makes them the seventh-oldest roster in the NBA.
Meanwhile, the Oklahoma City Thunder are the up-and-comers. Led by rising point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and buoyed by the tantalizing potential of 16 future first-round picks, the Thunder are the youngest team in the NBA (24.1 years). After coming within three wins of an NBA title during the Kevin Durant-Russell Westbrook-James Harden era, Oklahoma City is on the verge of winning its first piece of silverware since its move to the prairie in 2008.
As the Thunder and the Bucks meet on the court at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas at 8:30 p.m. ET, there will be plenty of prizes up for grabs for DFS players at DraftKings. Players can set their lineups for NBA Showdown $400K NBA Cup Special [$100K to 1st] (MIL @ OKC) here.
In the Single-Game Showdown format, players will have the opportunity to pick a Captain, costing 1.5x the price but returning 1.5x the fantasy points, as well as five FLEX players of any position.
While there are many appealing options for Captain, Milwaukee forward Giannis Antetokounmpo ($19,500 as Captain) and Oklahoma City’s Jalen Williams ($15,600 as Captain) are my favorites.
Giannis Antetokounmpo as Captain
If you’re going to spend big on your Captain by picking the top star on either team, I’d prefer Antetokounmpo, even though he costs more than the Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ($18,000 as Captain).
As incredible and consistent as SGA is, the Greek Freak is arguably even more so, averaging the second-most combined points, rebounds, and assists in basketball. Antetokounmpo’s rebounding is an especially valuable asset since every rebound is worth 1.25 fantasy points on DraftKings, and he averages almost as many assists as Gilgeous-Alexander (6.1 to 6.3). The Bucks’ offense starts and ends with Antetokounmpo, who ranks second in the league in usage among players playing at least 20 minutes per game.
The Thunder own the league’s best defense by more than two points per 100 possessions, so nothing will necessarily come easy for Antetokounmpo. However, Oklahoma City gives up 48.0 rebounds per game, more than all but the Washington Wizards, so he should be able to dominate the glass and rack up fantasy points.
Jalen Williams as Captain
Meanwhile, if you’re not going to go with either Antetokounmpo or Gilgeous-Alexander, I prefer Williams to Milwaukee’s Damian Lillard ($16,200 as Captain).
Lillard has been slightly better so far in 2024-25 than he was in his disappointing first season with the Bucks, but his best years are clearly behind him. He can still put the ball in the bucket — averaging 25.7 points, good for tenth in the league — but he’s a disinterested defender at best and has lost a lot of his burst.
Meanwhile, the 23-year-old Williams has become one of the league’s best two-way forces, pouring in an efficient 21.7 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game while leading the league with 1.9 defensive win shares so far this season. Each steal counts for two fantasy points on DraftKings, and Williams’ 2.0 steals per game rank fourth in the league.
Lineup Construction for Milwaukee vs. Oklahoma City
Going with Antetokounmpo as Captain would take up 39% of your budget, which would require you to rely on some budget options to fill out the rest of your lineup.
The Thunder are deep and provide DFS players with plenty of role players who can make a big impact on any given night. Oklahoma City shooting guard Alex Caruso ($4,400) is a must-play in any lineup built around Antetokounmpo, as he’s averaging 1.8 steals per game in just 20 minutes of playing time. I also like the Thunder’s Luguentz Dort ($6,000), who averages more than a steal and nearly a block per game. Meanwhile, Milwaukee’s Khris Middleton ($6,600) is still working his way back into playing shape after offseason surgery on both of his ankles, but the three-time All-Star will find his form eventually.
Meanwhile, building around Williams allows for more versatility and allow higher-priced supporting players on both teams to make it into lineups.
Instead of having to rely on streaky shooters like Gary Trent Jr. ($3,600), choosing Williams as captain allows DFS players to lean on more reliable options like Milwaukee’s Bobby Portis ($7,400), a two-time finalist for Sixth Man of the Year. It also opens up a slot for Bucks center Brook Lopez ($7,000), whose 2.1 blocks per game rank third in the NBA, while keeping the core FLEX pieces of Isaiah Hartenstein ($9,000) and Dort intact. I also like the inclusion of Cason Wallace ($4,800), who’s increased his counting stats in all five major categories from his rookie season.
Captaining Williams might also allow you to double up on stars, pairing him with either Antetokounmpo or Gilgeous-Alexander and opting for budget options to fill out your squad.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA Showdown $400K NBA Cup Special [$100K to 1st] (MIL at OKC)
All odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.
I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and do not constitute a representation that any particular strategy will guarantee success. All customers should use their own skill and judgment in building lineups. I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.
