A week into the new year, the NBA’s superstar pecking order is beginning to take shape. Big names, including Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Victor Wembanyama are set to take the floor tonight. That makes narrowing down a select group to start in season-long fantasy and DFS formats a difficult task. Here are the three guards at the top of Wednesday’s board:
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $300K Excellent 8’s [$100K to 1st]
1. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder at CLE ($10,500)
Riding a 15-game win streak, the Thunder have been playing brilliant basketball over the past month. Leading the way has been Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. After 35 games, the two-time All-Star is emerging as a dark horse MVP candidate, putting up 31.3 points, 5.6 rebounds and 6.1 assists on 52.4% shooting. The guard has been just as impressive on the other end of the floor, producing 2.0 steals and 1.1 blocks.
What SGA lacks in elite athleticism, he makes up for in all-around skill and high basketball IQ. As the best player on the Western Conference’s best team, Oklahoma City’s success hinges on his own ability to control the offense. That should be the case once again tonight in a marquee matchup with the Cavaliers, owners of the NBA’s best record. This season, Cleveland is giving up the sixth-fewest DK fantasy points to opposing point guards. Still, Gilgeous-Alexander’s role on the Thunder gives him a massive fantasy floor. Regardless of who the superstar is playing, he’s going to earn a spot near the top of this list.
2. Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia 76ers vs. WAS ($8,800)
A nightmare season for the 76ers continued this week, with the team announcing that both Joel Embiid (foot) and Paul George (groin) would miss Wednesday’s game with injuries. That leaves control of Philadelphia’s offense in the hands of Tyrese Maxey. While supremely talented, the 24-year-old has yet to show he can lead a team without help from a star teammate; his record is 6-13 in games without Embiid this season.
While it’s clear that Maxey isn’t ready to carry Philadelphia on his back, he won’t need to tonight. The Wizards enter the contest giving up the most points to opponents (121.8) and the most DK fantasy points to opposing guards. Over his last seven matchups with Washington, Maxey has averaged 24.0 points and 5.6 assists to go with a 51.2% field goal percentage. With so much production on the shelf for the Sixers, their young All-Star will have no choice but to step up as the clear number one option.
3. Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons at BKN ($9,800)
The Pistons are flying under the radar, having won seven of their last eight contests. Currently in the middle of the Eastern Conference playoff picture with an 18-18 record, Detroit has shown its no longer one of the association’s punching bags. Key to the turnaround has been Cade Cunningham. The guard has blossomed into an elite stat-stuffer this season, posting 24.4 points, 6.7 rebounds and 9.5 assists through 32 games played.
The former number one overall pick will have to navigate a surprisingly good Nets defense tonight. This season, Brooklyn is giving up the fifth-fewest DK fantasy points to opposing point guards, making this matchup far from a guarantee. Still, Cunningham’s role as the Pistons’ offensive engine is undisputed, making it tough to keep off of this list under any circumstance. Detroit’s face of the franchise should have the ball in his hands for nearly every possession on Wednesday night.
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I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is b.armetta) 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.
