A loaded eleven-game NBA slate is on tap for Wednesday, with 22 teams set to tip off across the association. Plenty of big names are expected to take the floor, including Cade Cunningham, Victor Wembanyama, and Nikola Jokic. With so many stars in action, narrowing down who to start in season-long fantasy and DFS formats is a difficult task. Here are the three centers at the top of tonight’s fantasy basketball rankings:
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1. Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets at NYK ($12,300)
On a Wednesday slate filled to the brim with quality centers, there’s no debate over who’s number one. Nikola Jokic is having yet another jaw-dropping campaign, posting 30.0 points, 13.1 rebounds and 10.2 assists. Even with those massive counting stats, the three-time MVP has maintained efficient 57.0/47.4/81.2 shooting splits. Add all that up, and you have a league-leading average of 68.8 fantasy points per game.
Even the Joker might have some difficulty tonight against the Knicks, who have held opposing centers to the second-fewest DK fantasy points. When Denver and New York last met in November, Jokic recorded just 22 points, seven rebounds and seven assists. Still, it’s impossible to fade the big man, even at this expensive price. In a much-anticipated primetime matchup, expect Denver’s superstar to deliver under the bright lights of Madison Square Garden.
2. Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs vs. LAC ($11,100)
Confession: I spent more than one second considering someone other than Nikola Jokic to lead this list. That’s the highest compliment one can give Victor Wembanyama, who has taken less than two years to emerge as one of the game’s elite. This season, the 21-year-old has posted 24.5 points, 10.8 rebounds and a league-leading 3.9 blocks.
San Antonio’s franchise cornerstone, en route to his first career All-Star game selection, is already one of the NBA’s most consistent producers. The big man has notched a double-double in nine of his last ten outings, all while swatting 4.0 blocks per game during that time. The Clippers are tough down low, holding centers to the eighth-fewest fantasy points. Ultimately, it doesn’t matter. Wembanyama is firmly entrenched near the top of these fantasy basketball rankings, both tonight and going forward.
3. Domantas Sabonis, Sacramento Kings at PHI ($9,900)
In today’s age of ultra-productive, do-it-all centers, Domantas Sabonis seems to get lost in the shuffle. The Kings standout has spent his entire career playing in smaller markets, so this isn’t unusual. Still, the three-time All-Star is putting up numbers that are hard to ignore. This season, Sabonis has averaged 21.0 points, 14.6 rebounds and 6.5 assists while shooting 60.9% from the field. That includes 48.1% shooting from three-point range (2.4 attempts per game), the second-best mark in basketball.
Even by his own lofty standards, Sabonis has been on a tear recently. The Lithuanian has tallied a triple-double in each of his last two appearances, recording over 50 fantasy points in six straight contests. A stingy 76ers defense awaits on Wednesday, but they could be without both Joel Embiid (knee) and Andre Drummond (toe). Against an undersized opponent, Sacramento’s superstar should dominate.
