Nikola Jokić, Denver Nuggets
This is the easiest way to handle having the first pick, and maybe that means it’s simply the correct one, too. The three-time MVP is as reliable as anyone in fantasy, and he’s basically guaranteed to help you everywhere other than blocks. Over his last five seasons, he has averaged 26.8 points, 12.3 rebounds, 9.0 assists, 1.4 steals and 72.8 games.
Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs
For those who don’t take the Joker, there won’t be a greater temptation than Wembanyama, who seems capable of breaking the game of basketball at any moment. He’s already an elite in points (24.3), rebounds (11.0), blocks (3.8) and three-pointers (3.1), and there’s a hope he can become even more efficient (47.6 field-goal percentage), particularly with San Antonio having overloaded its roster with playmakers.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder
The league’s reigning MVP is 27 years old, has complete control of his offense and leads a roster bursting at the seams with solid-to-borderline-spectacular support players. In other words, it’s possible we haven’t seen SGA at his best, and that’s saying something after the campaign he just delivered: 32.7 points, 6.4 assists, 5.0 rebounds, 2.7 combined steals and blocks and 2.1 three-pointers.
Luka DonÄić, Los Angeles Lakers
Would it be a reach to take DonÄić first overall? Probably, if only because he sometimes has issues with availability and shooting efficiency. That said, he’s a 26-year-old who won a scoring title in 2023-24, flirts with triple-doubles on a nightly basis and has recently come within arm’s reach of both a 50 field-goal percentage and a 40-percent splash rate from three. He is objectively awesome, and his improved conditioning might bring out his best basketball yet.
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