Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James memorably became the league's all-time leading scorer Tuesday night, with little possibility of anything overshadowing the historic achievement.
Then again, did anyone notice the Lakers actually lost the game to the suddenly intriguing Oklahoma City Thunder? While we can debate LeBron's place among the all-time fantasy greats (as colleague Andre Snellings expertly does here), the best fantasy option for this season played for the other team.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 30 points and 49 fantasy points in the 133-130 victory, a rather important result in the big picture as each team jockeys for playoff inclusion. Sure, James scored 38 points and 63 fantasy points, and he continues to carry fantasy managers in his incredible, age-38 season, but Gilgeous-Alexander may actually finish this season ranked as the No. 1 fantasy option.
Talk about being overshadowed. Is anyone talking about this?
The 24-year-old lottery pick of the Charlotte Hornets in 2018 was dealt to the LA Clippers that draft night and played a season there. Then he went to the Thunder and his fourth season has been his best. SGA ranks a shade behind Denver Nuggets C Nikola Jokic atop the Player Rater, and he is third in points leagues, behind Jokic and Dallas Mavericks PG/SG Luka Doncic. Gilgeous-Alexander was a solid fantasy option last season (24.5 PPG), but he wasn't a fantasy monster. Few clamored for him among the top 20 in preseason drafts. Now he averages 30.8 PPG and 52.3 fantasy points and is arguably the best player in fantasy, certainly one of the most improved.
The Thunder overcame the mood in the arena and beat the Lakers on Tuesday in part due to Gilgeous-Alexander leading them at each end of the floor (yeah, he actually plays defense, averaging 1.7 SPG and 1.1 BPG), and contributions from SG/SF Jalen Williams (a stunning 62 fantasy points), PG/SG Josh Giddey (20 points, 6 assists) and reserve shooters Isaiah Joe and Mike Muscala (a combined 31 points on 9-of-17 3-pointers).
Perhaps the win will educate many on how great Gilgeous-Alexander is and what the Thunder are doing. He may not earn MVP votes and the Thunder aren't likely winning the NBA title, but wow, let's discuss this.
Gilgeous-Alexander played one season at Kentucky (he's not alone on that one) and oozed potential as a 6-foot-5 point guard with an outside shot and defensive chops, but I doubt anyone saw him averaging 30 PPG with 5.6 APG, shooting 50% from the field and 91.2% from the line, as he is this season.
James gets the slight edge this season on a per-game basis, just barely at 53.6 fantasy points per game to 52.3 (they rank fifth and seventh overall, respectively), but Gilgeous-Alexander has played more games. In fact, his many missed games the prior two seasons were minor cause for concern, because the Thunder seemed eager to sit him. This year, SGA has missed only four games. James has missed 11.
Would you trade James for Gilgeous-Alexander for the remainder of this season? The numbers can be twisted for either argument, I suppose, but I recommend the (much) younger player. I admit I don't have shares of either fellow in my leagues this season.
James missed so many games in recent seasons, but this amazing athlete continues to silence any doubters. Frankly, this may be one of James's top-five fantasy seasons, considering the combination of gawdy statistics with his age and relative expectations. I didn't see it coming. I also didn't see Gilgeous-Alexander averaging 30 PPG or pulling his team into playoff consideration.
Jokic remains the best player in fantasy hoops, and I see that Snellings ranks Gilgeous-Alexander at No. 9 for points leagues, while Eric Moody has SGA fourth in category formats, behind only Joel Embiid, Jokic and Jayson Tatum. Those rankings are fair. SGA is more valuable in category/roto formats.
Did anyone see him ranking this well before the season? I think not. Celebrate James, but Gilgeous-Alexander is amazing, too.
Other random thoughts
--We occasionally get asked in the preseason about fantasy options we predict could make the step from relevant, top-50 player to top-20 superstar. Gilgeous-Alexander has achieved this level, as has Minnesota Timberwolves swingman Anthony Edwards. Some still doubt Utah Jazz SF/PF Lauri Markkanen can continue his excellent performance. I pegged Phoenix Suns SG/SF Mikal Bridges for this designation two seasons ago. He's top-20 on the Rater now. Cleveland Cavaliers PG/SG Darius Garland is close. Good to see New York Knicks PF Julius Randle and LA Clippers SF/PF Kawhi Leonard back in the club. I still think Cavaliers PF/C Evan Mobley and SGA teammate Giddey are on this path.
--A big complaint on Nuggets PG Jamal Murray used to be the lack of assists. If you draft or invest in a point guard in fantasy category formats, you must have assists. Murray never averaged 5 APG in a season. Now he is. It's great that Murray is at 5.8 APG, and improbable considering Jokic is at 10.2 APG. They coexist just fine. Just stay healthy, fellas. Also, I don't know who ends up winning league MVP honors, but Jokic is averaging a triple-double for the West's top team. He deserves it, even over league top scorer Joel Embiid, yet again.
--Orlando Magic PG Markelle Fultz may never develop a decent 3-point shot, but the rest of his game looks good. Fultz hasn't hit a 3-pointer in his past 10 games, but his mid-range game and work in transition is solid, and he is a strong steals option. The Magic have offensive talent, but Fultz is so inconsistent with the assists. It's not really his fault. The next step is for him to average 7 APG.
--Everyone wants to know if Brooklyn Nets SG Cam Thomas will continue scoring 40 points every night and, of course, nobody knows for sure, though we should be skeptical. He is obviously a must-add in fantasy in case some excellent level of performance continues, but this level of volume and usage is ridiculous and unsustainable. James leads the league at 22.8 field goal attempts per game, followed by Doncic and Tatum. Thomas has 75 attempts in three games! He is a shooter, not an all-around player, and defenses will adapt. Thomas is 36-for-40 from the free throw line over three games, too. That also can't continue. Nobody is trading a top-20 player for Thomas in fantasy, though this is the ultimate sell-high situation. Perhaps Thomas averages 20+PPG from now on depending on who the Nets settle on as his teammates in the post-KD era.