No Jokic, no Edwards, no SGA – no worries.
Schedule and role are heavily impacting my starting team for the first season of SuperCoach NBA, in a squad that is a mix of rookies, established stars and players ready to step up.
The Nuggets have only two games in the opening round, and three in the second, which has pushed me from Nikola Jokic to Victor Wembanyama to start the season. The Spurs play an extra game in that stretch, and the French freak is just under $7 million cheaper.
Giannis Antetokounmpo is a no-brainer considering his high shooting percentage, meanwhile my other premiums are all in the back court. Donovan Mitchell puts points up in bunches and is just under $15 million, while the Warriors have three four-game weeks in the first month of the season which makes Steph Curry a simple enough pick.
And finally the Lakers will be without LeBron James for the start of the campaign, which means ‘skinny’ Luka Doncic should be ready to dominate.
One player to me who is a must-have considering price and role is Jaylen Brown. With no Jayson Tatum, a lot of the Celtics offence is going to fall on the broad shoulder of Brown. He attacks the rim and shoots the ball at a high clip from the field. At $13.92 million and multiple four-game weeks for the Celtics early in the season… PICK JAYLEN BROWN.
Filling out the remainder of my team is a variety of rookies and cheapies.
Cooper Flagg is an obvious choice, as is Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey. Matas Buzelis from the Bulls looks ready to break out and I’m happy to have him in despite the Bulls playing just two games in the first round. Kon Knueppel, Egor Denim, and Collin Murray-Boyles are all rookies who should get plenty of opportunity in very average teams, while second-year man Ryan Dunn should get the start in a very bizarre Phoenix Suns team.
The big shock for me in the ownership percentages to start SuperCoach NBA is Yang Hansen. The Portland big man already has star written all over him and already has been compared to Nikola Jokic. He is currently owned by just 5 per cent of SuperCoaches but should be a 15-20 minute per game guy who could easily average 10 points, four rebounds, four assists, and two blocks in those minutes.