Ranking best fantasy basketball players in 2023 featuring Nikola Jokic, Luka Doncic and Joel Embiid

Nikola Jokic, Luka Doncic, Joel Embiid and Giannis Antetokounmpo are four of the top fantasy basketball players this season. [photo: BasketNews]
Nikola Jokic, Luka Doncic, Joel Embiid and Giannis Antetokounmpo are four of the top fantasy basketball players this season. [photo: BasketNews]

#3 Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers, Center

Joel Embiid has been dominant yet again this season.
Joel Embiid has been dominant yet again this season.

After a slow first month into the season, Joel Embiid has been in vintage form the rest of the way. He is the main reason why the Philadelphia 76ers are now tied with the Milwaukee Bucks for the second-best record in the Eastern Conference.

Even when James Harden sat out for almost a month, the 76ers have been competitive due to “The Process.”

Embiid is averaging an incredible 33.6 PPG, exactly three points better than last season when he won the NBA scoring title. He is second in that category this year to go with 9.8 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.7 blocks.


#2 Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks, Point Guard

Luka Doncic has been nearly unguardable this season.
Luka Doncic has been nearly unguardable this season.

Luka Doncic is the NBA’s leading scorer at 33.7 PPG, just a hairline better than Embiid’s. He is second in the league in triple-doubles this season with 10. James Harden has the third-most with only four.

Doncic’s historical 60-point, 20-rebound and 10-assist explosion against the New York Knicks on Dec. 27 is still reverberating in the NBA. It’s one big reason why he is a shoo-in for almost everybody’s collection of the best fantasy basketball players.

“Luka Legend” is averaging 33.7 points, 8.8 rebounds, 8.8 assists and 1.6 steals per game. These are fantasy numbers fans wouldn’t want to miss for their respective teams.


#1 Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets, Center

Nikola Jokic could win his third straight MVP award by season's end.
Nikola Jokic could win his third straight MVP award by season's end.

As great as Nikola Jokic has been, he’s still incredibly often overlooked by basketball fans in general. Those who want to get the best fantasy basketball players, however, should be jolted awake by “The Joker.”

The back-to-back and reigning NBA MVP is putting up 25.1 points, 11.0 rebounds, 9.9 assists and 1.4 steals. He has laid claim to being the league’s best passing big man in history.

Jokic leads the NBA in triple-doubles with 14, four more than Doncic. The Denver Nuggets center is also second in double-doubles with 32.

Nikola Jokic is leading the Nuggets to the best record in the Western Conference and is looking to win his third straight MVP honor. He looks like the name fantasy basketball players shouldn’t miss out on.

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