NBA Fantasy Rankings 2024: Expert Picks and Winning Strategies for Your Team
2025-11-04 19:13
As I sit down to map out my 2024 NBA fantasy basketball strategy, I can't help but reflect on how much this game mirrors real team building. I've been playing fantasy basketball for over a decade now, and if there's one truth I've discovered, it's that championship teams aren't built in isolation. The most successful fantasy managers I know operate exactly like LeBron James described when he talked about surrounding yourself with "that closed space" of connections who aren't afraid to tell you when you're wrong. In fantasy terms, this means cultivating trusted sources who will challenge your biases rather than just echoing your preconceptions.
Last season, I nearly made the catastrophic mistake of drafting Zion Williamson with my second-round pick because I was too enamored with his highlight reels. Thankfully, my fantasy circle—a group of five analysts I've trusted for years—pulled me back from the brink. They pointed to his 62% missed games rate over the past three seasons and the concerning pattern of recurring hamstring issues. That's the kind of honest feedback that wins championships. This year, I'm applying the same principle to my entire draft strategy, focusing particularly on players who offer both statistical consistency and untapped potential. My top sleeper pick? Jalen Williams from Oklahoma City. He finished last season averaging 19.1 points, 4.5 assists, and 4.0 rebounds after the All-Star break, and I'm convinced he'll crack top-40 value this season.
When it comes to building your roster, the numbers don't lie but they also don't tell the whole story. Nikola Jokic remains my undisputed number one pick—the man is essentially a walking triple-double who played 2,980 minutes last season, more than any other superstar. But here's where personal preference comes in: I'm deliberately fading James Harden this year despite his projected third-round value. At 34 years old with declining explosiveness and a potential reduction in usage rate on the Clippers, I'd rather target Tyrese Maxey one round later. The beauty of fantasy basketball is that sometimes you have to trust your gut alongside the analytics.
The mid-rounds are where championships are truly won, and this is where that "closed space" philosophy becomes critical. Last season, my research group collectively identified Derrick White as a breakout candidate while most rankings had him outside the top 100. We noticed his defensive stats were quietly elite—1.2 blocks per game from a guard is virtually unheard of—and his role was expanding. That single pick helped three of us reach our league finals. This year, I'm looking at similar undervalued assets like Memphis's Marcus Smart, who should see increased playmaking duties with Ja Morant suspended for the first 25 games.
As we approach the later rounds, this is where you separate the contenders from the pretenders. I'm targeting high-upside fliers like Orlando's Paolo Banchero, who showed flashes of triple-double potential despite the Magic's crowded frontcourt. The key is balancing risk versus reward—Banchero might be inconsistent, but in the 8th round, that's a gamble worth taking. Meanwhile, I'm completely avoiding aging veterans like Chris Paul, whose minutes will likely be carefully managed throughout the season.
Ultimately, fantasy basketball success comes down to building the right support system around your decision-making process. The connections you cultivate—whether it's that trusted group of fellow managers or the analysts you follow religiously—create that essential feedback loop that prevents costly mistakes. As I finalize my draft board for the 2024 season, I'm reminded that the best fantasy managers aren't necessarily the ones with the most basketball knowledge, but those who are smart enough to recognize they don't know everything. That humility, combined with strategic aggression at the right moments, is what transforms a good team into a championship contender.
Heather Bolton Suber ’02
Leah Schnell ’01
Sarah Grimes Wiggins ’93
Dr. Ralph Swearngin
Point University will induct four members into the Athletics Hall of Fame during a luncheon on Friday, October 24, during Homecoming weekend.
The class of 2025 includes Leah Schnell ’01, Heather Bolton Suber ’02, Dr. Ralph Swearngin and Sarah Grimes Wiggins ’93. The Athletics Hall of Fame was launched in May 2024, when six inaugural members were inducted.
“We look forward to honoring the second Hall of Fame class during Homecoming,” said Jaunelle White, vice president of intercollegiate athletics and chief student development officer. “It’s always a great feeling to have our alumni back on campus mingling with our current student-athletes and coaches. These individuals were elite during their time at Atlanta Christian College and deserve to be recognized.”
Schnell attended Atlanta Christian College from 1998 to 2001, where she earned a degree in business while competing in both basketball and volleyball. On the basketball court, she earned First Team All-Conference, Scholar Athlete, and First Team All-American honors for three consecutive years. Schnell also held the title of all-time leading scorer from 1998-2001. She now thrives as a commercial construction project manager at Barnsley Construction Group and as an entrepreneur.
Suber, from Havana, Florida, attended ACC from 1998 to 2002. A dedicated two-sport athlete, she earned numerous accolades, including First Team All-Conference, Second Team All-Conference, Honorable Mention and First Team All-American. One of her most memorable achievements came when she made eleven three-pointers in a single game. Suber graduated with a degree in early childhood education and went on to earn a master’s degree in education and a specialist degree in instructional technology. For over 23 years, she has served as an educator.
Swearngin has had a distinguished career in education, athletics and ministry spanning several decades, including 20 years at ACC in roles such as professor, dean of students, athletics director and coach. He held national leadership positions with the NCCAA, served as a trustee of Point University for over 10 years, and worked extensively in ministry and education in California, earning degrees from Whittier College and Georgia State University. His athletic involvement includes 23 years as a high school football official in California and Georgia, 22 years with the Georgia High School Association — retiring as executive director in 2014 — and service on national football and softball rules committees. Honored with multiple Hall of Fame inductions and the Atlanta Falcons Lifetime Achievement Award, Swearngin has authored two books and remains active in retirement through preaching and leading Bible studies, alongside his wife of 58 years, Evelyn.
Wiggins grew up in Roswell, Georgia, where she began playing basketball at the age of ten. After two years at Florida State University, she transferred to ACC in 1990. While at ACC, Wiggins was named to the All-American team in both 1991 and 1992. In her final year, she led her team in scoring, helping them finish second in the nation, and was named national MVP in 1992. She earned a bachelor of science in elementary education in 1993 and later received a master’s degree in technology and media sciences from Georgia Southern University in 2009. For the past 33 years, Wiggins has worked as a dedicated educator. In 1997, she married Todd Wiggins. Together, they have two children, Preston, 26, and Logan, 22.
