NBA Fantasy: Jan. 23
The basketball season is half way done. At this point in the season there are some players who are stepping up their game, and some players whose production is decreasing.
There are three players who I can see heating up and staying hot, and there are three players who I can see going cold.
Who’s Hot?
It goes without question that the stars of the league like LeBron James, and Jayson Tatum, and Kyrie Irving, etc, are all going to be players that you will rely on for the remainder of the NBA season.
However, there are players that are producing at the same level as these stars with a smaller name.
Alperen Sengun
Alperen Sengun has been torching the league recently. The 20 year-old center for the Houston Rockets has been playing some elite basketball.
The minutes are now coming in heavy for Sengun and this has opened up his incredible ability. For the year, Sengun is averaging 15.2 points and 9 rebounds.
However, in his last seven games, he is averaging 22.8 points and 12.2 rebounds. With Sengun getting more playing time, he can be a huge asset in leagues.
Gary Trent Jr
Gary Trent Jr has been playing his best basketball recently. He is starting to show the league his true scoring abilities. The Raptors are a next man up kind of organization.
It is time for someone to establish themselves in the Toronto backcourt. Trent Jr has been able to get buckets and is averaging 21.5 points in his last seven games.
Markelle Fultz
Markelle Fultz is one of basketball's biggest question marks. Is he good? Is he a bust? Regardless of his past, Fultz is figuring it out again.
Fultz hasn’t gotten the ball rolling for a long enough period in the NBA for me to call him good just yet.
But, he has shown glimpses of greatness. As a former number one pick, Fultz can really ball and is finding his stroke midway through this season.
Who’s Cold?
Jalen Suggs
It has not been an idle year for the young Jalen Suggs.
Injuries have plagued his season and since coming back to the court he has not been able to find his stride.
The Magic have other young players on their roster who are playing better and it may just be a year to forget for Suggs.
Dillon Brooks
Brooks has had some rough consecutive games in his recent games.
In his recent game against the Los Angeles Lakers, Brooks got into a scuffle with Shannon Sharpe, a Hall of Fame Tight end and co-host of the undisputed talk show with Skip Bayless.
Brooks has had a ton of media backlash and it may be affecting his game. Brooks is cold right now and may not find himself for a little bit.
Anfernee Simons
Anfernee Simons has been a bright flash of hope for the Trail Blazers this season. But maybe it was too good to be true.
Simons was rolling in points as he was averaging 21.6 points for the season. But, in his last seven games his average is down to 16.7 points a game and his game has looked a bit off.
He may just be cold and he can bounce back, but if he is unable to, I believe the Anfernee Simons hype is over.
Max Savitt is a second-year student majoring in journalism. To contact him, email mrs6929@psu.edu.
