Fantasy Basketball 2023: Position Rankings, Team Names for Upcoming NBA Season

NBA media day is behind us, and training camps are off and running.

Fantasy basketball is back.

You still have (a little) time to finalize your draft preparations, but the clock is ticking.

So, let's get going by plotting our top fives and spotlighting a sleeper at each position and finally laying out 10 team names worth considering.

Point Guard

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DALLAS, TX - SEPTEMBER 29: Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks poses for a portrait during 2023 NBA Media Day on September 29, 2023 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2023 NBAE (Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)

Top 5

1. Luka Dončić, Dallas Mavericks

2. Tyrese Haliburton, Indiana Pacers

3. Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors

4. Damian Lillard, Milwaukee Bucks

5. Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks

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Sleeper: Tyus Jones, Washington Wizards

Formally Ja Morant's backup in Memphis, Jones is now running the show in Washington and has a chance to take his stat sheet to the next level.

You know he'll always keep his assists up (career 3.9 per game) and his turnovers down (0.7), but he also has a chance to make big strides as a scorer and outside shooter.

Last season, Jones averaged 16.4 points and 2.0 three-pointers in 22 starts.

Shooting Guard

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NEW ORLEANS, LA - APRIL 12: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder dribbles the ball during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves during the 2023 Play-In Tournament on April 12, 2023 at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2023 NBAE (Photo by Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images)

Top 5

1. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder

2. Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves

3. Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns

4. Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers

5. Kyrie Irving, Dallas Mavericks

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Sleeper: Gary Trent Jr., Toronto Raptors

Trent has posted similar numbers over the past two seasons, which might convince some that he has plateaued. It feels too early to make that call. He hasn't even turned 25 yet and has only really been a rotation regular for the past three seasons.

So, he could benefit from having extra opportunities in this offense. Fred VanVleet, who signed in Houston this summer, was Toronto's second-leading scorer and its minutes leader last season. It's hard to imagine Dennis Schröder taking all of the leftover floor time and touches, so Trent should be more heavily involved.

Small Forward

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BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - OCTOBER 2: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics speaks to the media during Boston Celtics Media Day at The Auerbach Center on October 2, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.(Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Getty Images)

Top 5

1. Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics

2. LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers

3. Mikal Bridges, Brooklyn Nets

4. Jimmy Butler, Miami Heat

5. Lauri Markkanen, Utah Jazz

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Sleeper: Shaedon Sharpe, Portland Trail Blazers

Sharpe may not qualify as a small forward for everyone—he does at Yahoo and CBS but not ESPN, per FantasyPros—but no matter where he slots up, he could be one of this season's best breakout performers.

The rebuilding, Damian Lillard-less Blazers should have all kinds of minutes, touches and shots available to their young players, and Sharpe will almost certainly see a ton of them.

Portland let him loose late last season, and the results were—statistically speaking—wholly ridiculous. He scored 20-plus points in eight of his final 10 outings, averaging 23.7 points on 46 percent shooting, 6.1 rebounds and 4.1 assists over that stretch.

Power Forward

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MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - OCTOBER 02: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 and his brother Thanasis Antetokounmpo #43 of the Milwaukee Bucks pose for portraits during media day on October 02, 2023 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

Top 5

1. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks

2. Kevin Durant, Phoenix Suns

3. Pascal Siakam, Toronto Raptors

4. Julius Randle, New York Knicks

5. Paolo Banchero, Orlando Magic

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Sleeper: Jabari Smith Jr., Houston Rockets

Last summer's No. 3 pick, Smith seemed over his head for much of his rookie season. Even with an encouraging finish, he wound up with a woeful 40.8 field-goal percentage, a brutal connection rate for a 6'10" power forward.

Once the light bulb finally clicked, though, he hinted at how productive he could be. In his final 17 games, he averaged 16.4 points on 46.5 percent shooting, 8.2 rebounds, 1.5 three-pointers and 1.0 blocks.

Center

AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post

DENVER, CO - JUNE 12: Nikola Jokic (15) of the Denver Nuggets displays the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award as the star holds his daughter, Ognjena, after the fourth quarter of the Nuggets' 94-89 NBA Finals clinching win over the Miami Heat at Ball Arena in Denver on Monday, June 12, 2023. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)

Top 5

1. Nikola Jokić, Denver Nuggets

4. Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers

10. Domantas Sabonis, Sacramento Kings

15. Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers

18. Bam Adebayo, Miami Heat

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Sleeper: Jalen Duren, Detroit Pistons

Duren was basically a double-double machine last season—as a rookie teenager who played fewer than 25 minutes per night.

In 67 games (31 starts), he had 29 games with double-digit points, 28 games with double-digit rebounds and 19 games when he hit both marks.

If he ups his defensive output (he only averaged 0.9 blocks), he has a potential path to becoming a top-10 center.

Assuming the Pistons find roughly 30 minutes per night for him—Detroit has other young bigs, but Duren has the highest ceiling—he should average a double-double with a strong field-goal percentage (64.8 last season) and hopefully improved defensive marks.

Team Names

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CHARLOTTE, NC - SEPTEMBER 18: LaMelo Ball #1 of the Charlotte Hornets poses for a portrait during team content day on September 18, 2023 at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2023 NBAE (Photo by Kent Smith/NBAE via Getty Images)

LaMelo Ball Don't Lie

The Zion King

Who What When Where Kawhi

Bron to be Wild

Full Metal Jokić

Stairway to Kevin

I Can't Believe It's Not Butler

Jamal About That Bass

Take a Brow

Boogie Towns Productions