2024-25 Fantasy Basketball: 4 centers who will break out this NBA season

Is this finally the season Onyeka Okongwu breaks out for fantasy football? (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images)

In the final chapter of our fantasy basketball breakout series, we shift our focus to the centers poised to shine this season. After covering the breakout guards and forwards earlier this week, I’ve identified four big men who’ve yet to finish inside the top 70 but are due for career years in fantasy basketball. Let’s get into it.

Jalen Duren, C, Detroit Pistons

OK, I definitely predicted Jalen Duren would break out last year. And he kind of did. He’s one of four players in NBA history to average at least 13 points and 11 rebounds per game before turning 21. Duren also significantly improved his free-throw shooting, raising his average by 18% from his rookie year.

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So you’re probably wondering why he’s back on my list. Well, he falls just shy of my top 70 threshold for breakouts.

The Pistons made sweeping changes to their front office, coaching staff and roster that will accelerate Duren’s development. Looking at how new Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff utilized Jarrett Allen lends some insight into what to expect from Duren — more minutes and some (insert expletive) defense!

Duren had the highest defensive rebound percentage in the league last year despite averaging less than 30 minutes per night under Monty Williams. Knowing that Jarrett Allen averaged 32 minutes per game over the past four seasons under Bickerstaff must be music to Duren’s ears. More minutes generally equate to more production, so a bump in scoring and rebounding is imminent.

Additionally, J.B. Bickerstaff reengineered the Cavaliers into a top-10 defensive unit under his reign, which should bode well for Duren. Duren’s defense was abysmal last year, falling from the 60th percentile in blocks and steals in his rookie campaign to the 36th and 15th percentiles, respectively. With a more concerted defensive effort, we can expect a spike in stocks. Lastly, he continues making strides as a playmaker, seeing his assist rate jump from 6.8% to 12.7% last year.

Duren is…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/2024-25-fantasy-basketball-4-centers-who-will-break-out-this-nba-season-163921726.html

Author : Yahoo Sports

Publish date : 2024-09-27 16:39:21

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