The 2023 NBA rookie class will likely go down as a game-changer. They’re headed by Victor Wembanyama, who put together a historic debut season and is likely headed for multiple MVPs if he can stay healthy. Chet Holmgren was a key piece for a Western Conference finalist. Guys like Brandon Miller, Scoot Henderson, and the Thompson twins still have star-level upside, while Jaime Jaquez, Dereck Lively, and Brandin Podziemski filled big roles as rookies.
The 2024 rookie class? It doesn’t look nearly as promising.
For fantasy purposes, no rookie is currently being drafted inside the top-100 picks on both ESPN and Yahoo. Most of the players selected early in the draft are projects who will likely take some time to develop (if ever). The more “polished” rookie prospects landed in situations where they might not have many opportunities to make an impact in their first year. Ultimately, if you completely ignored the rookies for fantasy purposes, you wouldn’t be much worse off.
Still, rookies are routinely some of the best sources of fantasy value, regardless of the sport. Wembanyama and Holmgren both finished as top-8 players in ESPN’s Player Rater last season and while no one in the class offers that kind of upside, a few might be able to outperform their ADP. Adam Ronis currently has three rookies inside his overall Top 150, with one checking in as high as No. 74.
Let’s dive into some of the most likely rookies to help fantasy basketball squads in 2024.
Top Fantasy Basketball Rookies for 2024
Zach Edey | C | MEM
- ESPN ADP: 108
- Yahoo ADP: 113
Edey is the clear top rookie option for fantasy purposes, just barely cracking the top 75 in Ronis’ Top 150. While his long-term outlook as a prospect is murky, he should immediately provide significant value in a few categories. He averaged at least 22.3 points, 12.3 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks per game in his final two collegiate seasons, taking home the AP Player of the Year and the Wooden Award for both campaigns. In his final year, he led the entire NCAA with an average of 25.2 points per game while shooting better than 62% from the field and 71% from the free-throw line.
He’s obviously going to face a bit stiffer competition in the pros, but Edey is a prototypical back-to-the-basket center. He’s going to be able to gobble up points and rebounds at the NBA level; the bigger question is whether or not he can play enough defense to survive. If not, he could end up like a host of other centers who have fit the same prototype (Enes Kanter, Jahlil Okafor, Greg Monroe).
While those players didn’t have great NBA careers, they certainly helped fantasy players in the classic big man categories: points, rebounds, FG%, and blocks. Edey also isn’t going to kill you at the free-throw line like some of the other traditional centers.
So far, Edey has looked the part in the preseason. He’s coming off a huge performance in his last outing, racking up 23 points and 9 rebounds in just 19 minutes. Across four games, he’s averaged 13.5 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks in just over 20 minutes of action.
It remains to be seen if Edey will crack the Grizzlies’ starting lineup on opening night, but he has the opportunity to earn more minutes as the year progresses. Even if he’s coming off the bench, he could be an impact player right out of the gates. He’s coming off the board too late across the industry, and he’s someone I’m happy to “reach” for at his current ADP.
Alex Sarr | PF/C | WAS
- ESPN ADP: 139
- Yahoo ADP: 136
While Edey is the established collegiate superstar, Sarr is the international prospect. He was considered by many to have the highest ceiling in the 2024 rookie class, and it’s easy to see why. He checks in a 7-foot with a big wingspan, and his defense is his best attribute. He averaged 1.5 blocks in just 15 minutes per game in the New Zealand Basketball League last season at just 18 years old.
His offensive game is more of a work in progress, but he at least has some potential to stretch the floor. He shot just 16-for-58 from 3-point range last season (28%), but he’s knocked down at least a pair of 3-pointers in each of his three preseason games. He’s 7-for-13 from distance in those contests, and while it’s a small sample, it gives a glimpse of his upside.
Sarr also has a game with 9 rebounds during the preseason, and he has two games with at least 3 assists. In other words, he’s capable of doing a little bit of everything.
The biggest question mark with Sarr is his efficiency. He could be a major drain on your FG percentage, especially if he takes on a big role for the Wizards right out of the gates. But as long as you can survive the hit, he’s an interesting late-round flier. The Wizards have nothing to play for this season, so it makes sense to get as many minutes for Sarr as possible to aid his development.
Reed Sheppard | SG | HOU
- ESPN ADP: 110
- Yahoo ADP: 169
Sheppard was considered the best shooter in the 2024 NBA Draft, knocking down better than 52% from 3-point range in his lone collegiate season. That alone gives him some viability for fantasy rosters who are looking for 3-point production late.
Still, Sheppard has the potential to be much more than that. He was unstoppable during the Summer League, averaging 20.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 2.7 steals, and 1.3 blocks with excellent efficiency. He was simply too good for that level of competition.
Can he produce at the same level in the NBA? That remains to be seen, but we’ve seen some encouraging signs during the preseason. He shot better than 70% from the field in his second preseason outing, finishing with 11 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, and 1 3-pointer in 23 minutes.
The big question with Sheppard is what kind of role he’ll see as a rookie. The Rockets are trying to contend for a postseason spot in 2024, and he has established players in front of him on the depth chart. Fred VanVleet and Jalen Green will earn the starting nods in the backcourt, so Sheppard is going to have to make his mark off the bench. His role could develop as the year progresses, but he’s not someone who should be expected to play a ton out of the gates.
Other Targets
Stephon Castle | PG/SG | SAS
- ESPN ADP: 129
- Yahoo ADP: 174
Castle helped Connecticut win its second straight NCAA Championship last season, and he was the 4th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. He’s known primarily for his defense, and his shooting left a lot to be desired as a freshman.
However, Castle has impressed during the preseason, averaging 11.0 points per game while shooting better than 50% from the field and 40% from 3-point range. If he can continue to shoot at that level, his defense is going to get him on the court.
Castle also has a chance to start the year in a prominent role for the Spurs, with Devin Vassell still rehabbing a foot injury. He’s going to miss at least the first week, so Castle will have the opportunity to take the job and run with it if he performs well.
Donovan Clingan | C | POR
- ESPN ADP: 141
- Yahoo ADP: 186
Clingan is essentially a less-accomplished, younger version of Edey. He’s not the same dominant low-post scoring threat, but he’s someone who can block shots with the best of them and shoot at a high percentage. The Blazers reportedly coveted Clingan badly during the 2024 NBA Draft, and he recorded a double-double with 2 blocks and a steal in just 19 minutes in his second preseason outing.
The big obstacle for Clingan is Deandre Ayton, who is penciled in as the Blazers’ starting center. That’s going to limit Clingan’s minutes to start the year, but there’s no guarantee that Ayton will be around forever. He’s been far from the picture of health during his NBA career—he’s played 58 games or less in two of the past three years—and he’s a potential trade target for a squad that is in the middle of a rebuild.
Zaccharie Risacher | SF/PF | ATL
- ESPN ADP: 142
- Yahoo ADP: 159
Risacher was the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, and like most of the top prospects, he was considered a project. However, Risacher has shown more polish than expected as a scorer during the preseason. He’s scored at least 13 points in both outings, and he added 8 boards in his most recent outing.
Risacher is going to push De’Andre Hunter for minutes in Atlanta, and if he can crack the starting lineup, he has a chance to be fantasy-relevant as a rookie.
Dalton Knecht | SF/PF | LAL
- ESPN ADP: 163
- Yahoo ADP: 198
Knecht is an old rookie, and he should play a role for the Lakers right out of the gate. How big of a role is still to be determined. The Lakers’ starting five is pretty entrenched, while guys like Cam Reddish, Gabe Vincent, and Max Christie could also start the year ahead of him on the depth chart.
Still, if Knecht does see more playing time than expected, he could have a Jaquez-like impact as a rookie. He’s capable of doing a little bit of everything, though he’ll likely never be a star.
Kel’el Ware | C | MIA
- ESPN ADP: N/A
- Yahoo ADP: 173
Ware isn’t even being drafted on ESPN, and he has a giant Bam Adebayo-sized problem ahead of him on Miami’s depth chart. As long as Adebayo is healthy, it’s tough to see Ware making a huge impact.
However, there are still ways that Ware can contribute as a rookie. He should see the backup center minutes, and if he impresses, it’s possible that the team will try playing him alongside Adebayo. Bam is talented enough to survive at power forward.
Ware was one of the most impressive rookies during the Summer League, finishing on the All-First Team. He also impressed during his first preseason outing, racking up 13 points, five boards, four blocks, and two steals in just 17 minutes.
Sometimes, you just have to trust the talent and hope that things fall into place around it. I’m willing to do that with Ware as one of my final picks.
Bronny James | SG/PG | LAL
- ESPN ADP: 134.1
- Yahoo ADP: 135.8
Father and son are united in a first in NBA history. LeBron James needs no introduction. The NBA’s all-time scoring leader’s face belongs on the NBA’s Mt. Rushmore. His son Bronny is coming out of USC, where he averaged 4.8 points, 2.1 assists, and 2.8 rebounds in his freshman year for the Trojans. In four NBA Summer League games, he scored 8.8 points, with 3.5 rebounds and 1.0 assists.
A 2nd-round pick by the Lakers, Bronny is a developmental player who may see scattered minutes early in his rookie year. The bloodlines are unparalleled and he just turned 20, so Bronny is a player to follow long term. Keep an eye on his minutes, as the Lakers are a veteran-laden team with playoff aspirations.
More 2024 Fantasy Basketball Analysis
