2022-2023 Fantasy Basketball Team Quick Look

I don't think I've ever done this before but thought I'd give it a shot.  I was introduced to fantasy sports in the 90's and been hooked ever since.  I'm the commissioner in the football, basketball and baseball leagues I'm in.  I'm also in a hockey league but I'm not the commish there.  To my team, Fast Break.  I like the makeup overall.  Curry and Young were keepers which is a great start.  Zach Lavine is great, and Deandre Ayton, and Julius Randle are also really good.  I'm not a fan of Randle but if the Knicks bounce back his stats might as well.

Capela and Murray will round out my starting lineup.  Murray was injured last season but no reason to think he won't fill up the box score again.  After that you just don't know.  You hope for good seasons from the rest but you never know.  Westbrook is a huge unknown.  Even with his issues he should be a solid contributor.  Assuming he plays. If things don't work in LA that gamble could go South for me.  I like John Wall.  He should getsplenty of assists and grab some points as well.  Johnson, Hunter, Huerter and White are all good players but who knows what their seasons look like.  

My Draft

I'm not a Randle guy but I felt compelled to pick him as I needed another big and it seemed like a drop off after him.  I was surprised Murray dropped to the 7th round but with his injury last year I'm sure many hesitated.  I really liked Wall and White as late picks.  When I look at other teams it always seems like they are better.  No real buyer's remorse here but I'm not that sure where I'll sit early on.  Just a bit of fun in this post.  Steph Curry will help kick things off tonight so I'm hoping for a nice start to the season.

My Introduction to Fantasy Sports

The NFL network had a story on the beginnings of fantasy football back in the 60's in Oakland.  It got me to thinking.  In a previous post I mentioned my first foray into fantasy sports was in the 90's with the help of Yaj.  But I had forgotten that sometime between 1987 and 1989 I had participated in a fantasy basketball league.  Since it was some 25+ years ago please bear with me.  I believe I found the league advertised in one of the basketball magazines I was reading at the time which would have been Hoop magazine or the Basketball digest.

This was a national deal in which you paid an entry fee, received your team in the mail and then set your lineup for the week.  This was done either by mail or phone.  Same thing was done for picking up players.  The guy running the league had a certain time of the week in which we could call in to make player moves or provide him trade info.  Speaking of.  To make trades you could called the other owners.  Considering how things are done nowadays it really seems pretty crazy but I loved it.  We received standings weekly with team and maybe player stats.  I do remember trying everything I could to get Dominique Wilkins from one of the other owners but never could pry him away.  I don't remember winning the league or exactly where I stood in the standings but something in the back of my brain is telling me I didn't do very well.     

I think I only did it one year but I've been hooked on fantasy sports ever since.  I think if I'd been around in the 60's I'd found a way to do fantasy sports.  Not that it would have been hard...well maybe it was a lot more work back then but if it was doable I'd done it.  Just thought I'd share my first fantasy sports experience while it was "fresh" in my mind and the peak fantasy season (football) is upon us.