National Basketball Association

FanDuel NBA Daily Picks: Fantasy Basketball Lineup For January 15

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 8:04 p.m. ET

Fansided, Brendan Galella/FanSided via Hoops Habit

Dec 21, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) is defended by New Orleans Pelicans guard Jrue Holiday (11) during the first quarter of a game at the Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

As Russell Westbrook continues to pile-up the triple doubles, he is the most effective player in FanDuel NBA leagues this season.

Russell Westbrook is one triple-double away from joining one of the most exclusive clubs in NBA league history.

Only Oscar Robertson and Wilt Chamberlain have ever totaled 20 or more triple-doubles in a single season, with Westbrook on the verge of joining the club in just his 42nd game of the 2016-17 campaign.

Friday night in Minnesota, Westbrook posted 21 points, 12 assists and 11 rebounds, his 19th triple-double of the year — a figure that is eight more than anyone else this season and marks the most since the ABA-NBA merger in 1976, surpassing his total amount of triple-doubles from a year ago.

The triple-double performance was the 56th of his nine-year career, placing him five behind Celtics legend Larry Bird for the fifth most in league history.

At the halfway mark for the year, Westbrook is the NBA’s leading scorer at 30.8 points per game, ranks second in assists at 10.5 per game and is pulling down 10.7 rebounds a night, 12th most in the league.

Even though its point guard is averaging a triple-double for the season, Oklahoma City is campaigning on social media to encourage fans to select Westbrook as a starter for next month’s All-Star Game in New Orleans.

⚡️The Force.
One week left to vote for Russ to start in All-Star Game. RETWEET now to #NBAVOTE for Russell Westbrook pic.twitter.com/PHvRvdkdcD

— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) January 9, 2017

The uptick in rebounding from Westrbook is generally attributed to him filling the void left behind after Kevin Durant’s departure to Golden State.

In reality, Westbrook is becoming the greatest rebounding guard of his generation, and has a chance to surpass Robertson’s productivity in collecting errant shots.

The rebounding numbers for Westbrook have increased each of the past five years, with his 8.8 defensive rebounds per game representing a higher rebound total than he has ever had any year during his career.

Westbrook has made the most of every rebounding opportunity, collecting over 70 percent of the available missed shots to him this year, the highest figure among any player averaging 3.0 or more rebounds.

The 8.8 defensive rebounds Westbrook is posting a game is the fifth highest total in the league and according to NBA.com, if he is in position to grab the missed shot, there is a 90.3 percent chance he will corral the ball — the highest percentage among players averaging 7.0 or more defensive rebounds a night.

Aside from threatening to become just the second player in league history to average a triple-double, a feat not accomplished since Robertson in 1961-62, Westbrook is hoping to become the most effective rebounder out of the backcourt in five decades.

It all adds up to an average of 57.4 points in FanDuel NBA tournament play a game, the most of any player in the league.

In every aspect of the game, Westbrook is an elite performer in FanDuel NBA leagues and he deserves a roster spot for Sunday night.

Dec 6, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Ricky Rubio (9) dribbles in the second quarter against the San Antonio Spurs at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

Top Four Point Guards

Rationale:

Next: Top Four Shooting Guards For Sunday

Jan 2, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) celebrates after a play during the fourth quarter against the Washington Wizards at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Top Four Shooting Guards

Rationale:

Next: Top Four Small Forwards For Sunday

Jan 9, 2017; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks small forward Carmelo Anthony (7) reacts after hitting a three point shot against the New Orleans Pelicans during the first quarter at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Top Four Small Forwards

Rationale:

Next: Top Four Power Forwards For Sunday

Dec 17, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward Paul Millsap (4) attempts a three-point basket against Charlotte Hornets center Cody Zeller (40) in the third quarter at Philips Arena. The Hornets won 107-99. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports

Top Four Power Forwards

Rationale:

Next: Top Four Centers And Final Lineup For Sunday

Jan 6, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) dunks the ball against the Washington Wizards in the first quarter at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Top Four Centers

Rationale:

Next: 10 NBA Teams That Should Trade For Paul Millsap

Final Lineup

PG Russell Westbrook ($12,500)

PG Ricky Rubio ($6,500)

SG Tim Hardaway Jr. ($4,700)

SG Lou Williams ($4,500)

SF Bojan Bogdanovic ($4,400)

SF Harrison Barnes ($7,000)

PF Enes Kanter ($6,200)

PF Zach Randolph ($6,000)