Just last month, the Sacramento Kings traded the three-time NBA All-Star DeMarcus Cousins to the New Orleans Pelicans for just a bunch of rookies. Another trade sent Paul George to the Oklahoma City Thunder and Victor Oladipo to the Indiana Pacers. These recent rumbles on the soil of the 2017-2018 NBA season generally left many fans startled, but reactions greatly differed. Some gave into the change without much stir, while others actively protested against such outrageous trades—one of these protests was in the form of playing Fantasy Basketball.
Just as the 2017-18 NBA season kicks off in the States, thousands of Fantasy Basketball leagues around the world claim their beginnings as well. These leagues allow an NBA fan’s fantasy––being an NBA manager––to come to reality.
“You get to draft real-life players, and get to organize and manage your team based on real life results of NBA games,” Bryan Hur (10) said. “I feel like a real NBA General Manager when I play Fantasy Basketball. Also, it becomes much more entertaining to watch the NBA in general, as now I don’t only watch my favorite team and players, but now I enjoy watching several teams and all of my players that I own in my fantasy league. Although it may seem a bit boring at first, I think it really brings a unique aspect of entertainment that isn’t possible in normal video games.”
Fantasy Basketball is a dream-come-true for many basketball lovers out there. Despite the fact that this system is merely a game, many people take the process in a much more serious manner. Fantasy Basketball works as a stage for young minds to test out their interests and seek opportunities for them to shine. However, yet another big contribution to this growing trend of Fantasy Basketball is the social network this game provides.
“When you create leagues, it’s like creating a social circle,” Andrew Lee (12) said. “There is no doubt that you will have to spend hours with other fantasy general managers in the league discussing about drafts and game results. Since all players are motivated with a common cause, the passion really unites the members of the league. I am pretty sure that this tight friendship Fantasy Basketball provides is another factor that contributed to the sudden rise of this game. ”
Fantasy Basketball also had its successful debut at SIS. Although the first people at SIS to play this game is unclear, there is no doubt that it started off at least four years ago. Since then on, the number of leagues established by SIS students and even teachers increased prominently over the years.
With Fantasy Basketball, you not only have fun playing a strategic game, but you also have the ability to expand the spectrum of NBA experience you can immerse yourself into. In this way, the uniqueness of Fantasy Basketball greatly differentiates itself from any other games and methods of entertainment.