The NBA season is in full swing on Wednesday, October 22, with 12 contests on the schedule, and no shortage of star power taking the floor.
My NBA picks will focus on NBA player props for Paolo Banchero, Jalen Brunson, and Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Best NBA player props today
| Player | Pick |  |
|---|---|---|
 Paolo Banchero |
Over 25.5 points | -115 |
 Jalen Brunson |
Under 25.5 points | -110 |
 Giannis Antetokounmpo |
Over 31.5 points | -110 |
Prop #1: Paolo Banchero Over 25.5 points
Paolo Banchero is the main man for the Orlando Magic, and although he missed over 20 games last season due to injury, he still put up brilliant numbers. The Duke product averaged 25.9 points per game across 46 appearances.
The forward scored 50 points across two meetings with the Miami Heat in 2024-25, and he tends to perform even better at home, averaging 26.1 PPG at the Kia Center last season.
I expect Banchero to start this season with a bang after missing the start of the last campaign.
- Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
- Where to watch: FDSN Sun, FDSN Florida
Prop #2: Jalen Brunson Under 25.5 points
With the Eastern Conference wide open, Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks have something to prove. But, so do the Cleveland Cavaliers, and that’s who they will be up against in game No. 1 of 82. Brunson had an impressive campaign last season, averaging 26 PPG.
However, his total is too high to see value in the Over. The Cavs are a very good defensive team, and they improved even more in that area with the acquisition of Lonzo Ball. Brunson averaged 24.7 points per game against Cleveland last season across three meetings as well.
There’s no question that he is going to make an impact, but I don’t believe it will be a massive scoring night for the ex-Villanova star.
- Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
- Where to watch: ESPN
Prop #3: Giannis Antetokounmpo Over 31.5 points
Giannis Antetokounmpo will have a chip on his shoulder after the Milwaukee Bucks decided to cut ties with Damian Lillard and bring in Myles Turner to pair up with the Greek Freak. There was speculation he could request a trade, but Giannis stayed put, and the season opener presents an opportunity to show out.
The Bucks are taking on the lowly Washington Wizards, who are one of the worst teams in the league. Last season, Antetokounmpo averaged 30 PPG against them across two contests. Yes, his total is slightly high here, but Giannis shouldn’t have any issues putting together a monster performance against such a poor team.
The Greek Freak will return with a bang. He also averaged exactly 31.5 PPG at home last season, and the opposition won't put up much of a fight.
- Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
- Where to watch: MNMT, FDSN Wisconsin
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Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
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