Kristian Ferrell
Fantasy basketball is a game in which players draft NBA players to their roster, with each player earning points based on their real-life performance. The goal is to build a superior roster and outscore opponents. Points leagues are a popular format as they are straightforward and similar to fantasy football. In this format, players earn points for actions like making shots, hitting 3s, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks. Head-to-head scoring is also common, where wins and losses for individual team matchups are counted on a weekly basis.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Points leagues | More points equate to a better team performance |
| Roster construction | Simpler in points leagues as players don't need to perform well across different categories |
| Nine-category leagues | Require more strategy and a focus on strengths and weaknesses |
| Scoring systems | Various options available, including head-to-head and points leagues |
| Player value | Determined by their performance in different categories or overall point accumulation |
| Trade evaluation | No single method, but factors like team fit and future potential should be considered |
| Stashing | Adding a player with the intent of holding them for future use, e.g., due to injury or rookie status |
| IR spot | Injured Reserve designation used in some leagues |
| ESPN's default scoring categories | Points, 3-pointers, rebounds, assists, blocks, steals, field goal%, free throw% |
| Example point values | Steals: 2 points, Blocks: 3 points, Rebounds: 1.5 points |
| Fractional points | Used in some leagues, including for three-point field goals (3 points) and two-point field goals (2 points) |
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What You'll Learn
Scoring systems
One popular scoring system is the head-to-head (H2H) format, where your team competes against another manager's team each week across various categories defined by your league settings. This is the most common way to play fantasy basketball. ESPN, for example, uses eight categories: points, 3-pointers made, rebounds, assists, blocks, steals, field goal percentage, and free throw percentage. Each week, your team competes in each of these categories to determine a winner.
Another scoring system is the points league, which has gained popularity in recent years due to its simplicity and similarity to fantasy football. In a points league, the more points you accumulate, the better your team performs. Players' efficiency is less important in this format, and as long as they produce statistics in any category, they contribute to your fantasy lineup. Scorers and players who specialize in rebounds and blocks can be valuable in a points league.
Fantasy basketball also offers nine-category leagues, which require more strategic roster construction. In this format, well-rounded players with no glaring weaknesses are the most valuable, as you need to focus on strengths and weaknesses and balance your roster across all categories.
Additionally, some leagues may use fractional or negative points to further refine the scoring system. For example, a steal might be worth 2 points, a block 3 points, and a rebound 1.5 points. It is important to carefully consider the point values assigned to different actions to avoid favouring certain player types over others.
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Roster spots
A fantasy basketball roster typically consists of 12 or 13 rounds, with each round representing a draft pick. The standard roster includes one point guard (PG), one shooting guard (SG), one small forward (SF), one power forward (PF), one centre (C), one guard (G), one forward (F), three utility (UTIL) spots, and three bench (BE) spots. The utility spots can be filled by players of any position, and the bench spots are for players on your roster but not in your starting lineup.
Each league can be customised to have different roster settings. For example, you can have multiple starters at each position, including centre, and do away with the generic guard and forward positions. You can also eliminate or reduce the number of utility spots or add more bench spots, but this changes the complexion of the league.
Most leagues will hold a snake draft, which is designed to even the playing field. In a 10-team league, for example, the manager picking 10th in the first round would get the first pick in the second round. This means that each draft position has its advantages and disadvantages. The manager who picks last in the first round will also get the first pick in the second round but will have to wait until the third round for their next selections.
In addition to the standard roster spots, some leagues also include an injured reserve (IR) spot, which allows managers to stash an injured player on their team without taking up a roster spot. This can be useful if one of your players is injured and you don't want to release them from your team.
Another aspect of roster spots to consider is the number of teams in your league. It is recommended that head-to-head leagues have an even number of teams to limit the number of bye weeks, as teams will miss out on the fun during those weeks. All leagues must have between four and 20 teams. If you have fewer teams, your rosters will be stacked with star players, but this can be countered by enlarging the size of each team's roster.
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Player value
When it comes to player value in fantasy basketball, there are several factors to consider. The first is the scoring system being used in your league. Points leagues are the most straightforward, as players are valued based on the total points they accumulate, with no need to balance different categories. In these leagues, players who score a lot of points, even if they don't contribute much else, can be very valuable. Big men who can rebound and block shots also have worth.
However, in nine-category leagues, the most valuable players are those who are well-rounded and can contribute in multiple areas. Scorers who only put up points may be downgraded, and one-dimensional players who can't help in various categories will be less desirable. Shooting percentages also come into play, so inefficient chuckers can lose value.
Another consideration is the timing of your acquisition. A "buy low" player is one who is acquired when their value is low, perhaps due to a dip in form or an injury. This strategy can pay dividends if the player returns to their best, but it's a risk. Similarly, a "sleeper" is a player who is generally undervalued but has the potential to deliver significant upside.
Finally, the structure of your league can impact player value. In head-to-head scoring, wins and losses are counted for individual team matchups, usually on a weekly basis. This format may favour certain players or strategies. Additionally, the level of commitment required to manage your roster should be considered when choosing a scoring system. Some people prefer the set-it-and-forget-it approach of picking games at the start of the week, which can influence the players you target.
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Trades
Fantasy basketball platforms often provide trade analysers and calculators to assist managers in evaluating potential trades. These tools use rankings, projections, and player ratings to help determine the value of a trade. Player ratings are based on various factors, including past, future, and expected performance across multiple categories. By utilising these resources, managers can make more informed decisions when proposing or accepting trades.
Most leagues have a trade deadline midway through the season, after which trades are no longer accepted. However, this setting can vary, and it's up to the league manager to determine whether to implement a deadline. Additionally, some leagues may have a trade review period, allowing other team owners to assess the fairness of a trade before it is finalised. This review period can be adjusted by the league manager as needed.
It's important to note that trades can be processed with an uneven number of players, as long as the roster settings and limits are not violated. If a trade results in an additional player for a manager, they must drop a player to stay within their roster limit. Managers should also be mindful of the trade limit set by the league, which determines the number of trades a team can perform during the season. This limit can be adjusted by the league manager if needed.
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League types
There are several types of leagues in fantasy basketball, each with its own unique rules and strategies. The two most common types are Points leagues and Category (or Roto) leagues.
Points Leagues
Points leagues are similar to fantasy football in that they use a scoring system that rewards a certain number of points for each stat accumulated. For example, a player might earn one point for a rebound, four points for a block, and so on. Throughout the week, players rack up fantasy points as they play in their NBA games. The goal is for your roster to outscore the other teams in the league. At the end of each week, teams are ranked based on their roster's combined points, and the team with the most points wins.
Points leagues often favour inefficient scorers who can rack up points because percentages aren't considered in this format. Big men who can only rebound and block shots also have value in points leagues.
Category (or Roto) Leagues
In a Category league, a player's performance is measured against the rest of the players in the league, and their relative value in each category is combined into a final overall value. For example, in a nine-category league, the goal is to win more statistical categories than your opponent. Some of the categories might include points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks, field goal percentage, and free throw percentage.
Category leagues tend to favour players who are well-rounded and contribute in multiple categories. Defensive specialists and high-field goal percentage options often perform better in category leagues than in points leagues.
Other League Types
In addition to the two main types of leagues, there are also Head-to-Head (H2H) leagues, where you compete directly against another manager's team each week, and Dynasty leagues, where you can keep your players from one season to the next.
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Frequently asked questions
Fantasy basketball points are based on the real-life statistical output of the players in your roster.
The number of points you get depends on the scoring system used by your league. Points leagues are gaining popularity due to their similarities to fantasy football. In points leagues, the more points you rack up, the better your team does.
In points leagues, examples of actions that earn points include making shots, making 3-pointers, rebounds, assists, blocked shots, and steals. Some scoring systems may also use negative points, for example, for turnovers.
Unlike fantasy football, where you set your lineup every week, in fantasy basketball, you need to set your lineup daily. However, you can save time by saving future lineups in advance.
There is no singular way to determine whether a trade is good or bad for your team. However, you should consider factors such as the player's value, their performance across different scoring categories, and your level of commitment.
