Fantasy Basketball 2025: The Top 20 Players to Draft in Points Leagues

Points leagues reward production in a direct, easy-to-follow way. A made three-pointer, rebound, assist, steal, block or free throw adds to a player’s total, while turnovers usually subtract from it. That changes the draft board significantly compared with nine-category formats, where efficiency, positional scarcity and low turnovers can carry greater weight.

The strongest targets for 2025 drafts combine reliable minutes with several statistical paths to points-league value. Nikola Jokić remains the ideal example: he scores efficiently, creates offence, collects rebounds and rarely leaves managers waiting for one particular category. A high-usage guard can be just as valuable when assists and scoring are heavily rewarded.

This ranking is designed for standard head-to-head and season-long formats, including leagues popular with managers in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. NBA games often begin in the early morning on AEDT or AEST, so dependable stars can save Australian managers from checking a last-minute injury report before work. For broader fantasy discussion, Say It Again Network brings sports analysis and fan conversation together across several competitions.

How Points League Value Works

The best points-league players usually have a high floor rather than a single spectacular strength. A centre who averages 22 points, 12 rebounds, five assists and two blocks can outperform a more famous scorer who contributes in only one or two areas. Availability matters just as much: 70 dependable games can be more useful than 45 explosive appearances.

Scoring settings still need to be checked before draft night. Some leagues give three points for a steal, five for a block and one point per rebound, while others reward double-doubles or punish turnovers heavily. The rankings below assume a balanced system with positive value for major box-score statistics and a modest turnover penalty. In leagues with severe turnover deductions, guards such as Trae Young and Luka Dončić may slide slightly.

Usage is another important clue. A player who controls the ball, runs pick-and-rolls and handles late-game possessions has more chances to accumulate assists, free throws and scoring bursts. Role changes can matter as much as talent, especially when a new coach gives a young forward more touches or a veteran moves to a contender with less offensive responsibility.

The First-Round Player Pool

Jokić is the safest first pick because his production is unusually broad and stable. Dončić and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander offer immense scoring and playmaking workloads, while Victor Wembanyama has the kind of block, rebound and scoring ceiling that can win a league when his minutes rise. Giannis Antetokounmpo belongs in the same conversation because his paint dominance creates points, rebounds, assists and defensive statistics every week.

Jayson Tatum, Tyrese Haliburton and Anthony Edwards form the next dependable group. Tatum’s minutes and all-around role provide a strong weekly base, Haliburton can lead the league in assists while adding efficient scoring, and Edwards continues to expand his creation duties. Domantas Sabonis is particularly attractive in formats that reward rebounds, assists and double-doubles, even if his defensive numbers are modest.

New York managers may be tempted to push Jalen Brunson even higher after watching his heavy workload in prime-time games, while Australian supporters might naturally lean towards familiar names such as Ben Simmons if he receives a larger role. In points formats, however, projected minutes and actual production should matter more than nationality, team loyalty or a memorable playoff run.

The Complete 2025 Draft Board

The following board blends projected production, role security, durability and upside. It is a practical ranking rather than a claim that every league will produce the same order.

Rank Player Why He Ranks Here
1 Nikola Jokić Elite scoring, rebounding and playmaking with a huge floor
2 Luka Dončić Massive usage, assists and triple-double potential
3 Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Efficient scoring, steals and excellent ball control
4 Victor Wembanyama Generational blocks, rebounds and two-way ceiling
5 Giannis Antetokounmpo Dominant interior scoring with elite rebounds and assists
6 Jayson Tatum Heavy minutes and balanced production across the box score
7 Tyrese Haliburton Assist leader potential and efficient perimeter scoring
8 Anthony Edwards High-volume scoring, threes and improving playmaking
9 Domantas Sabonis Rebounds, assists and frequent double-doubles
10 Jalen Brunson Reliable usage and strong scoring-assist combination
11 Anthony Davis Outstanding per-game blocks, rebounds and interior scoring
12 Kevin Durant Efficient points, rebounds and dependable minutes when healthy
13 Trae Young Assists and scoring create a massive weekly ceiling
14 Chet Holmgren Blocks, threes, rebounds and efficient finishing
15 Stephen Curry Elite threes and scoring even with a smaller overall workload
16 Paolo Banchero High-usage forward with points, rebounds and assists
17 Devin Booker Stable scoring, assists and strong free-throw production
18 Ja Morant Explosive points and assists with room for a bounce-back season
19 LeBron James Still highly productive when managed minutes are acceptable
20 Joel Embiid Per-game monster whose health creates substantial draft risk

The first ten picks should generally prioritise stability, but Wembanyama and Haliburton offer league-winning upside if their development continues. Davis, Durant and Embiid could finish much higher on a per-game basis, yet their injury histories make roster construction more important. A manager selecting one of them should avoid filling the next several slots with equally fragile players.

Mid-Round Value And Risk

After the first round, draft position becomes less about finding a perfect star and more about collecting different types of production. A manager who selects Curry can pair him with a rebound-heavy big such as Chet or Sabonis. Someone who starts with Young may want a low-turnover forward later, while a Wembanyama build can tolerate more ordinary defensive numbers from the backcourt.

Health is the clearest source of disagreement on this list. Embiid can produce first-round totals whenever he plays, but missed games can undermine a head-to-head season. LeBron’s age creates occasional rest risk, and Durant’s value depends on maintaining availability. Morant offers excellent upside, though his recent seasons have involved interruptions that make him less secure than Booker or Tatum.

Australian managers should also account for information timing. A late scratch announced at 6:30 am in Melbourne may arrive while a Perth manager is still dealing with an earlier local time, and streaming a replacement can be difficult in deep leagues. Following fantasy basketball coverage and setting line-ups the night before can reduce the damage from those inconvenient NBA schedules.

Draft-Day Recommendations

A points-league draft is won through repeatable decisions rather than one clever selection. Use the rankings as a starting point, then adjust for your scoring system, roster size, games-played limits and the number of utility positions. A 10-team league rewards star power, while a 14-team competition makes secure starters and durable role players much more valuable.

Do not overreact to a single preseason performance or a viral highlight from an NBL or NBA exhibition game. Young players can gain value quickly, but their minutes may remain uneven for weeks. Keep a close eye on starting line-ups, coaching comments and depth-chart changes before spending an early pick on potential.