Sport: NBA
Below you will find the preliminary category league fantasy basketball rankings for the 2025-26 NBA season. You should also check out our Top 25 Points League Rankings.
Rankings Methodology
The rankings are based on the weighted average of the last three seasons’ per-minute stats. Then adjusted for age, minutes projection, and games played projection. With a little touch of manual adjustment based on “hmm, this doesn’t seem right, let me change it”. The aim is to give a more-or-less neutral baseline ranking.
Specifically, the stats used for rankings are the 8 base category league stats – points, rebounds, assists, blocks, steals, three pointers made, free throw percentage, and field goal percentage. Turnovers are not included. However, I do recommend using these rankings for 9-category leagues just the same. Great players commit a lot of turnovers, and drafting to avoid them will result in a pretty dud team.
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Tiers
The players are divided into tiers with the idea that, in general, the specific ranks within the tiers could be reasonably switched around, but the players in a higher tier are more definitely preferred to the ones in a lower tier. But it is a little bit arbitrary as the gaps smooth over the lower we get in the rankings. And especially near the bottom, I would suggest drafting for potential or need rather than keeping it strictly within the tiers.
Injury-prone Players
It’s pretty much impossible to project the number of games Joel Embiid, Kawhi Leonard, or Kristaps Porzingis will play. We can assume it’s going to be low, but how low? 65 or 25? With 65 games, Embiid would be an elite player, particularly if these 65 games include the fantasy playoffs. But what are the chances? So with that in mind, these players are ranked much lower than their reputation would entail. Feel free to take the risk, though.
Injured Players
Drafting the actually injured players (Jayson Tatum, Kyrie Irving, Tyrese Haliburton, Dejounte Murray) would be a waste of draft capital and roster space in a league with any kind of a standard ruleset.
Rookies
Rookies, generally, do not produce enough of a balanced stat line over a season to be really worthwhile in category fantasy. Yes, it is very exciting, and they come into the league with endless possibilities, but wait 2-3 years. Even with Cooper Flagg, I would suggest caution, as it is quite easy to overpay.
Veterans
Veterans like a rest. More so than younger players. Which is why the core of a good fantasy team should probably be made up of players below 30, even better, below 27. Feel free to draft your Stephen Curry or Kevin Durant, but don’t be surprised if they miss a few games here and a few there.
The #1 Pick
The number one pick is a simple decision – Nikola Jokic or Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. They have been the top 2 players of the last three seasons. But which of the two then? Whichever one you like more. The risk and reward balance isn’t quite there yet with Victor Wembanyama at #1.
2025-26 Fantasy Basketball Rankings for Category Leagues
RankTierPlayerTeamPosition
1INikola JokicDENC
2Shai Gilgeous-AlexanderOKCPG
3IIVictor WembanyamaSAC
4Anthony EdwardsMINSG, SF
5Luka DoncicLALPG, SG
6IIITrae YoungATLPG
7Devin BookerPHOPG, SG, SF
8Kevin DurantHOUPF
9Stephen CurryGSPG
10Jalen WilliamsOKCSG, SF, PF
11Giannis AntetokounmpoMILPF, C
12Donovan MitchellCLEPG, SG
13Jalen BrunsonNYPG
14IVDomantas SabonisSACC
15Karl-Anthony TownsNYC
16James HardenLACPG, SG
17Jaylen BrownBOSSG, SF
18Derrick WhiteBOSPG, SG
19Mikal BridgesNYSG, SF, PF
20Paolo BancheroORLPF
21Franz WagnerORLSF, PF
22Cade CunninghamDETPG, SG
23Lauri MarkkanenUTASF, PF
24VDeMar DeRozanSACSF
25Tyrese MaxeyPHIPG, SG
26Jaren JacksonMEMPF, C
27De’Aaron FoxSAPG
28Ja MorantMEMPG
29Jamal MurrayDENPG, SG
30Bam AdebayoMIAPF, C
31Anthony DavisDALPF, C
32VIAustin ReavesLALPG, SG, SF
33Jalen GreenPHOPG, SG
34Alperen SengunHOUC
35Scottie BarnesTORSF, PF
36Cooper FlaggDALPG, SG, SF
37LaMelo BallCHAPG
38Desmond BaneORLSG, SF
39Ivica ZubacLACC
40Jordan PooleNOPG, SG
41Deni AvdijaPORSG, SF, PF
42LeBron JamesLALSF, PF
43Josh GiddeyCHIPG, SG
44VIIAmen ThompsonHOUSG, SF, PF
45Dyson DanielsATLSG, SF
46Josh HartNYSG, SF
47Tyler HerroMIAPG, SG
48Walker KesslerUTAC
49Nikola VucevicCHIC
50Evan MobleyCLEPF, C
51Jarrett AllenCLEC
52Darius GarlandCLEPG
53Myles TurnerMILC
54Jimmy ButlerGSSF, PF
55Trey MurphyNOSF, PF
56Michael PorterBKNSF, PF
57VIIINaz ReidMINPF, C
58Keegan MurraySACPF
59Malik MonkSACPG, SG
60Pascal SiakamINDSF, PF
61Coby WhiteCHIPG, SG
62Miles BridgesCHASF, PF
63Christian BraunDENSG, SF
64Kawhi LeonardLACSF, PF
65Rudy GobertMINC
66Zach LaVineSACSG, SF
67Chet HolmgrenOKCPF, C
68Kristaps PorzingisATLC
69Jalen DurenDETC
70Onyeka OkongwuATLC
71Tobias HarrisDETPF
72OG AnunobyNYPF
73IXJakob PoeltlTORC
74Jaden McDanielsMINSF, PF
75Cason WallaceOKCSG, SF
76Fred VanVleetHOUPG
77Daniel GaffordDALC
78Toumani CamaraPORPF
79XZion WilliamsonNOSF, PF
80John CollinsLACSF, PF
81Ace BaileyUTAPG, SG, SF
82Paul GeorgePHIPF
83Deandre AytonLALC
84Herbert JonesNOSF, PF
85Julius RandleMINPF
86Tyus JonesORLPG
87Payton PritchardBOSPG
88Devin VassellSASG, SF
89CJ McCollumWASPG, SG
90Jalen JohnsonATLSF
91PJ WashingtonDALPF
92Anfernee SimonsBOSPG, SG
93Nic ClaxtonBKNC
94Kentavious Caldwell-PopeMEMSG, SF
95XIKeyonte GeorgeUTAPG
96Bobby PortisMILPF, C
97Cameron JohnsonDENSF, PF
98Jabari SmithHOUPF
99Joel EmbiidPHIC
100Bub CarringtonWASPG
101Jonas ValanciunasDENC
102Zach EdeyMEMC
103Brook LopezLACC
104Immanuel QuickleyTORPG
105XIIBennedict MathurinINDSG, SF
106Draymond GreenGSPF, C
107Norman PowellMIASG, SF
108Kelly OubrePHISF, PF
109D’Angelo RussellDALPG
110Buddy HieldGSPG, SG, SF
111Kel’el WareMIAC
112Donte DiVincenzoMINPG, SG
113Andrew NembhardINDPG, SG
114Stephon CastleSAPG, SG
115Brandon MillerCHASF, PF
116Mike ConleyMINPG
117Brandon IngramTORSF, PF
118XIIIBrandin PodziemskiGSSG, SF
119Cam ThomasBKNSG, SF
120Guerschon YabuseleNYPF, C
121Naji MarshallDALSF, PF
122Tari EasonHOUSF, PF
123Bradley BealLACSG
124Jalen SuggsORLPG
125Harrison BarnesSASF, PF
126Yves MissiNOC
127Luguentz DortOKCSF, PF
128Alex SarrWASPF, C
129Collin SextonCHAPG, SG
130Dennis SchroderSACPG
131XIVBilal CoulibalyWASSF, PF
132Shaedon SharpePORSG, SF
133Obi ToppinINDPF
134Donovan ClinganPORC
135Matas BuzelisCHISF, PF
136Aaron WigginsOKCSG, SF
137Grayson AllenPHOPG, SG
138Zaccharie RisacherATLSF
139Aaron GordonDENPF
140Gary TrentMILSG, SF
141Kyshawn GeorgeWASSG, SF
142Rui HachimuraLALPF
143Klay ThompsonDALSG, SF
144Kyle KuzmaMILSF, PF
145Kyle FilipowskiUTAPF, C
146Andrew WigginsMIASG, SF
147XVAaron NesmithINDSF, PF
148Jaylen WellsMEMSG, SF
149Nickeil Alexander-WalkerATLPG, SG
150Scoot HendersonPORPG
151Keldon JohnsonSASG, SF
152Keon EllisSACPG, SG
153Jerami GrantPORSF, PF
154Ausar ThompsonDETSF, PF
155Jaden IveyDETSG
156Wendell CarterORLC
157Isaiah CollierUTAPG, SG
158De’Andre HunterCLESF, PF
159Santi AldamaMEMPF, C
160XVIJrue HolidayPORPG, SG
161Jonathan KumingaGSPF, C
162Quentin GrimesPHISG, SF
163RJ BarrettTORSG, SF, PF
164Jeremy SochanSAPF, C
165Dillon BrooksPHOSG, SF
166Jaime JaquezMIASG, SF
167Mark WilliamsPHOC
168Goga BitadzeORLC
169Kevin PorterMILPG, SG
170Gradey DickTORSG, SF
171Dereck LivelyDALC
172Alex CarusoOKCPG, SG, SF
173Sam HauserBOSSF, PF
174Dalton KnechtLALSG, SF
175Ziaire WilliamsBKNSF
176Brice SensabaughUTASF, PF
177Ryan DunnPHOSF, PF
178Jordan HawkinsNOSG
179Isaiah JacksonINDC
180Scotty PippenMEMPG
181Nikola JovicMIAPF
182Kon KnueppelCHAPG, SG, SF
183XVIIMarcus SmartLALPG, SG
184Jake LaRaviaLALPF
185Oso IghodaroPHOPF, C
186Keon JohnsonBKNPG, SG
187VJ EdgecombePHISG
188Cam WhitmoreWASSF, PF
189Jordan GoodwinPHOPG
190Reed SheppardHOUPG, SG
191Jared McCainPHISG
192Moussa DiabateCHAC
193Vince WilliamsMEMSG
194Taylor HendricksUTAPF
195Neemias QuetaBOSC
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