2023–24 Fantasy Basketball Rankings

After winning two straight MVP awards, Jokic missed out in 2022-23 but reached a higher achievement -- Finals MVP. Last season also marked Jokic's third consecutive season as the No. 1 ranked player in eight-category per-game and total fantasy value. He's arguably established himself as the best player in the NBA -- at least the best offensive weapon. He came up just 0.2 assists per game short of averaging a triple-double, racking up 24.5 points, 11.8 rebounds and 9.8 assists to go along with 1.3 steals and 0.7 blocks. Though he didn't average one, Jokic's 29 triple-doubles led the league -- his second consecutive season doing so. He's now up to third in active-player triple-doubles (105) and sixth all-time. His efficiency remained off the charts, with Jokic slashing 63/38/82 for a league-leading 70.1 true-shooting percentage. Nothing suggests the center's production will fluctuate significantly in 2023-24, and he should be the most popular option at the 1.1 spot in fantasy drafts.

Haliburton's stats are created in a lab to generate fantasy value. He's a hyper-efficient scorer from all levels, a great passer (with a stellar assist-to-turnover ratio and a league-leading 47.6 assist percentage) and racks up steals. The point guard made his first All-Star game last year behind 20.7 points, 10.4 assists (2.5 turnovers), 1.6 steals and 3.7 assists -- doing so while slashing 49/40/87. That efficiency led to him having the 12th-highest true-shooting percentage (62.4) of any player averaging at least 20 points per game last season. Altogether, Haliburton was the 10th-ranked player in eight-category per-game fantasy value. Heading into 2023-24, Haliburton is expected to take on the same role for Indiana as the team's leader and No. 1 option. The surrounding roster is mostly the same, though the addition of rookie Jarace Walker could immediately be a significant positive at the power forward spot. Bennedict Mathurin figures to take a step forward as well, but it seems unlikely he'll take a large number of touches from Haliburton. Expect the young point guard to continue growing his game with a good chance of again returning first-round value.

The 2022-23 MVP, Embiid was second in both per-game and total fantasy value to only Nikola Jokic. For the second straight season, Embiid led the NBA in points per game (33.1) and did so on an efficient 55/33/86 shooting. He rounded things out with 10.2 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.7 blocks and 1.0 steals, making him the best two-way center in the league. We can't talk about Embiid without bringing up his injury history, but he's been relatively healthy lately. He played 68 games in 2021-22 and 66 games last season -- the two best marks of his career. And with so few stars lacing them up for all 82, Embiid's missed games aren't as impactful as they were at the start of his career. Looking to this season, Embiid will again be Philadelphia's No. 1 option and an MVP candidate. However, things are murky with James Harden, who has demanded a trade. It's not clear if he'll show up to training camp. If he doesn't play for the 76ers, that could mean even more usage for Embiid. Either way, the center is worth a pick in the first half of the first round.

From a fantasy perspective, Doncic's 2022-23 campaign was the best of his career, with the star playmaker ranking eighth in per-game value. He reached a career-high 32.4 points per game while also converting a career-high 49.6 percent of his shots from the field. His 1.4 steals were a career mark as well. Doncic made his fourth straight All-NBA First Team selection and finished eighth in MVP voting. Few players are as heliocentric as Doncic, whose 37.6 percent usage rate was just second behind Giannis Antetokounmpo. His 10 triple-doubles ranked third in the association. The addition of Kyrie Irving in the middle of last season didn't drastically affect Doncic's numbers. The team remains shallow, so Doncic will still need to play his heliocentric brand of basketball, even if Irving is there to carry a bit of the burden. At this point, free-throw percentage is arguably the biggest negative of his fantasy profile. He's never shot better than 75.8 percent from the stripe. Turnovers were an issue in the past, but he brought those down to 3.6 per game in 2022-23. All things considered, Doncic is a clear first-round pick in all formats.

The 2021-22 Rookie of the Year saw his development stall as part of a tough season overall for the Raptors that got coach Nick Nurse fired. Barnes traded some rebounds for assists as he took on more ball-handling duties, but his efficiency and three-point shooting both took steps backward, and the rest of his production stagnated. About 15 points a game with 10 boards-plus-assists and two blocks-plus-steals is still a solid fantasy package, but the fourth overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft seems capable of much more given his athleticism and skill set. Still just 21 years old, the Florida State product remains a key piece of Toronto's core, but as the last members of the team's championship roster from a few years ago slip away, the front office seems caught between trying to stay competitive and executing a full teardown around Barnes. With Dennis Schroder replacing Fred VanVleet at point guard, Barnes' usage could increase once again, but Pascal Siakam, OG Anunoby and Jakob Poeltl will all be looking for the ball as well. Barnes will have to focus on improving his offensive game if he wants to reach the next level, rather than being one of many complementary assets on a balanced Raptors squad that needs someone to step up as the lead dog. He's got the upside and the opportunity to become a fantasy star in 2023-24, but he also has a lot to prove.

While Boston had a disappointing postseason, Celtics fans can't ask for much more from Tatum's regular season play. For the sixth year in a row, Tatum improved his points (30.1), rebounds (8.8) and assists (4.6) per game. And he's been remarkably durable, missing only 33 games in his career. With the acquisition of Kristaps Porzingis, Tatum will now see more time at small forward. That move means the ball will be in Tatum's hands even more in 2023-24. So maybe a seventh year of increased assists should be expected. He'll certainly get a few easy dimes delivering the ball to the Unicorn in the post. Tatum also delivers excellent percentages for a high-volume scorer. He's been a steady shooter throughout his career, averaging 46.1 percent from the field and 85.2 percent from the charity stripe. Expect that to continue. The main room for improvement would be Tatum's three-point shooting. After shooting 39.6 percent from behind the arc in his first four seasons, that number has dipped to 35.3 percent in the last two seasons. Tatum's steady high-level play and ability to avoid injury make the three-time All-NBA player a first-round lock in any format.

Wembanyama's height combined with his well-rounded skillset makes him one of the highest-ceiling prospects most scouts have ever seen. Despite being well over seven feet tall, he can handle and shoot the ball like a playmaking wing, but he has skills in the post as well, allowing him to simply shoot over smaller defenders. He's a willing passer, able to punish double teams. Wembanyama's length will make him extremely disruptive as a defender and rebounder. His relative quickness allows him to defend some on the perimeter, where he's capable of blocking jumpers. Wembanyama could be vying for All-Star nods sooner than later, and it's hard to calculate how high his ceiling might be down the line. Last season, with Metropolitans 92 in the French LNB Pro A league, he averaged 20.9 points on 47/27/82 shooting, 10.3 rebounds, 3.0 blocks and 2.4 assists. To much dissatisfaction, the No. 1 overall pick appeared in just two Summer League games. He looked to be a combination of tired and nervous in his first appearance. And while he still looked raw offensively in his second performance, he finished with an efficient 27 points on 14 shots. It's easier to have confidence in his defense, with Wembanyama racking up eight blocks and one steal in his two games. A more structured offense orchestrated by Gregg Popovich should benefit the rookie. So how high should he be drafted in fantasy? Based on his defensive upside alone, he could be a valid pick in the middle rounds. But if he can become the focal point of San Antonio's offense, or at least play efficiently within the structure, it's hard to knock optimistic fantasy managers reaching into the late second round.

After an injury-shortened 2021-22 campaign in which he was limited to 29 games, Lillard bounced back last year by ranking fifth in eight-category per-game fantasy value and being voted to the All-NBA Third Team. The veteran point guard averaged a career-high 32.2 points while slashing 46/37/91 with 7.3 assists and 4.8 rebounds in 36.3 minutes. However, his 2022-23 season was again cut short -- this time because the tanking Trail Blazers shut him down in late March. Lillard appeared in just 58 games. However, his time with the Blazers ended this offseason, as he asked for a trade during the summer. His preferred location was Miami, but without a no-trade clause, Portland could ship him wherever they pleased. After nearly a month of speculation, the Trail Blazers finally dealt Lillard to the Bucks in a surprising move. Jrue Holiday was sent to Portland in the three-team deal that included numerous players and a few picks, so Lillard slides right into the starting point guard spot in Milwaukee. Despite being 33 years old, Lillard is still an elite offensive option, adept at creating his own shot and finding teammates for assists. Giannis Antetokounmpo figures to remain the No. 1 on a nightly basis, but Lillard can be considered a 1A option and should be able to maintain elite fantasy production with the Bucks.

Despite reaching his age 34 season, Curry's 2022-23 numbers remained MVP-caliber, and he made the All-NBA Second Team despite appearing in only 56 games -- missing time due to shoulder and knee injuries. Even with that being the case, Curry still ranked as the 13th-best fantasy asset in eight-cat roto leagues (total value). Putting aside his five-game 2019-20 campaign, Curry has never ranked lower than 10th in per-game value. His defense slipped some last season -- career-low 0.9 steals per game -- but his offense was nearly as potent as ever. The future Hall-of-Famer averaged 29.4 points on 49/43/92 shooting, 6.3 assists and 6.1 rebounds in 34.7 minutes. However, persistent injury issues are popping up. Since that five-game season, Curry has played 63, 54 and 56 games. Management's decision to trade Jordan Poole for Chris Paul throws a wrench into the equation as well, and an adjustment period may occur. Still, it seems unlikely Paul dominates the ball in a way that significantly detracts from Curry. The Warriors' star is still worthy of a first-round selection despite age, injury and a team shake-up.

Durant continues to put up MVP-caliber numbers, but fantasy managers aren't getting that type of value out of him due to constant injury issues. Since he recovered from a torn Achilles, Durant played 35 games in 2020-21, 55 games in 2021-22 and 47 games last year. In January, he suffered a sprained MCL with the Nets, causing him to sit out until he made his Suns debut March 1. Then, he suffered an ankle injury during pre-game warmups in March that kept him out for three weeks. Still, at 34 years old, KD managed an impressive 29.1 points on 56/40/92 shooting, 6.7 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 1.4 blocks in 35.6 minutes. That was his fifth straight season averaging at least 26 points, six rebounds, five assists and one block while making over 50 percent of his shots from the field. Phoenix underwent changes this offseason, shipping Chris Paul and Deandre Ayton out while bringing in Bradley Beal and Jusuf Nurkic. The addition of Beal could take some usage away from Durant, but KD still projects to be the Suns' co-top option with Devin Booker. Given how we've seen Durant put up elite fantasy numbers regardless of his team environment, it's easy to imagine him having another fantastic season in 2023-24 -- of course, minding his injury potential.

It was a breakout 2022-23 season for Gilgeous-Alexander, who was a third-round selection in most fantasy leagues. The stellar guard ended up producing the third-best fantasy season in eight-cat total production and earning an All-NBA First Team selection. SGA had the seventh-highest usage (32.8%) in the league, increasing his effectiveness by shooting fewer threes and focusing on crafty paint scoring, which led to a career-high 10.9 free-throw attempts per game. The increased offensive load didn't detract from his defensive effort, as he still averaged 1.6 steals and 1.0 blocks. As far as the team context around him, playmakers Josh Giddey and Jalen Williams should continue making strides, while center Chet Holmgren is being added to the mix. That could result in fewer touches for SGA, but he should remain the team's clear No. 1 option after averaging 31.4 points, 5.5 assists and 4.8 rebounds on 51/35/91 shooting. The guard is still a worthy first-round selection, but there's a good chance he reached his ceiling last year.

Ball is one of fantasy's brightest young point guards due to his all-around production. Last season, he averaged 23.3 points, 8.4 assists, 6.4 rebounds and 1.3 steals in 35.2 minutes. The problem was that the Hornet played only 36 games due to recurring ankle injuries. However, Ball is expected to be ready for training camp and logged 75 appearances in 2021-22. His efficiency is another potential concern, as she shot just 41.1 percent from the field in 2022-23. Despite this, his 37.6 percent shooting from three on 10.6 attempts and 83.6 free-throw percentage help his overall efficiency. Charlotte's roster could look pretty different in 2023-24, as PJ Washington is a restricted free agent, and Miles Bridges signed a one-year deal after missing all of last year with a suspension. Most importantly, the No. 2 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, Brandon Miller, should give Ball a high-quality shooter to set up from three and an athletic target in transition. If Ball can stay healthy and prove last year's injury was a fluke, he could average close to 25 points and 10 assists per game based on his current trajectory. Combined with his rebounding prowess, Ball could keep pace with or even out-produce fellow star point guard Trae Young at a potentially lower draft position.

Despite being much-maligned for his defensive deficiencies, Young is elite in fantasy. The star guard tallied the eighth-most total fantasy points out of all NBA players last season. One of Young's best abilities is his availability, as he has yet to play fewer than 60 games in his five-year career and logged 73 appearances in 2022-23. He ranked 10th in points per game and second in assists per game last year, averaging 26.2 points, 10.2 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 1.0 steals in 34.8 minutes. Even with the addition of Dejounte Murray, Young produced similar numbers to his previous season. However, the concern with Young is his efficiency. He shot just 42.9 percent from the field and 33.5 percent from three last year after shooting 46.0 percent from the field and 38.2 percent from three in 2021-22. While his efficiency will ultimately determine if he's worth a high second-round pick in fantasy in eight-category formats, his 88.6 percent shooting on 8.8 free-throw attempts has been a consistent strength throughout his tenure. Even with the loss of John Collins, Young's assist numbers shouldn't be affected much, as Clint Capela has been his preferred lob target. Going into his age-25 season, Young can be relied upon to put up between 25 and 30 points and roughly 10 assists on a nightly basis.

Davis' injury problems continue to dominate the narrative surrounding his fantasy value, but he had an excellent season in 2022-23 despite playing in just 56 games -- ranking 22nd in eight-category total value. Part of that was fueled by career high marks of 56.3 field-goal percentage and 12.5 rebounds per game. He also had a bounce-back year from the free-throw line (78.4 FT%), though his three-point attempts have dropped for a third straight year (1.3). The Lakers had an active offseason after re-making the team at the trade deadline, but AD's role is not in jeopardy. He's the clear No. 2 option behind LeBron James, and the team's backcourt of D'Angelo Russell and Austin Reaves are talented enough to help Davis dominate the pick-and-roll game. Defensively, there aren't many players more talented than him, and he averaged 2.0 swats and 1.1 swipes last year. Ultimately, Davis is a first-round fantasy talent who can easily slip into the second due to injury concerns.

It was another MVP-caliber campaign for Antetokounmpo, who was voted to his fifth consecutive All-NBA First Team in 2022-23. The Greek Freak managed to set career highs in points (31.1) and free-throw attempts (12.3) per game. However, he took a step back defensively, matching his career lows in steals (0.8) and blocks (0.8) per contest. That, combined with his woeful free-throw percentage (64.5) resulted in Antetokounmpo finishing 37th in per-game, eight-category fantasy value. Drafting him at this stage is practically a complete concession of the free-throw category, as his negative impact is one of the worst in the NBA. But, fantasy managers willing to do that or play in points leagues should remain comfortable drafting him in the first round. A persistent knee issue has started to affect Antetokounmpo's availability, however. He hasn't played over 67 games since 2018-19, and he underwent a minor knee procedure in early July (with the expectation of being ready for this season). Still, most of his absences are maintenance-based, like many other top-level players in the Association. Getting 70 games out of anybody is starting to feel like a bonus. Ultimately, it's hard to go wrong drafting a perennial MVP candidate like Antetokounmpo in the first round, even if Damian Lillard steals some usage away during his first season in Milwaukee.