Points, rebounds and assists often dominate basketball conversations, with All-Stars and NBA award-winners excelling in those areas. Fantasy basketball, however, takes a broader view — typically across eight or more categories. Outside of points leagues, every stat carries equal weight and must be factored in when building your NBA fantasy rankings.
The best way to understand which numbers matter most is by tracking NBA projections, which help forecast player production across categories. This approach allows you to construct a balanced roster capable of contending for a championship.
Why NBA Stats Matter in Fantasy Basketball
Fantasy basketball comes down to individual statistics, not team wins or losses. To win, you need to pluck the right players from NBA lineups across eight (or more) categories and out-stat your opponent.
Rotowire's fantasy basketball draft kit highlights this perfectly: Josh Giddey ranks higher (15th) than Donovan Mitchell (22nd) despite scoring fewer points, thanks to his superior stats for rebounds, assists and blocks. Giddey racks up great rebound and assist numbers for a guard-eligible player. Winning in non-flashy categories like blocks or steals matters just as much as points, so dig deep and take all statistics into account.
Core Stats Every Fantasy Basketball Player Should Track
Keep these metrics handy on your fantasy basketball cheat sheet and throughout the season. It's easy to know that Luka Doncic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander are going to be near the top of the league in points per game, but paying attention to the less-glamorous categories can pay off.
- Blocks & Defensive Stats: Daniel Gafford of the Mavs was seventh in blocks per game. Those numbers were more valuable in fantasy than Doncic's 28.2 points per game.
- Efficiency Matters: Anthony Edwards' 27.6 PPG on 44.7% shooting was less impactful than Karl-Anthony Towns' 24.4 PPG on 52.6%. Towns' higher NBA fantasy ADP is a result of his efficiency and great field goal percentage.
- Category Punting: Owning Giannis Antetokounmpo means a free-throw percentage hit. In rotisserie, you'll need to balance elsewhere. In head-to-head, you may punt the category and adjust your fantasy basketball auction values.
Advanced NBA Metrics That Boost Fantasy Value
While advanced stats don't directly score in fantasy, they provide insight into opportunity and role:
- On-Off Splits: Reveal a player's real impact, often tied to more minutes.
- PER (Player Efficiency Rating): Controversial but useful for gauging all-around contributions.
- Per-36 Minutes: Great for spotting undervalued players who could break out with more playing time.
How to Apply NBA Stats to Your Draft Strategy
Stats should be at the heart of your draft prep. Always monitor the NBA injury report — a returning star can drastically change value across a roster.
Leverage projections to anticipate performance and adjust weekly. Check recent games, upcoming matchups, and always weigh efficiency alongside volume.
Fantasy basketball rewards balance. Every steal, block, or rebound counts the same as a dunk. To maximize your edge, subscribe to RotoWire and access in-depth rankings, projections, and tools.
