This article is part of our Player Rankings series.
The NBA postseason is in full swing with all four second-round series underway as of Tuesday night. While most fantasy managers have turned to playoff pools or DFS contests since the regular season ended, it's never too early to begin preparing for next season. With that in mind, we've spent the last few days preparing our initial batch of fantasy rankings for 2021-22, when the league is (hopefully) back to a normal, 82-game schedule.
Of course, at this point in the NBA calendar, there are still some major checkpoints we've yet to hit. The NBA Draft -- set for Thursday, July 29 -- and free agency are chief among them. Free agency, in particular, promises to carry some significant fantasy implications, so we'll update our rankings accordingly when the time comes.
A few notes before we get into the rankings:
- The 2020-21 fantasy season is over, so any references to rankings or stats refer to a players' end-of-regular-season figures (unless otherwise specified)
- We're looking ahead, so "last season" refers to 2020-21
- Most injured players are presumed to be healthy to begin next season, though the rankings account for those with longer-term injuries (Jamal Murray, for instance)
- Rankings are based on eight-category roto leagues (PTS, REB, AST, STL, BLK, FG%, FT%, 3PM)
- A handful of 2021-22 rookies are included, and the rankings will be updated to reflect their projected value following the NBA Draft
RK | PLAYER | TEAM | POS | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Nikola Jokic | DEN | C | The No. 1 overall player by a mile in 2020-21, Jokic's unique skillset and durability keep him at the top of the list. |
2 | Stephen Curry | GSW | G | Coming off of a lost season, Curry stayed healthy and proved he's still the most lethal offensive force in the game. |
3 | Kevin Durant | BRO | F | Missed games could again be an issue, but Durant looked like his peak self when on the floor in 2020-21. |
4 | Damian Lillard | POR | G | Lillard finished sixth in per-game value, but his durability gives him a higher floor than several of his peers. |
5 | Joel Embiid | PHI | C | Health will always be a concern, but Embiid may have been on his way to an MVP season before missing 13 games in March and April. |
6 | James Harden | BRO | G | Harden took a step back as a scorer after joining the Nets, but he's still an assists machine who should be much healthier in 2021-22. |
7 | Giannis Antetokounmpo | MIL | F | If not for his still-shaky free throw shooting, the two-time MVP would be in contention for the No. 1 overall pick. |
8 | Karl-Anthony Towns | MIN | C | An ironman through his first four NBA seasons, Towns' recent health issues have dinged his fantasy stock a bit. |
9 | Anthony Davis | LAL | F/C | Davis was one of the biggest letdowns in all of fantasy basketball in 2020-21, but he's too talented and well-rounded not to bounce back. |
10 | Luka Doncic | DAL | G | Doncic is a counting-stat machine, but as a high-volume free throw shooter, his percentage (career 73.5%) brings down his fantasy value. |
11 | Kawhi Leonard | LAC | F | Leonard has been a top-10 player on a per-game basis in five of the last six years, but missed games are an expectation at this point. |
12 | Bradley Beal | WAS | G | A 30-point-per-game scorer in back-to-back seasons, Beal is one of the league's elite contributors in points and free throw percentage. |
13 | Jayson Tatum | BOS | F | Only 23 years old, Tatum posted career highs in points, rebounds, assists, field goal percentage and free throw percentage in 2020-21. |
14 | LeBron James | LAL | G/F | At some point, father time is going to come for James, but before his ankle injury he was in the midst of yet another MVP-caliber campaign at age 36. |
15 | Kyrie Irving | BRO | G | Improbably, Irving was the healthiest of the Nets' Big 3 in 2020-21. Missed time remains a concern, but Irving's upside is immense. |
16 | Zach LaVine | CHI | G | LaVine flipped the narrative with easily the best -- and most efficient -- season of his career in 2020-21. |
17 | Domantas Sabonis | IND | F | Sabonis made a major leap in 2020-21, averaging 6.7 assists and showing tangible improvement as a three-point threat. |
18 | Trae Young | ATL | G | Young only hit 2.2 threes per game in 2020-21, but he remained an elite points/assists/FT% contributor. |
19 | Paul George | LAC | F | George has taken a lot of heat for the Clippers' shortcomings, but he quietly posted the highest true shooting percentage of his career in 2020-21. |
20 | Jimmy Butler | MIA | F | Miami's Round 1 flame-out marred an otherwise career year for the 31-year-old. |
21 | Nikola Vucevic | CHI | C | Vucevic's scoring took a slight dip after he arrived in Chicago, but he's been one of the most consistent big men in fantasy basketball over the last half-decade. |
22 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | OKC | G | He missed more than half of the season, but SGA averaged 23.7 points on 51-42-81 shooting in 35 appearances. |
23 | Michael Porter Jr. | DEN | F | Porter Jr. has his flaws, but he was a top-20 fantasy asset after Jamal Murray, who will likely miss most of next season, went down. |
24 | Bam Adebayo | MIA | F/C | He doesn't shoot threes, but Adebayo is an excellent all-around big who shot 80% at the line last season -- up from 69% in 2019-20. |
25 | LaMelo Ball | CHA | G | As a 19-year-old, Ball averaged 15.7 points, 6.1 assists, 5.9 rebounds, 1.8 threes and 1.6 steals in just 28.8 minutes per game. |
26 | Fred VanVleet | TOR | G | With Kyle Lowry perhaps moving on, VanVleet should step up as the true lead guard for the Raptors. |
27 | Julius Randle | NYK | F | Randle's durability helped make him a top-10 player in 2020-21, but he ranked outside the top 25 in per-game value. |
28 | Russell Westbrook | WAS | G | Flawed as his game may be, Westbrook still piles up assists, rebounds and even steals at a rate unlike any other player in the league. |
29 | Myles Turner | IND | C | Turner led the league in blocks per game for the second time in three years, but the rest of his stat profile is mostly average. |
30 | Khris Middleton | MIL | F | One of the steadiest players in fantasy basketball, Middleton rarely misses time and holds a 47-39-88 shooting line over the last four seasons. |
31 | Rudy Gobert | UTA | C | The Frenchman has averaged a double-double with at least 2.0 blocks in each of the last five seasons, but he's shooting 64.3% at the line during that stretch. |
32 | Zion Williamson | NOR | F | Williamson was the single most valuable FG% contributor in 2020-21 (by a wide margin), but his sub-70% free throw shooting was a massive drag on his value. |
33 | Jaylen Brown | BOS | G/F | Coming off of a career year, expectations will be high for both Brown and Jayson Tatum. |
34 | Jrue Holiday | MIL | G | It took some time, but once Holiday settled in with the Bucks, he turned in the most efficient season of his NBA career. |
35 | Donovan Mitchell | UTA | G | He only shot 43.8% from the field, but Mitchell set career-bests in points, assists, free throws, and three-pointers per game. |
36 | De'Aaron Fox | SAC | G | Fox's free throw percentage (71.9%) is all that stood between him and a top-30 overall season. |
37 | Christian Wood | HOU | F/C | Wood was as good as advertised in an increased role, but he missed 31 of a possible 72 games. |
38 | Brandon Ingram | NOR | F | Ingram's 2020-21 numbers were virtually identical to his 2019-20 breakout, which isn't a bad thing. |
39 | Devin Booker | PHO | G | As expected, Chris Paul cut into Booker's assists, but the rest of his numbers remained about the same. If Paul moves on, Booker's upside increases. |
40 | Pascal Siakam | TOR | F | Siakam is still an excellent early-mid-round option, but his upside may not be as high as it seemed a couple years ago. |
41 | Chris Paul | PHO | G | Injuries have dogged Paul for most of his career, but he's managed to miss only four total games over the last two seasons. |
42 | Clint Capela | ATL | C | In his first year with the Hawks, Capela picked up where he left off and led the league in rebounding at 14.3 per game. |
43 | Tobias Harris | PHI | F | He doesn't offer much on defense, but Harris was extremely close to joining the 50-40-90 club in 2020-21. |
44 | John Collins | ATL | F | Collins is coming off of a strange season in which he regressed in virtually every category -- including minutes per game (29.3 MPG). His upside may be higher if he signs elsewhere as a restricted free agent. |
45 | Lonzo Ball | NOR | G | Ball continues to be a difficult evaluation, but his improvement as a three-point shooter looks to be sustainable. |
46 | Draymond Green | GSW | F | While Green's scoring touch will probably never return, he proved he's still capable of elite out-of-position assists (career-high 8.9 APG). |
47 | Ben Simmons | PHI | G | Coming off the worst fantasy season of his career during which he set lows in points, rebounds and assists per game. |
48 | Deandre Ayton | PHO | C | Regressed during the regular season but an impressive playoff run could shoot him back up draft boards. |
49 | Ja Morant | MEM | G | Ranked outside the top-130 (per-game value) after the All-Star break, but it feels like he's on the verge of breaking out after an impressive end to the season. |
50 | OG Anunoby | TOR | F | Played well with an increased role, but can he be more than just a three-point shooter on offense? |
51 | CJ McCollum | POR | G | Hasn't finished lower than 64th on a per-game basis since his second year in the league. |
52 | Jonas Valanciunas | MEM | C | He's put together two top-55 seasons in a row and didn't slow down when Jaren Jackson Jr. returned from injury. |
53 | Gordon Hayward | CHA | F | Injuries continue to destroy Hayward's fantasy stock. He hasn't finished higher than 97th in total value since his last season in Utah, but his per-game value is much higher. |
54 | Malcolm Brogdon | IND | G | Coming off his best statistical season but might not have any more room to grow. |
55 | Dejounte Murray | SAN | G | Entering his fifth season, Murray looks poised for a true breakout campaign -- especially if DeMar DeRozan moves on. |
56 | Kyle Lowry | TOR | G | Got his numbers again in 2020-21, but he'll turn 36 before the end of next season. |
57 | Terry Rozier | CHA | G | Emerged as the Hornets' other lead guard over Devonte' Graham. Rozier set career-highs in points, assists, steals and field-goal percentage last season. |
58 | Jerami Grant | DET | F | Broke out as the No. 1 option on an awful Pistons team, but his second-half production didn't match his red-hot start. |
59 | Tyrese Haliburton | SAC | G | Not many rookie guards are capable of averaging 13.0 points, 5.3 assists, 2.1 threes and 1.3 steals with a 47-41-86 shooting line. |
60 | DeMar DeRozan | SAN | G | Has been a top-55 player from 2015-16 onward, but will the free-agent-to-be find a reduced role on a different team? |
61 | Caris LeVert | IND | G | Coming off a career-best season and should remain a focal point of Indiana's offense with health issues seemingly behind him. |
62 | Chris Boucher | TOR | F/C | Ranked inside the top 70 in per-game value in just 24.2 minutes. If he can see 30+ minutes regularly, he'll crush that number. |
63 | Jusuf Nurkic | POR | C | Dealt with injuries and split time with Enes Kanter, when healthy. Will be a tough draft-day decision since he's shown top-30 upside in the past. |
64 | Kristaps Porzingis | DAL | F/C | Health and dwindling role are concerns, but Porzingis can play like a top-30 fantasy player when 100% engaged. |
65 | Richaun Holmes | SAC | C | Once again established himself as a top-60 fantasy player. |
66 | Bogdan Bogdanovic | ATL | G | Coming off the best season of his career and his first top-100 finish. Bogdanovic was a top-35 player post-All-Star-break. |
67 | Mike Conley | UTA | G | Had a bounceback season following a disastrous first year in Utah. Ranked 58th on a per-game basis. |
68 | Kemba Walker | BOS | G | Rest days will likely continue, which caps his upside. Ranked 57th and 117th, respectively, in total value through his first two years in Boston. |
69 | Klay Thompson | GSW | G | May not be ready for the start of 2021-22 and is coming off a torn Achilles and a torn ACL. Thompson hasn't played since the 2019 playoffs. |
70 | Mikal Bridges | PHO | G/F | Saw an increased offensive role and delivered, ranking 70th overall on a per-game basis. |
71 | Robert Williams | BOS | C | Projects as the center of the future for Boston. Needed only 18.9 minutes per game to rank 90th in fantasy on a per-game basis. |
72 | Jaren Jackson | MEM | F/C | Played only 11 games after a longer-than-expected meniscus surgery recovery. Ranked 65th in per game value as a sophomore, but injuries and poor rebounding are a concern. |
73 | Robert Covington | POR | F | Saw a reduced offensive role with Portland and averaged 8.5 PPG -- his lowest mark since his rookie year. |
74 | Collin Sexton | CLE | G | Has improved in each of his first three seasons and averaged 24-and-4 last year on 48/37/82 shooting. |
75 | De'Andre Hunter | ATL | F | Started off hot before a knee injury essentially ended his fantasy season. Averaged 18/6/2 pre-injury on 52/38/88 shooting. |
76 | Darius Garland | CLE | G | Made significant strides as a sophomore and ranked 82nd on a per-game basis. However, sharing the backcourt with Collin Sexton caps his upside. |
77 | Kevin Porter | HOU | G | Could be a focal point of the Rockets' rebuild. Averaged 17-6-4 and had a 50-point, 11-assist game. |
78 | Norman Powell | POR | G/F | Has finished in the top-80 in each of the past two seasons but doesn't do much other than score. |
79 | Buddy Hield | SAC | G | Became even more of a pure three-point shooter, launching 10.2 attempts from deep per game in 2020-21. Ranked 77th in per-game value. |
80 | P.J. Washington | CHA | F | Made minor improvements last season and mostly projects as a three-and-D forward |
81 | Jarrett Allen | CLE | C | Averaged 13-and-10 with 1.4 blocks on 61% shooting after joining the Cavs. His offense is heavily dependent on the playmakers around him. |
82 | D'Angelo Russell | MIN | G | Continues to struggle with injuries, as well as consistency, and relies heavily on jumpshooting. Doesn't seem to be making any real strides. |
83 | Kyle Anderson | MEM | F | Coming off the best season of his career. Ranked 78th on a per-game basis, fueled by improved three-point shooting. |
84 | Anthony Edwards | MIN | G | Started off slowly but turned a corner in mid-March. In his final 32 games, Edwards put up 23.3 points on 18.4 shots, 5.4 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.4 steals. |
85 | Mitchell Robinson | NYK | C | The Knicks were a much better team, but Robinson's stats took a step back. He still ranked 105th in per game value, however. |
86 | Larry Nance | CLE | F/C | Playing time is dependent on Kevin Love's health. Could easily be a top-100 player if he can see near 30 minutes per game. |
87 | Harrison Barnes | SAC | F | Took an unexpected step forward as a 28-year-old. Ranked 88th on a per-game basis and shouldn't see a massive role change unless Marvin Bagley makes a major leap. |
88 | RJ Barrett | NYK | G/F | Improved as a sophomore, notably turning into a 40 percent three-point shooter. However, it's unclear if he can be more than a secondary playmaker. |
89 | Andrew Wiggins | GSW | G/F | Shot career-bests from the field (47.7%) and from three (38.0%) but still struggles from the free-throw line and doesn't pass. |
90 | Miles Bridges | CHA | F | Turned into one of the league's premier lob threats from LaMelo Ball's passing. Averaged 12.7 PPG on 50/40/87 shooting, aided by Gordon Hayward's injury. |
91 | Jordan Clarkson | UTA | G | Averaged 18.4 points on 42/35/90 shooting on his way to the Sixth Man of the Year award. |
92 | Kelly Olynyk | HOU | F/C | 2020-21 marked the best season of his career, and he was a waiver wire hero after being dealt to Houston. Ranked inside the top 25 after the All-Star break. |
93 | Cade Cunningham | ROOK | G | Projecting rookies is a dangerous game -- especially when we don't even know which team they're on -- but Cunningham will have a great chance to be a top-100 guy right away. |
94 | Nerlens Noel | NYK | C | Was a top-100 player for the second year in a row. One of the best per-minute shot-blockers in the league. |
95 | Marcus Smart | BOS | G | Can put up numbers as a secondary guard but still struggles with efficiency and shot selection. |
96 | T.J. McConnell | IND | G | Had a career year while Indiana dealt with injuries. Finished an impressive 67th overall in per-game value, but his role will diminish with a healthier roster. |
97 | Delon Wright | SAC | G | Ranked 89th per game due to increased roles in Detroit and Sacramento. Will probably see a minutes reduction with De'Aaron Fox healthy. |
98 | Andre Drummond | LAL | C | Drummond's reign as a walking 15-and-15 player may come to an end with a new team, as he struggled to play effectively with the Lakers when it mattered most. |
99 | Evan Fournier | BOS | G/F | Hasn't ranked lower than 129th on a per-game basis from 2015-16 onward, topping out at 63rd last season. Could play for a new team next season, so he's a wait-and-see. |
100 | John Wall | HOU | G | Played only 40 games due to injury and struggled even when healthy. |
101 | Dennis Schroder | LAL | G | Ranked in the top-100 for the second season in a row, but his future in Los Angeles is up in the air. |
102 | Dillon Brooks | MEM | G/F | Wasn't especially efficient but still managed 17.2 PPG. Had a mini-breakout in the playoffs, which should bump him up draft boards. |
103 | Malik Beasley | MIN | G | Injuries and suspension led to Beasley playing just 37 games, but he had a career year and scored 19.6 points with 3.5 threes per game. |
104 | Thaddeus Young | CHI | F | Averaged a career-high 4.3 assists per game and shot a career-high 55.9 percent from the field last season. |
105 | Josh Hart | NOR | F | Grabbed a career-high 8.0 rebounds per game but still struggles to score consistently and efficiently. |
106 | Saddiq Bey | DET | F | Hit the ground running as a rookie and hit 2.5 threes per game. |
107 | Brook Lopez | MIL | C | Saw decreases in assists, blocks and threes per game last season, which bumped him out of the top-100. |
108 | Derrick White | SAN | G | Dealt with injuries but still had a career year, averaging 15/4/3. |
109 | Derrick Rose | NYK | G | Finished out the year strong with the Knicks but injuries will always be a concern. |
110 | Joe Ingles | UTA | G/F | Reached career highs in threes (2.7 3PM/G) and three-point percentage (45.1). Remains a good secondary playmaker. |
111 | Mason Plumlee | DET | C | Coming off a career year but might not be part of the Pistons' future plans, despite signing a three-year, $25 million deal last offseason. |
112 | Jakob Poeltl | SAC | C | Ranked a career-high 111th per game behind averages of 9/7/2 with 1.8 blocks on 61.6 percent shooting. |
113 | Kevin Huerter | ATL | G | He's a good steals and threes contributor, but Huerter's value is lessened by the Hawks' overall depth. |
114 | Jalen Suggs | ROOK | G | Suggs looked even more polished than expected at Gonzaga, and he'll likely be a high-minute player right away. |
115 | Enes Kanter | POR | C | Saw increased run due to Jusuf Nurkic missing time. Fantasy upside will depend on where he signs in free agency. |
116 | Jae'Sean Tate | HOU | F | Came out of nowhere as a rookie but doesn't appear to have massive upside when the Rockets are at full health. |
117 | Thomas Bryant | WAS | C | Played in just 10 games due to a torn ACL. Might miss the start of the 2021-22 season. |
118 | Jonathan Isaac | ORL | F | Will be coming off a torn ACL but has flashed future-DPOY upside. |
119 | Kendrick Nunn | MIA | G | After coming out of nowhere as a rookie, Nunn followed up with a 49-38-93 shooting season in 2020-21. |
120 | Ricky Rubio | MIN | G | Rubio is not a reliable scorer, but he's averaged at least 6.0 assists in nine of his 10 NBA seasons. |
121 | Kelly Oubre | GSW | F | Oubre should enter 2021-22 as a high-risk/high-reward option after an up-and-down year in Golden State. |
122 | Coby White | CHI | G | White's shooting never took off (35.9% 3Pt), but he remains a fairly high-upside player for the Bulls. |
123 | Joe Harris | BRO | G/F | Harris set career highs in made threes (3.1 per game) and three-point percentage (47.5%) playing alongside the Nets' superstar trio. |
124 | Danny Green | PHI | G/F | He's prone to slumps, but Green rarely misses time and averaged 2.5 made threes and 1.3 steals in 2020-21. |
125 | Tyler Herro | MIA | G | Herro's second season was mostly a letdown, but he should be entrusted with more responsibility in 2021-22. |
126 | Isaiah Stewart | DET | F/C | Despite leading all rookies in total rebounds and blocks, Stewart may be stuck behind Mason Plumlee again. |
127 | Cole Anthony | ORL | G | A mid-season injury sapped some of Anthony's momentum, but he'll enter Year 2 as a prime good stats/bad team candidate. |
128 | Jalen Green | ROOK | G | A dynamic, athletic guard with major upside, Green will likely be worth a late-round flyer, regardless of where he lands. |
129 | Devonte' Graham | CHA | G | Graham still hit 3.3 threes per game despite the emergence of LaMelo Ball, but he shot just 37.7 percent from the field. |
130 | Victor Oladipo | MIA | G | Oladipo hasn't looked like himself in three full seasons, so he has to be flagged as one of the NBA's biggest injury risks. |
131 | Donte DiVincenzo | MIL | G | DiVincenzo's 5.8 boards, 3.1 assists, 2.0 threes and 1.1 steals per game made him a passable, lower-end option in standard leagues. |
132 | Terrence Ross | ORL | G | A high-volume three-point threat, Ross could be tasked with more scoring responsibility for a team that will likely struggle in 2021-22. |
133 | Bojan Bogdanovic | UTA | F | His efficiency has tailed off a bit since arriving in Utah, but Bogdanovic remains a rock-solid points/threes/FT% contributor. |
134 | Gary Trent | TOR | G | Trent is essentially just a points/threes contributor, but he could be set to start alongside Fred VanVleet. |
135 | Aaron Gordon | DEN | F | More valuable in real life than in fantasy, Gordon's numbers took a concerning dip after arriving in Denver. |
136 | Wendell Carter | ORL | C | Durability remains a concern, but Carter should have the inside track to the starting center job in Orlando. |
137 | Al Horford | OKC | C | If Horford remains with the Thunder, he's probably a stay-away. But if he's moved to a better situation, he could have one last run in him. |
138 | Bobby Portis | MIL | F | Portis was an excellent addition for Milwaukee, but he can't be counted upon to shoot 47% from three again. |
139 | Serge Ibaka | LAC | F/C | Ibaka's ongoing back issues are a concern, but he's somehow only 31 years old |
140 | James Wiseman | GSW | C | Wiseman's rookie season was a disaster, but his upside and physical gifts are still impossible to ignore. |
141 | Duncan Robinson | MIA | G | Robinson wasn't quite as impactful following last year's breakout, but he still poured in 3.5 threes per game at a 40.8% clip. |
142 | Chuma Okeke | ORL | F | Okeke's long-term ceiling is unclear, but he showed plenty of promise as a second-year "rookie" in 2020-21. |
143 | Kevin Love | CLE | F | At this point, Love is almost guaranteed to miss 20-plus games and his upside is no longer worth the risk. |
144 | Lauri Markkanen | CHI | F | The last two seasons have been wildly disappointing, though Markkanen quietly shot 40% from three in 2020-21. |
145 | Royce O'Neale | UTA | G/F | A classic low-ceiling/high-floor player, O'Neale's best assets are his durability, rebounding and three-point shooting (career-high 1.5 3PM in 2020-21). |
146 | Daniel Gafford | WAS | C | After coming over from Chicago, Gafford clearly solidified himself as the Wizards' best option at center. But the return of Thomas Bryant could further complicate things. |
147 | Goran Dragic | MIA | G | He's earned the benefit of the doubt, but it's very possible his outstanding 2019-20 season will stand out as a late-career anomaly. |
148 | Nicolas Batum | LAC | F | Batum resurrected his career with the Clippers and proved he's still an effective role player. |
149 | Evan Mobley | ROOK | F/C | The USC product averaged 16.4 points, 8.7 boards, 2.4 assists and 2.9 blocks as a freshman last season. |
150 | Nickeil Alexander-Walker | NOR | G | He looked great when Lonzo Ball was injured, but if Ball remains in New Orleans there may be a roadblock at point guard. |
Next up: Will Barton, DEN; Seth Curry, PHI; Mo Bamba, ORL; Brandon Clarke, MEM; Dorian Finney-Smith, DAL; De'Anthony Melton, MEM; Daniel Theis, CHI; Matisse Thybulle, PHI; Marvin Bagley, SAC; Darius Bazley, OKC; Alec Burks, NYK; Ivica Zubac, LAC