The NBA 2025-26 season is officially here and that means that hoops fans across the country will be eagerly anticipating the elite basketball action to come. It also means that many of those fans will be frantically trying to figure out their strategies and draft plans for the new fantasy season.

There are a whole host of different fantasy games available these days, so picking one set of players and sticking with them across the board is not advised. You have to know what kind of contest you are in – and what kind of play gets rewarded with points – to be successful. Research is always key when it comes to fantasy sports.

That being said, there are some NBA players who should always be considered. These go-to guys can, at the very least, form a backbone to your other decisions. These are the players who make the nightly highlight reels and inspire the most basketball bets online. You have to keep up to date to know who to go for – but here are our best go-to picks for your NBA fantasy team.

Nikola Jokić, Denver Nuggets

He is the only currently playing three-time NBA MVP. He may have only won one championship with the Nuggets so far, but Jokić is just so consistently outstanding that you have to try to get him for your team, especially if you have an early draft pick. The Serb has been the top points provider for the last five years and there is no reason why that might not be the case this year too. If you can’t get Jokic, then Victor Wembanyama is a good backup choice.

James Harden, Los Angeles Clippers

Both Jokić and Wembanyama will be high on the priority lists of most fantasy NBA selectors, so you will need to have more of an idea of who you might take if they are both gone by the time you get to choose. James Harden’s brilliance has almost been forgotten, with so many new and exciting players in the league. But he was only behind Jokić, SGA, and Giannis in total points last season. He will be 36 this season, but shows little sign of slowing down and can actually be used as someone to center your roster on if the bigger, more commonly chosen names are already gone.

Nikola Vučević, Chicago Bulls

Picking a Bulls player might be thought of as a risky move, as this is one team that is not expected to do that well this year. But Nikola Vučević is a proven points scorer (in fantasy and in real life) and may well be overlooked by others in your league or contests. He is not entirely a sleeper pick, as his fantasy points have been consistent for years and, at 35 years of age, that is not expected to change. He is a solid shooter and if you are after a double-double guarantee, Vučević is a good bet.

Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves

Many pundits ruminated on the possibility of LeBron taking the Lakers deep into the playoffs last year, until the Minnesota Timberwolves quickly and efficiently ended their season. Anthony Edwards was a major reason for that – and he is now blossoming into one of the best and most exciting players in the league. Even with the upheaval of his T-Wolves team last year, he came through when it mattered and he should be able to burst out of the gates straight away this season.

Karl-Anthony Towns, New York Knicks

One of the reasons why Anthony Edwards had to adjust his plans for how Minnesota would play last year was the departure of Karl-Anthony Towns. While Jalen Brunson was the undoubted main man in New York, it was because of players like KAT that the Knicks made it as far as the Eastern Conference finals. For a big man, Towns can play in a number of positions and is likely to get even more minutes under Mike Brown this year. You might want to wait to see just where he does play on the court, for his optimum fantasy points potential, but there is no doubt that Townes should be in your considerations.

Cooper Flagg, Dallas Mavericks

There is always an inherent jeopardy involved with going all-in on the new star in town. Rookies can quite quickly become expensive mistakes when it comes to fantasy sports. What looked like a generational talent in the NCAA does not always translate to the big leagues. But there is a feeling that that might not be the case with Cooper Flagg. This is a young player who was born ready for the NBA and has the physicality to deal with the pros he will now meet. There is the added bonus of him guaranteed to get a lot of game time, thanks to injuries to Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving.

Figure 2 Some rookies don’t have the physicality for the NBA. Flagg does – Source: Pixabay

Kevin Porter Jr., Milwaukee Bucks

When it comes to the Bucks, many fantasy coaches will try anything they can to get Antetokounmpo on their team. After a disappointing year last time out, many believe that Giannis will be back on fire as the focal point of the Milwaukee team. All that could be true, but there is another Buck that we think you should consider. With Damian Lillard gone, Porter Jr. has the opportunity to step up as point guard and should be the main fantasy points scorer after Giannis. He will also be available for a bargain price in most fantasy contests.