Do you have a fantasy team for the National Basketball Association? If not, it’s time to get one.
Having an NBA fantasy team is not just a lot of fun, but it’s also a way that you can win money too. There’s a lot that goes into building one, though. You have to pick the best players with a limited amount of money, and that isn’t always easy.
Ready to build your epic fantasy basketball team? Our five tips can help you achieve that goal.
Know Which League You’re In
First things first – you need to know what league you’re playing in and what the rules are. There are many different leagues in which players rank, which can make it challenging to pick the best players if you’re not paying attention.
Look Past Scoring Ranks
It’s easy to get caught up in how many baskets a player makes each game. You would think having a team stacked with top-scoring players would be a no-brainer, right?
Not exactly.
Although you need those high scoring players, you need a well-rounded team. That means you have strong defensive players, those who are great at catching rebounds, players that are top for assists, and some who know how to block. So, when building your fantasy team, include players that cover the main categories.
Rookies Aren’t Always the Best Option
Now, this isn’t to say that you shouldn’t draft a rookie player. Some rookie players have explosive first seasons as an NBA player and continue to be all-stars. However, that isn’t always the case.
Have you ever heard of the rookie wall? It’s the theory when rookies hit a wall later in the season in which their explosiveness starts to dwindle. NBA players have 82 games in one season. That’s a lot of games over several months, which they’re expected to bring all their talent. Rookies aren’t fully adjusted to a full NBA season in their first year. So, as they play game after game, they hit this wall in which all their success starts to slow down.
When drafting rookies, keep this in mind that they may be unpredictable.
Have a Few All-Around Players
When planning your fantasy team, you probably have categories ready and are looking at the top players of each category. Obviously, that’s what you want when building a team – to have the best players. It’s not a bad idea, though, to include a few who are all-around players.
An all-around player means they can play with the big guys in basically every category (scoring, defense, rebounds, blocking, skills like those). They help balance a team out.
Pay Attention to the News
It’s crucial that you stay involved in your fantasy team. You can’t expect to pick the top players and then see what happens. Injuries occur, trades happen throughout the year, and some players just have an offseason. When these things happen, you need to be ready to trade for other players.
Especially if you’re serious about your team and are wanting to win some money, make sure you pay attention to what’s happening in the NBA world. Be prepared to make adjustments at any time.
Enjoy picking your fantasy team and have fun watching your team perform as you’d hoped. Having a fantasy NBA team is a great way to keep the fun going, especially when you can’t physically be at the game.