Fantasy basketball cheat sheet: Ranking top 50 NBA players for draft

NBA teams have already opened their respective training camps and are preparing for their first preseason games, as we are less than three weeks away from the tip-off of the regular season. At the same time, with the start of the season fast approaching, fantasy basketball is also here for fans, who can create their own rosters and fight to win and claim prizes.

There is a plethora of players to pick when it comes to fantasy teams, and players can draft their top NBA players and create the ideal rosters that would help them win.

From Luka Doncic to reigning champion Nikola Jokic, fans have a long list of NBA superstars to pick from, and with that in mind, we rank the top 50 NBA players for the fantasy basketball draft.

Fantasy basketball cheat sheet: Top 50 NBA players for draft

Rank	Player	Team	Position
1.	Joel Embiid	Philadelphia 76ers	Center
2.	Nikola Jokic	Denver Nuggets	Center
3.	Luka Doncic	Dallas Mavericks	Guard
4.	LeBron James	Los Angeles Lakers	Forward
5.	Stephen Curry	Golden State Warriors	Guard
6.	Giannis Antetokounmpo	Milwaukee Bucks	Forward
7.	Damian Lillard	Milwaukee Bucks	Guard
8.	Shai Gilgeous-Alexander	Oklahoma City Thunder	Guard
9.	Kevin Durant	Phoenix Suns	Forward
10.	Devin Booker	Phoenix Suns	Guard
11.	Trae Young	Atlanta Hawks	Guard
12.	Jimmy Butler	Miami Heat	Forward
13.	De'Aaron Fox	Sacramento Kings	Guard
14.	Anthony Edwards	Minnesota Timberwolves	Guard
15.	Kawhi Leonard	LA Clippers	Guard
16.	Jayson Tatum	Boston Celtics	Forward
17.	Jaylen Brown	Boston Celtics	Guard
18.	Paul George	LA Clippers	Forward
19.	Mikal Bridges	Brooklyn Nets	Guard
20.	Tyrese Haliburton	Indiana Pacers	Guard
21.	Donovan Mitchell	Cleveland Cavaliers	Guard
22.	Darius Garland	Cleveland Cavaliers	Guard
23.	Karl-Anthony Towns	Minnesota Timberwolves	Center
24.	Fred VanVleet	Houston Rockets	Guard
25.	Ja Morant	Memphis Grizzlies	Guard
26.	Anthony Davis	LA Lakers	Center
27.	James Harden	Philadelphia 76ers	Guard
28.	Jamal Murray	Denver Nuggets	Guard
29.	Pascal Siakam	Toronto Raptors	Forward
30.	DeMar DeRozan	Chicago Bulls	Forward
31.	Jalen Brunson	New York Knicks	Guard
32.	Dejounte Murray	Atlanta Hawks	Guard
33.	Zion Williamson	New Orleans Pelicans	Forward
34.	Zach LaVine	Chicago Bulls	Guard
35.	Kyrie Irving	Dallas Mavericks	Guard
36.	Julius Randle	New York Knicks	Forward
37.	Scottie Barnes	Toronto Raptors	Guard
38.	Bradley Beal	Phoenix Suns	Guard
39.	Klay Thompson	Golden State Warriors	Guard
40.	Jrue Holiday	Boston Celtics	Guard
41.	Kristaps Porzingis	Boston Celtics	Guard
42.	Desmond Bane	Memphis Grizzlies	Guard
43.	Jaren Jackson Jr.	Memphis Grizzlies	Center
44.	Khris Middleton	Milwaukee Bucks	Forward
45.	Victor Wembanyama	San Antonio Spurs	Center
46.	Brandon Ingram	New Orleans Pelicans	Forward
47.	Bam Adebayo	Miami Heat	Center
48.	Russell Westbrook	LA Clippers	Guard
49.	LaMelo Ball	Charlotte Hornets	Guard
50.	Cade Cunningham	Detroit Pistons	Guard

Based on what we have seen so far, Luka Doncic, Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Joel Embiid are expected to lead the way in the MVP race, just like it has happened in the last few years.

These four players have dominated the league, with Doncic being in the MVP conversation since his second year in the league, while Jokic (2021, 2022), Antetokounmpo (2019, 2020) and Embiid (2023) have shared the MVP award over the past five years.

We also expect LeBron James and Stephen Curry to have MVP seasons again, while Damian Lillard has a golden opportunity to fight for his first championship, so we should expect him to play at an elite level for this year as well.

Last year's sensation Shai Gilgeous-Alexander should also perform at an All-Star level, while Kevin Durant and Devin Booker are the Phoenix Suns' best chance for a championship run this season.

Similarly, superstars like Trae Young, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown should also play at an elite level, while we expect Jimmy Butler to help the Miami Heat maintain their title-contending status in the East.

The regular season tips off on Tuesday, October 24, with the Nuggets taking on the Lakers and the Warriors hosting the Suns.