Top 20 NBA Fantasy Stats to Research for Fantasy Basketball Success

Fantasy basketball has become a popular way for fans to stay engaged with the NBA season. As with any fantasy sport, it’s important to have a good understanding of the stats that matter most. Here are the top 20 NBA fantasy stats to research and what their definitions are. All of these statistics are built in to our daily NBA Projection models that are used to build successful lineups for DraftKings and FanDuel.

1. Points (PTS): This is the most basic stat in basketball, and it’s simply the number of points a player scores in a game.
2. Rebounds (REB): This stat measures the number of times a player grabs a rebound, which is when a missed shot bounces off the rim or backboard and a player catches it.
3. Assists (AST): An assist is recorded when a player passes the ball to a teammate who scores immediately after receiving the pass.
4. Steals (STL): When a player takes the ball away from an opposing player, it’s considered a steal.
5. Blocks (BLK): This stat is recorded when a player jumps and blocks an opposing player’s shot attempt.
6. Turnovers (TO): When a player loses possession of the ball due to a bad pass, mishandling it, or committing an offensive foul, it’s considered a turnover.
7. Field Goal Percentage (FG%): This measures the percentage of shots a player makes out of their total field goal attempts.
8. Free Throw Percentage (FT%): This stat measures the percentage of free throws a player makes out of their total free throw attempts.
9. Three-Point Field Goal Percentage (3PT%): This stat measures the percentage of three-point shots a player makes out of their total three-point attempts.
10. Minutes per Game (MPG): This measures the average number of minutes a player plays per game.
11. Double-Doubles (DD): A double-double is recorded when a player accumulates double-digit totals in two of the following categories: points, rebounds, assists, steals, or blocks.
12. Triple-Doubles (TD): A triple-double is recorded when a player accumulates double-digit totals in three of the categories listed above.
13. Usage Rate (USG%): This stat measures the percentage of team plays a player uses while they’re on the court.
14. Player Efficiency Rating (PER): This is a comprehensive stat that measures a player’s overall effectiveness on the court.
15. True Shooting Percentage (TS%): This stat measures the efficiency of a player’s shooting by taking into account the number of free throws, two-point field goals, and three-point field goals they make.
16. Offensive Rating (ORtg): This measures a team’s offensive efficiency with a specific player on the court.
17. Defensive Rating (DRtg): This measures a team’s defensive efficiency with a specific player on the court.
18. Net Rating (NetRtg): This measures the point differential per 100 possessions a player contributes to their team.
19. Win Shares (WS): This stat measures the number of wins a player contributes to their team.
20. Box Plus/Minus (BPM): This is a comprehensive stat that measures a player’s overall impact on the court, taking into account their offensive and defensive contributions.

In conclusion, understanding these 20 stats is crucial for anyone who wants to excel at fantasy basketball. While some of these stats are more basic than others, all of them contribute to a player’s overall value. By researching these stats and using them to inform your draft picks and in-season roster moves, you’ll be well on your way to fantasy basketball success.