Fantasy Basketball 2024: Top NBA Player Rankings and 1st-Round Mock Draft

Zach Buckley@@ZachBuckleyNBAX.com LogoFeatured Columnist IVOctober 1, 2024

Fantasy Basketball 2024: Top NBA Player Rankings and 1st-Round Mock Draft

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    SAN ANTONIO, TX - SEPTEMBER 30: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs poses at San Antonio Spurs Media Day at the Victory Capital Performance Center on September 30, 2024 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images)
    Ronald Cortes/Getty Images

    With NBA media days in the books and training camps tipping off around the Association, the time to dive back into the fantasy basketball world is right now.

    So, grab your flippers, plug your noses and let's do this.

    To get the ball rolling (pun partially intended), we're laying out our top-30 head-to-head player rankings, conducting a mock first round using FantasyPros' mock draft simulator and finally spotlighting a trio of sleepers to know for the upcoming 2024-25 season.

Top 30 Player Rankings

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    DENVER, COLORADO - SEPTEMBER 26: Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets fields questions during Denver Nuggets Media Day at Ball Arena on September 26, 2024 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
    Matthew Stockman/Getty Images

    1. Nikola Jokić, C, Denver Nuggets

    2. Victor Wembanyama, C, San Antonio Spurs

    3. Luka Dončić, PG, Dallas Mavericks

    4. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, PG, Oklahoma City Thunder

    5. Joel Embiid, C, Philadelphia 76ers

    6. Giannis Antetokounmpo, PF/C, Milwaukee Bucks

    7. Tyreese Haliburton, PG/SG, Indiana Pacers

    8. Trae Young, PG, Atlanta Hawks

    9. Jayson Tatum, SF/PF, Boston Celtics

    10. Domantas Sabonis, PF/C, Sacramento Kings

    11. Anthony Davis, PF/C, Los Angeles Lakers

    12. Anthony Edwards, SG/SF, Minnesota Timberwolves

    13. Jalen Brunson, PG, New York Knicks

    14. LeBron James, SF/PF, Los Angeles Lakers

    15. Donovan Mitchell, PG/SG, Cleveland Cavaliers

    16. Ja Morant, PG, Memphis Grizzlies

    17. Kevin Durant, PF, Phoenix Suns

    18. De'Aaron Fox, PG, Sacramento Kings

    19. Devin Booker, PG/SG, Phoenix Suns

    20. Stephen Curry, PG, Golden State Warriors

    21. Tyrese Maxey, PG/SG, Philadelphia 76ers

    22. Scottie Barnes, SG/SF/PF, Toronto Raptors

    23. Pascal Siakam, PF, Indiana Pacers

    24. Alperen Şengün, C, Houston Rockets

    25. James Harden, PG/SG, Los Angeles Clippers

    26. LaMelo Ball, PG, Charlotte Hornets

    27. Paolo Banchero, SF/PF, Orlando Magic

    28. Damian Lillard, PG, Milwaukee Bucks

    29. Cade Cunningham, PG/SG, Detroit Pistons

    30. Chet Holmgren, C, Oklahoma City Thunder

Mock First Round

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    DALLAS, TX - MAY 18:  Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder handles the ball during the game  against the Dallas Mavericks during Round 2 Game 6 of the 2024 NBA Playoffs  on May 18, 2024  at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)
    Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images

    1. Nikola Jokić, C, Denver Nuggets

    2. Victor Wembanyama, C, San Antonio Spurs

    3. Luka Dončić, PG, Dallas Mavericks

    4. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, PG, Oklahoma City Thunder

    5. Joel Embiid, C, Philadelphia 76ers

    6. Giannis Antetokounmpo, PF/C, Milwaukee Bucks

    7. Tyreese Haliburton, PG/SG, Indiana Pacers

    8. Trae Young, PG, Atlanta Hawks

    9. Jayson Tatum, SF/PF, Boston Celtics

    10. Domantas Sabonis, PF/C, Sacramento Kings

    11. Anthony Davis, PF/C, Los Angeles Lakers

    12. Anthony Edwards, SG/SF, Minnesota Timberwolves

Sleepers To Know

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    DETROIT, MICHIGAN - SEPTEMBER 30: Tobias Harris #12 of the Detroit Pistons poses for a portrait during media day at Little Caesars Arena on September 30, 2024 in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
    Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

    Donte DiVincenzo, SG, Minnesota Timberwolves

    DiVincenzo orchestrated a breakout season in 2023-24, but he might have another brewing upon his move to the Gopher State.

    The Timberwolves will lean heavily on his three-ball to offset the loss of stretch big Karl-Anthony Towns, plus Minnesota could call upon DiVincenzo for some playmaking seeing as how Mike Conley's backup is rookie Rob Dillingham. DiVincenzo had good shooting seasons before, but his past one was all-caps GREAT, as he netted 283 triples at a 40.1 percent clip.


    Tobias Harris, SF/PF, Detroit Pistons

    The Pistons have long been on the lookout for support scoring and spacing around Cade Cunningham, and they might heavily lean on Harris to provide both.

    Despite sharing shots and touches with Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey last season, Harris still found his way to an efficient 17.2 points per night. He has a great chance to improve that number (potentially by a lot), not to mention an opportunity to get back to supplying around two three-pointers per outing.


    Dereck Lively II, C, Dallas Mavericks

    While Mavericks coach Jason Kidd won't anoint Lively as the starting center yet, that feels like a formality. If this championship-chasing bunch wants to reach its full potential, that can only happen with Lively logging major minutes.

    Lively is the team's most versatile center at both ends. He can rim-run his way into a nightly double-double if he gets the right amount of floor time, and his passing out of the short roll could prove even more potent with sharpshooter Klay Thompson added to Dallas' electric perimeter group.

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