NBA Fantasy Dunkest: Draft Picks Tips
Certainties, rising stars, former legends seeking final satisfaction, and potential surprises: our FantaBasket tips for the Dunkest Draft
In the Dunkest Draft Mode Guide, our advice on which players to pick during the 2025/26 NBA Fantasy Basket auction couldn’t be missing.
You’re about to discover the strategies to adopt to choose the best available players and all the ones to target, position by position.
After clarifying how much budget to allocate for each position, here are the recommended players for the Dunkest Draft, obviously position by position:
- Centers
- Forwards
- Guards
- Possible surprises
- Most interesting rookies
- Big names to avoid
Centers
Onyeka Okongwu (Atlanta Hawks)
Capela’s departure finally opens new opportunities for him: Atlanta’s center could see more minutes and responsibilities even with Porzingis’ arrival, who will likely play at the 4 alternating with Jalen Johnson. Okongwu’s stats are far from disappointing: in games without Capela, he averaged about +8 FPs. Considering his overall production is around 30 FPs, his value-for-money ratio is among the best at his position.
Mark Williams (Phoenix Suns)
After a long injury absence, he confirmed his worth last season, finishing with averages of 15 points, 10 rebounds, and 29 FPs. Moving to the Suns, where he reunites with former teammate Nick Richards, might slightly reduce his minutes, but the performance gap between the two remains significant, likely guaranteeing him key minutes. On this basis, he can be a very solid choice for your Dunkest team.
Forwards
Jaylen Brown (Boston Celtics)
Not an absolute top pick, but his Dunkest potential this year is very high. Tatum’s absence – which might end this season – will make Brown Boston’s main offensive option, a role reinforced by Porzingis’ departure. The Celtics’ season could be challenging, but with few players able to create off the dribble (Simons and White), most offensive responsibilities will inevitably fall on his hands.
Pascal Siakam (Indiana Pacers)
Like Brown, he will benefit from his new context. Haliburton’s injury and Turner’s surprising departure completely reshuffle the Pacers’ hierarchy. Coming off a strong season averaging 20 points and 7 rebounds (27.5 FPs), Siakam will be coach Carlisle’s go-to player on both ends of the court. Team struggles are expected, but his offensive volume will grow significantly, along with his Dunkest potential.
Guards
Amen Thompson (Houston Rockets)
VanVleet’s latest injury (ACL tear) boosts his value. After a first season of adaptation, he showed clear growth last year, helped by coach Udoka giving him 30 minutes per game. Now he will be the Rockets’ primary playmaker, and without FVV, he can consistently deliver double-digit assists.
Devin Booker (Phoenix Suns)
Not the typical Dunkest player, but the new season could tell a different story. Durant’s departure leaves him practically alone managing the Suns’ offense, tasked with creating plays and setting up Brooks and Green from the arc, while utilizing Williams in the paint. With such a high volume of possessions and responsibilities, his numbers could spike, with more double-doubles and FPs rising above last season’s already solid average of 31.
Possible Surprises
Andrew Nembhard (Indiana Pacers)
Haliburton’s absence could make him one of the season’s revelations. If Carlisle gives him plenty of playing time, Nembhard has all the tools to break out. With at least 30 minutes on the court, he’s already shown he can produce: 2 double-doubles and several games with 8–9 assists. At his price range, he could be a real bargain.
Kevin Porter Jr. (Milwaukee Bucks)
Post-Lillard could be the moment of his resurgence. After a difficult period, including a stint in Europe, his return to the NBA with the Bucks put him back on track. Without Lillard, he averaged 14 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists (21.5 FPs), an interesting output for a player unlikely to command a high price. Being essentially the only pure playmaker on the roster, he should have consistent minutes and responsibilities.
Most Interesting Rookies
Tre Johnson (Washington Wizards)
Tre Johnson is set to enter the NBA as one of the most intriguing rookies, already drawing attention for FantaBasket. Washington is still a work in progress, which could immediately offer him significant minutes. In the Summer League, he already showed promising skills, and he seems ready to turn them into a solid FP output quickly.
Yang Hansen (Portland Trail Blazers)
The Blazers’ new center has already been compared to Jokic by some, certainly an exaggeration, but highlighting the attention around him. He has a strong foundation: size, foot speed, solid technique, constant rebounding presence, and great passing skills. In FantaBasket terms, this mix could translate into an impressive FP haul.
Big Names to Avoid
Kevin Durant (Houston Rockets)
No critique of his talent, but in Dunkest terms, KD has rarely been a winning choice. For the high price he’ll demand in the draft or auctions, his output (31 FPs on average) is too low. At the same price, you can target more profitable options, like Jaylen Brown.
Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers)
Almost an obvious choice: immense talent, but physical reliability is increasingly uncertain. After the 2022/23 MVP season, he played only 19 Fantasy games last season, far too few to justify a significant investment. Everyone hopes to see the dominant Embiid again (33 points, 10 rebounds, nearly 45 FPs in 66 games), but currently, he’s too high a risk for a fantasy league.
Still have doubts?
- Check out the full list of Dunkest Guides.
- Message us on Instagram, and we’ll be happy to help!
Play NBA Fantasy Basketball!
The Dunkest NBA Fantasy Basketball is Italy’s most-played FantaNBA, with over 200,000 fantasy coaches competing every year since 2013 with points, assists, and rebounds. It’s free and can be played on the app iOS or app Android.