The NBA playoffs are now in full swing, and while contenders cement their legacies, strategic fantasy basketball managers are turning their attention to next season's draft boards.
To help you gain that crucial edge, we're launching our mock draft series now, beginning with an examination of the all-important first round. Player values are likely to shift through offseason transactions and developments, but establishing a baseline now provides the foundation for informed decisions come October.
Without further ado, here is the first round of our Way-Too-Early 2025 Fantasy Basketball Mock Draft. (Statistics as of May 6, 2025)
1. Nikola Jokic
(C, Denver Nuggets)
2024-25 stats: 29.6 PPG, 12.7 RPG
10.2 APG, 1.8 SPG, 0.6 BPG
57.6 FG%, 41.7 3P%, 80.0 FT%
Nikola Jokic is going to finish second in MVP voting despite posting one of the greatest seasons in NBA history. In year 10, the three-time MVP somehow found a way to grow his game to new heights.
He averaged a triple-double for the first time, finishing second in the league in APG, becoming the first player not named Oscar Robertson or Russell Westbrook to do so. He made by far the most threes in his career (138) on by far the best efficiency of his career. And if that were not enough, Jokic decided to improve his defensive stats, finishing second league-wide in steals per game.
Even if, for the sake of argument, Jokic were to inexplicably suffer a 10% decline in every major stat category next season, you would still have to consider him at number one.
2. Victor Wembanyama
(C, San Antonio Spurs)
2024-25 stats: 24.3 PPG, 11.0 RPG
3.7 APG, 1.1 SPG, 3.8 BPG
47.6 FG%, 35.2 3P%, 83.6 FT%
Were it not for some mild concern regarding the deep vein thrombosis that prematurely ended Victor Wembanyama’s second NBA season, he could threaten for the number one slot. The Spurs center built on a historic rookie year with considerable improvements in several key areas.
Wembanyama increased his scoring by 2.9 PPG, mainly through taking way more threes and making them at a better rate. He also improved his already solid free-throw shooting, upped his BPG to an absurd 3.8, and cut down his turnovers (3.2 per game) despite higher usage.
If you aren’t troubled by the blood clot and believe Wembanyama can make a similar jump in year three, comfortably take him number one.
3. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
(PG, Oklahoma City Thunder)
2024-25 stats: 32.7 PPG, 5.0 RPG
6.4 APG, 1.7 SPG, 1.0 BPG
51.9 FG%, 37.5 3P%, 89.8 FT%
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the heavy favorite to take home his first MVP award on Wednesday and has fully emerged as arguably the best player in the league. However, he sits at number three on this board due to the intricacies of fantasy basketball. Assists and blocks are simply harder to come by, and while Gilgeous-Alexander certainly contributes his fair share in those categories, he doesn’t reach the elite levels of Jokic and Wembanyama, respectively.
Nonetheless, Gilgeous-Alexander should undoubtedly be the third player taken with his extraordinary production and efficiency across the board. He shot well over 50% from the field for the third straight season and led the league in free throws made per game for the second consecutive year.
While frustrating to some fans, those free throws, which he makes at a nearly 90% clip, are a godsend in category leagues. On top of that, he easily surpassed his career-high in three-pointers made at a steady 37.5% rate.
Gilgeous-Alexander can really do no wrong. It is simply the archetype of player he happens to be that keeps him from the top two spots.
4. Luka Doncic
(PG, Los Angeles Lakers)
2024-25 stats: 28.2 PPG, 8.2 RPG
7.7 APG, 1.8 SPG, 0.4 BPG
45.0 FG%, 36.8 3P%, 78.2 FT%
Luka Doncic’s overall production took a step back this season from a monster 2023-24, and the Lakers suffered a humbling 4-1 loss in the first round of the playoffs. That said, Doncic is still capable of posting 30-point triple-double stat lines on a nightly basis and remains one of a handful of truly elite talents in the league.
Despite his superhuman abilities, LeBron James figures to cede more responsibility to his superstar teammate in year-23 and Doncic will have a full offseason to improve his conditioning and gain comfort in JJ Redick’s offense. Doncic is an easy choice after the top-three are off the board.
5. Jayson Tatum
(PF, Boston Celtics)
2024-25 stats: 26.8 PPG, 8.7 RPG
6.0 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.5 BPG
45.2 FG%, 34.3 3P%, 81.4 FT%
Jayson Tatum is one of the safest picks in the first round. Each of his past five seasons has been nearly identical from a surface-level statistical perspective. The only numbers that really pop out are his 30.1 PPG season in 2022-23 and some growth as a playmaker this season to achieve a career-high in APG.
At 27 years old, Tatum is unlikely to surprise us with a major dropoff or surge in performance in year nine. He is one of the best players in the league and is almost guaranteed to post top-ten fantasy production. Unfortunately, you may need to spend top-five draft capital to secure that level of reliability.
6. Tyrese Haliburton
(PG, Indiana Pacers)
2024-25 stats: 18.6 PPG, 3.5 RPG
9.2 APG, 1.4 SPG, 0.7 BPG
47.3 FG%, 38.8 3P%, 85.1 FT%
Tyrese Haliburton had a slow start to the regular season, but came on strong in the second half. After the All-Star break, the Pacers’ point guard averaged 20.6 PPG on 53.3 FG% and 43.9 3P%, while dishing out 11.0 APG and keeping turnovers to just 1.2 per game. His strong play has continued in the postseason, powering Indiana’s remarkable run.
Haliburton led the league in APG in 2023-24 and could easily repeat that next season, along with elite scoring capabilities. Despite the advanced numbers not loving him as a defender, he also provides more than your average point guard in the stocks categories. Regardless of whether or not he is overrated, Haliburton can absolutely headline your fantasy squad.
7. Giannis Antetokounmpo
(PF, Milwaukee Bucks)
2024-25 stats: 30.4 PPG, 11.9 RPG
6.5 APG, 1.2 SPG, 1.2 BPG
60.1 FG%, 22.2 3P%, 61.7 FT%
Giannis Antetokounmpo has arguably been a top-three player in the league for the entire 2020s so far, but his value is diminished somewhat in fantasy with his paltry free-throw percentage and lack of three-point shooting. The Bucks’ future is uncertain right now with a severe lack of draft capital in the coming years, which has led to many swirling trade rumors surrounding Antetokounmpo.
Antetokounmpo may actually have more upside if he is traded, particularly on the defensive end. Milwaukee has boasted great defensive units over the past half decade, but without Brook Lopez, Antetokounmpo could be relied upon as a team’s sole defensive anchor and elevate his block totals substantially. In any case, Antetokounmpo can carry your team as long as you have a plan to offset the shooting deficiencies.
8. Cade Cunningham
(PG, Detroit Pistons)
2024-25 stats: 26.1 PPG, 6.1 RPG
9.1 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.8 BPG
46.9 FG%, 35.6 3P%, 84.6 FT%
Cade Cunningham engineered one of the most remarkable storylines of the 2024-25 season, elevating the 14-68 Pistons to a 44-38 record, capping it off with a third-place finish in Most Improved Player voting and a seven-game battle with the Knicks.
A repeat of 2024-25 would probably be first-round worthy, but Cunningham is a young star still on the rise. There is no reason to think he can’t take another step in 2025-26, keeping in mind that his efficiency improved dramatically as the season progressed.
By the time the playoffs came around, Cunningham looked extremely comfortable operating Detroit’s offense. On top of the fourth place finish in APG, Cunningham shot a career-high rate in the three-to-10 foot range (49.7%) and attacked the rim relentlessly, notching a career-high in dunks (39).
It is very difficult to poke holes in Cunningham’s game, and this figures to be one of the higher upside picks in the first round.
9. Stephen Curry
(PG, Golden State Warriors)
2024-25 stats: 24.5 PPG, 4.4 RPG
6.0 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.4 BPG
44.8 FG%, 39.7 3P%, 93.3 FT%
The greatest shooter of all time declined slightly this season in terms of scoring output, but remained a fantasy gem due to one-of-a-kind efficiency in the three-point and free throw categories. Despite being 37 years old, Stephen Curry should still be drafted in the first round next season, especially after seeing his numbers improve with a new running mate in the Bay Area.
Following Jimmy Butler’s arrival in early February, Curry’s scoring jumped 4.5 PPG at a significantly more efficient clip. The emergence of Brandin Podziemski as a tertiary scorer and perimeter threat should also continue easing the burden on Curry. While he doesn’t give you a ton in other areas, the boost Curry gives you in the shooting/scoring departments is certainly worthy of this spot.
10. Anthony Edwards
(SG, Minnesota Timberwolves)
2024-25 stats: 27.6 PPG, 5.7 RPG
4.5 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.6 BPG
44.7 FG%, 39.5 3P%, 83.7 FT%
Anthony Davis merits strong consideration for this final spot in the first round of our Way-Too-Early 2025 Fantasy Basketball Mock Draft. The Mavericks center has been an absolute stud in fantasy his whole career and figures to have an increased workload once he gets a chance to really get going in Dallas. Davis’ health is always a concern, but the Mavericks should be highly motivated to maximize their return on one of the most controversial transactions in sports history.
Anthony Edwards barely edges Davis here because of the remarkable improvement he has shown in year five. After an All-NBA Second Team season in 2023-24, Edwards catapulted himself from a good three-point shooter to one of the two or three best in the association, converting 4.1 per game on 39.5%.
Edwards will turn 24 years old in August, and this sort of massive improvement in a key area is a great sign as he enters the theoretical prime of his career. Next year, he could take the next step as a playmaker and bump his assist rate, or maybe he’ll increase his scoring output to 30 PPG. The sky’s the limit for Ant-Man.