Unlock the Secrets: 7 Game-Changing Stats from the 2024-25 NBA Fantasy Season

As the NBA Playoffs kick off, diving into the numbers behind the season’s highlights is an absolute must. Last year, I put together a comprehensive year-end rookie report, and, boy, did those insights reveal some hidden insights. But as we look back across this rollercoaster of a season, certain stats really leap off the page! Dyson Daniels, for example, with his 229 steals, not only led the league but also etched his name in the annals of NBA history by averaging at least three steals per game—a rare achievement that makes one marvel at the sheer thievery on the court. And who would’ve thought that Domantas Sabonis would string together three consecutive league-leading seasons in double-doubles?

The journey through stats isn’t just about the rookies; it’s also about veterans like Chris Paul defying the odds to play a full 82-game season after a decade, showcasing resilience and an undiminished playmaking ability.

What intrigues me most, though, are the underlying trends and unexpected numbers that define this fantasy basketball season. From the rise of 3-point sharpshooting to players redefining what’s possible bench production, here’s a look behind the curtain to ponder what really made this season tick.

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2018-19: 9 players

229

Dyson Daniels’ 229 steals didn’t just lead the league; the total ranked him among the top 20 single-season heists in NBA history. Even more impressively, Daniels became just the 11th player in league history to average at least three steals per game. It’s a primary reason he finished 14th in 9-cat leagues this season.

Anthony Edwards switched up his flow and became a flamethrower this season, leading the NBA with 320 made 3s. He also converted a career-best 39.5% on his 3-point attempts.

61

Domantas Sabonis continued to define consistency, posting 61 double-doubles this season to lead the league in the category for the third year in a row. This achievement places him in an elite group of just five players in NBA history to have three consecutive league-leading seasons in double-doubles.

While Paul displayed resiliency and durability, his age is showing, posting career lows in points, rebounds, FG% and FG attempts per game. That said, Paul remains an effective playmaker (7.4 assists per game) who gets at least a steal per game.

15.3

After falling out of favor in Oklahoma City, Giddey revived his fantasy value this season and is likely looking at a hefty new deal to stay in Chicago. He had a sixth-round ADP this season, so I wouldn’t be surprised to see him creep into the fifth round next year.Josh Giddey’s 15.3 combined rebounds and assists per game weren’t just impressive; they placed him in elite company. This season, only Nikola Jokić and Luka Dončić matched Giddey’s mark of averaging at least 8 rebounds and 7 assists per game.

Josh Giddey’s 15.3 combined rebounds and assists per game weren’t just impressive; they placed him in elite company. This season, only Nikola Jokić and Luka Dončić matched Giddey’s mark of averaging at least 8 rebounds and 7 assists per game.

Kel’el Ware and Zach Edey were the only two rookies from the 2024-25 NBA Draft class to crack the top 150 of 9-cat rankings. This dubious distinction makes the class the second-worst in the last decade in terms of fantasy impact.

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• 2022-23: 7 players
• 2023-24: 4 players
• 2017-18: 7 players
• 2015-16: 5 players
• Data per Basketball Monster
• Chris Paul defied expectations by playing all 82 games for the first time in 10 years. For a player whose career has been defined as much by brilliance as by untimely injuries, this was one of the more impressive stats of the 2024-25 season. Especially when considering Joel Embiid, Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram combined to play 67 games this season.
• 2020-21: 4 players
• 2016-17: 1 player

The NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year, Payton Pritchard and Beasley, lit up the scoreboard from deep, combining for 486 3-pointers off the bench (246 from Pritchard, 240 from Beasley). This remarkable feat placed both in an exclusive group of just five players in NBA history to make 240+ 3-pointers in a season as reserves. Both players went undrafted in over 88% of leagues this season, so their shooting elevated them into game-changers for many fantasy teams.Advertisement

240

Previous seasons show a broader array of impactful first-year players:

10

2021-22: 5 players

However, Sabonis’ box score production couldn’t save the Sacramento Kings from missing the playoffs again. For fantasy GMs, I’ll always prefer Sabonis in points leagues to 9-cat, but any potential trade this offseason could impact his second-round ADP.