Learn How to Play Fantasy Basketball

Fantasy basketball is one of the best pastimes that you and your friends can indulge in while making a little money on the side.

So, whether you are a veteran fantasy football player and are just looking for a new challenge or a novice who is just entering the scene, here is a guide that will help you understand the basics of fantasy basketball.

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The rules aren't too complicated, but you will want to familiarize yourself with them before jumping in.

Fantasy Basketball
Fantasy Basketball Draft Prep for this year. Image source: cbssports.com.

Where to Get Started

You can actually easily begin playing fantasy basketball for free on sites like ESPN. Their game is considered the #1 fantasy game, and you don't have to pay a penny to enjoy it. You can even enjoy this format on your mobile device by downloading the app through Apple or the Google Play Store.

Understand Your Format

Fantasy basketball is very similar to most other types of fantasy sports. You construct a team from the same league and get points based on their real-life performance. Sounds simple, doesn't it? That's because it is.

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If you are playing daily, weekly, or seasonally, then you will be paid accordingly. But, before you can get paid, you will have to look at whether you are in a head-to-head, points, or rotisserie format. Each format varies greatly in terms of difficulty, so you should always choose wisely.

The points format just sees how many points a player gets in total. Head-to-head awards points for categories that your team fills at the end of each game. And rotisserie is more statistical, as you get points based on your position (that you achieve through points in categories). So, if your team has 29 assists in a game, and that is the highest, you get ten points. Additionally, your points drop when your ranking falls.

Draft Your Team

Once you choose your format, you will now have to draft your own team. Drafting can take place in two distinct ways: the snake draft and the auction draft. The snake draft sees people draft their players in order during the first round.

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In the second round, the order is reversed to avoid the first person getting an advantage every time. In other words, the last person to draft in the first round is the first to draft in the second round.

Auction drafts are, as the name implies, auctions where you select the player that you want by bidding for them. And the higher the bid, the more likely you are to get your preferred player. All of the managers also have the same amount of money, so no person has an unfair advantage.

Be Patient and Be Careful Trading

One of the most important things when playing is watching out for trade offers. Other people (known as managers) will often contact other managers to get the player that they want. Remember that no one is giving you a trade unless they are at the losing end. Be confident in the players that you choose and try to look out for the waiver wire.

The waiver wire is a place where managers let go of some of the drafts because they aren’t good enough. You should always keep an eye on this, as it can give you an amazing offer that you otherwise wouldn't get.

In conclusion, fantasy basketball is about having fun, so be sure that you enjoy the time that you spend playing fantasy basketball. For more exciting basketball content, click here.

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