Week 24 of the 2025-26 NBA season delivered dominant performances from several elite fantasy contributors, with centers and forwards combining to produce historic scoring stretches. Managers who locked in their top-tier talent found themselves with significant point totals, though some highly-ranked players managed to underperform expectations.
Must-Starts: Week 24 Elite Producers
Nikola Jokić (DEN) — Center: 212.8 pts
Jokić was absolutely unstoppable across 3 games this week, posting 90 points, 39 rebounds, 38 assists, 5 blocks, and 5 steals while turning the ball over 11 times. The Denver center's all-around dominance made him the most valuable fantasy asset of the week by a significant margin.
Jokić was an automatic start for any manager fortunate enough to roster him. His combination of scoring, playmaking, and rebounding rarely ever touches this level of consistency, and Week 24 proved exactly why he remains one of fantasy basketball's safest bets.
Desmond Bane (ORL) — Guard: 193.3 pts
Bane delivered one of the season's most complete guard performances across 5 games this week, accumulating 114 points, 24 rebounds, 17 assists, 5 blocks, and 7 steals while posting only 11 turnovers. His scoring efficiency and all-around production made him a must-have option.
This was the kind of week that justifies starting Bane in virtually any fantasy format. His 114 points across the week showcased elite offensive output, while his defensive contributions added another layer of value that fantasy managers could not afford to leave on the bench.
Cooper Flagg (DAL) — Forward: 193.3 pts
Flagg matched Bane's point total across just 3 games, posting 115 points, 24 rebounds, 15 assists, 3 blocks, and 8 steals with only 6 turnovers. His efficiency and production rate made him one of the week's most explosive performers on a per-game basis.
Starting Flagg was essential given his scoring punch and clean turnover profile. Dallas's young forward proved that he could deliver elite fantasy production in compressed schedules, making him a priority start whenever he was available.
Strong Starts: Reliable Options
- Alperen Sengun (HOU) — Center: 159.8 pts across 4 games, posting 81 points, 24 rebounds, 26 assists, 3 blocks, and 3 steals.
- Jalen Suggs (ORL) — Guard: 199.9 pts across 5 games with 69 points, 27 rebounds, 45 assists, and league-leading steals production at 14 for the week.
- Kevin Durant (HOU) — Forward: 191.3 pts across 4 games featuring 102 points, 24 rebounds, 31 assists, and 8 blocks demonstrating continued elite play.
- Victor Wembanyama (SAS) — Forward: 190.7 pts across 3 games with impressive 92 points, 41 rebounds, 11 assists, and 11 blocks showcasing two-way dominance.
- Paolo Banchero (ORL) — Forward: 189.5 pts across 5 games posting 94 points, 45 rebounds, and 25 assists for consistent production despite 17 turnovers.
Tough Sits: Disappointing Weeks
- Jalen Duren (DET) — While Duren posted 156.8 points across 4 games with 87 points and 39 rebounds, his 13 turnovers represented a significant drag on his overall fantasy value and made him a problematic start despite solid scoring and rebounding numbers.
- LaMelo Ball (CHA) — Ball disappointed with 161.1 points across 4 games, featuring 82 points and 37 assists but offering minimal defensive production and 10 turnovers that limited his upside relative to elite options available that week.
- OG Anunoby (NYK) — Despite posting 155.4 points across 4 games with 86 points and 32 rebounds, Anunoby fell short of typical expectations with only 6 assists and minimal overall impact in a limited role.
- Stephon Castle (SAS) — Castle accumulated 156.2 points across 4 games with 74 points, 26 rebounds, and 38 assists, but his 15 turnovers and limited scoring efficiency made him a risky start compared to alternatives.
Fantasy managers looking to maximize their lineups should leverage PlayCaller's AI-powered lineup tools at playcallerapp.com to identify optimal start-sit decisions for upcoming contests.