Fantasy Basketball: Top 10 Assists Leaders in 2024-25

This is a fantasy basketball review and analysis of the top 10 assists leaders in the NBA from the 2024-25 season. It is part of a series of articles that break down the top producers from each key counting statistical category. Assists come at a premium in fantasy basketball. It’s a highly contested category early in fantasy drafts. As a result, point guards often fly off draft boards in the early rounds in the blink of an eye. If managers want to dominate or contest this category, then they will need a talented passer to anchor that effort. Here is a look at the league leaders in said category, what they bring to the table, and what their outlook is for the 2025-26 season.

Fantasy Basketball: Top 10 Passers in 2024-25

Below is a list of the top 10 league leaders in assists dished out at the end of the season. The list displays the players’ total assists, assists per game, their end-of-season rankings based on 9-cat per-game scoring, and their rankings based on 9-cat totals rankings. Rankings have been sourced from Basketballmonster.com.

Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks

Trae Young was the “King of Assists” in 2024-25. He beat out the player with the second-most assists this season by over 150 dimes. That’s a significant margin. Not only did Young rack up the most assists for the season, but he also led the league in assists per game (APG) with 11.6. For reference, only two players had an APG in the double digits this season. Young was one of the better players to compete in the assists category. Unfortunately, his points and helpers came with drawbacks. Young led the league in turnovers per game with 4.7. He also shot an awful 41.1% from the field, a career worst for the Hawks point guard. As a result, Young finished outside of the top 50 in 9-cat scoring formats.

Both negatives have become accepted as part and parcel of Young’s game. Managers who have drafted him in the past have often opted to punt FG% and TO categories. When those two cats are punted, he shoots up the rankings, ending up as the sixth-best player in fantasy basketball.

What’s in store for Young next season? Well, Young is still in his prime, still under 28 years of age. So whether the Hawks retain him or he’s shipped off to another team, Young will do what he does. His scoring could take a hit, especially if he lands with a stacked contender. But at the end of the day, Young is a great playmaker and should be a near-shoe-in to finish in the top 3 of that category. For head-to-head leagues, Young will remain a solid choice as a second-round pick for teams building small-ball lineups.

Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets

There is very little that can be said about Nikola Jokic that can further highlight how amazing he is as a player. He does everything exceptionally well. If hairs were split, one could point out that he doesn’t record enough blocks as a center. That’s fine, on some level, that’s fair. However, Jokic does so many other things great and brings so much to the table, both in real life and in fantasy basketball, that his lack of blocks fades into the shadows of near-meaninglessness.

Through this series of league leader reviews, Jokic has shown that he’s an elite scorer, rebounder, steals swiper, and now, passer. No other player is in the top 10 in this many categories. Again, hat tip to the greatness of this future Hall-of-Famer.

He was second in total assists recorded this season, which, if you consider that he’s a center, makes the feat even more mind-blowing. His 10.2 assists per game put him as the only other player aside from Trae Young to average APG in the double digits. Jokic simply brings so many positives that he’s the undeniable top choice as the top pick in fantasy basketball. That’s not something that will likely change once the dust of the 2025-26 season has settled.

Nikola Jokic is another NBA assist leader. May 18, 2025; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) dribbles down the court against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second quarter during game seven of the second round for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
James Harden, Los Angeles Clippers

Harden entered a renaissance phase in his career since joining the Clippers in 2023. The departure of Paul George opened more opportunities for Harden to step up. That, he did, and then some in 2024-25. Harden stayed healthy, appearing in 79 games. He was also a key producer of points, treys and assists in the fantasy basketball arena. He stayed relevant this season with a top-15 finish in 9-cat scoring formats.

At the ripe age of 35, the question now turns to “How long can Harden keep this up?”

At some point, a decline is bound to happen. But with the way he’s been playing, it’s going to be a gentle slope downward. He’s not going to ‘just fall off a cliff’ statistically — barring major injuries, of course. The good news this assumed decline is also on everyone’s minds, allowing Harden to slide comfortably in the second round of most drafts for the 2025-26 season. Even if Harden’s scoring fades a bit, the passing should still be there, keeping him as a nightly double-double threat. He had 38 double-doubles in 2024-25, which is decent, but a far cry from Domantas Sabonis, who clocked in with 61.

Tyrese Haliburton, Indiana Pacers

Haliburton has been the talk of the ongoing real-life playoffs. His clutch shooting during game-tying or game-winning situations is one for the record books. But that’s not why we’re taking a look at the Pacers’ superstar. He ended the season as the fifth-best player in 9-cat scoring, 3rd by totals. It wasn’t smooth sailing for Haliburton to get there, though, as he started the season slowly, putting up lackluster production. He eventually turned things around and delivered efficient scoring, a great A/T ratio, assists for days and even some steals thrown in for good measure. With 9.2 APG, Haliburton was one of the best passers in the NBA, always making sure his teammates were involved in the offense.

Notably, Haliburton has the distinction of being the player with the lowest scoring averages considered as a target in the first round. His humble 20.1 PPG in 2023-24 did not dissuade fantasy GMs from banking on Haliburton, resulting in an ADP of eight in Yahoo! leagues. His 73 games played were enough for Haliburton to deliver the statistical production to lead fantasy teams to those make-believe podiums at the end of the season. He has not peaked yet, and there’s still some upward trajectory to be taken advantage of. Taking Haliburton in the 5-7 range in drafts in 2025-26 would set the stage for a strong and well-balanced fantasy roster.

Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons

2024-25 was a breakout season for Cade Cunningham. The Pistons guard, finally healthy (70 games played), saw improved production across the board. He upped his scoring (26.1 PPG), passing (9.1 APG), rebounds (6.1 RPG), and shooting efficiency from the field (46.9% FG). His star is on the rise, and it’s now undeniably clear that Cunningham has broken into the top echelon of fantasy basketball guard tiers.

Like most tech companies and their prices in the stock market, Cunningham’s ADP will be powered by “expected growth.” Cunningham is someone who is expected to take another leap forward in the coming season. He’s surrounded by a supporting cast in Detroit that should only provide him with more opportunities to shine. The will be to properly assess how much Cade will rise in terms of fantasy production, because it’s never a linear progression. At the end of the day, he’s already looking like a superstar and perennial all-star, so all arrows do point in the right direction. The vector is good, the question will boil down to the force that will drive his expected growth.

Chris Paul, San Antonio Spurs

Chris Paul was not much more than an afterthought in 2024-25 fantasy basketball drafts. The former regular first-round target has slammed into the twilight years of his illustrious NBA career. Paul was often considered injury-prone heading into the season, but surprised everyone when he was able to play all 82 games. He somehow finished with fantasy value inside the top 90, making him one of the better draft-to-value players of the season.

Unfortunately, Paul’s 2024-25 performance should be considered more of an outlier instead of a new rule to judge him by. The NBA journeyman will likely land on a team that could use a facilitator and a decent, albeit slowing defender. As a result, Paul should be considered nothing more than a late-round flyer in 2025-26 drafts — a (small) booster in the assists and steals categories. Nothing more.

LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers

LeBron seems to defy Father Time again and again with each passing season. He finished the 2024-25 season with second-round value, both in per-game valuation and by totals. This was impressive considering that the 40-year-old phenom somehow played in 70 games.

Things changed drastically midseason for the Lakers when the team acquired Luka Doncic. James no longer has to be the big, passing, and scoring center of gravity for the Lakers. That mantle can now be passed onto Doncic with confidence. James is likely on the last legs of his Hall-of-Fame career, and a baton (and its accompanying pressure) is expected to be handed to Luka.

With 8.2 APG, James was the main facilitator for the Lakers, but with Doncic now donning the purple and gold, the elder statesman of the game can comfortably take a back seat. James can now serve with more of a supporting role, an on-court inspiration to his teammates who brings that killer competitive instinct that champions are made of. It’s been hard to bet against James, so there’s no reason to start now. A smallish downgrade is a prudent move for fantasy GMs heading into 2025-26. Securing the King outside of the top 25, closer to the top 30, in drafts would be the sweet spot, because LeBron is LeBron, and he will somehow find a way to deliver.

Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns

Booker has become more than a score-first combo guard. He’s evolved his game into that of a true scorer who can pass the ball (7.1 APG). He finished in the top 10 of both scoring and passing league leaders in 2025-26. That was enough to make him a key cornerstone on many successful fantasy basketball teams.

As the tea leaves lay, it appears that Booker will be at the center of a retooling Phoenix franchise. The team is expected to make splashy moves this offseason. They’re poised to move on from Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal, leaving Booker to carry the team into the next phase or era. Booker’s assists have been trending up for the last six seasons. Expecting him to average anywhere from 7.5 to 7.9 assists per game would not be out of the question. The scoring should still be there as well. It will all depend on the players the front office decides to surround Booker with. Can they convert on his passes, translating those into assists?

Booker is in a good spot, and his role moving forward should translate into bankable fantasy production in 2025-26. Target him with confidence in the second round of drafts next season.

Darius Garland, Cleveland Cavaliers

Garland was a pleasant surprise in fantasy basketball last season. He bounced back from a lackluster 2023-24 campaign and recovered with an improved 47.2% shooting efficiency from the field. There were also slight upticks in his scoring (20.6 PPG), assists (6.7 APG), and 3-pointers made (2.8 3PG).

Garland is on the market, and where he ends up playing could be the difference between him holding onto his top-50 value in 2025-26 or not. Unfortunately, the Cavs guard ended the 2024-25 season with tailwinds that pushed his fantasy appeal to new heights. The best way to approach Garland heading into the next season is to try to secure him on where his expected floor should be, as opposed to where his projected ceiling puts him.

Josh Giddey, Chicago Bulls

A move to the Bulls worked wonders for Josh Giddey’s production and fantasy outlook. He struggled to find his groove initially starting for the Thunder, then later coming off the bench. His poor shooting and lack of scoring initiative boded poorly for Giddey’s opportunities with OKC.

The change of scenery and role on a new team worked wonders for the 22-year-old. He displayed a new level of confidence and trust in his game that translated immediately onto the stat sheet. With averages of 14.6 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 7.2 assists, Giddey became a triple-double threat. Giddey had nice stretches towards the end of 2024-25 where he flirted with top-10 value, which gave everyone a good sneak peek into his ceiling. While he’s not expected to jump into fantasy basketball’s top-10 next season, everything is lined up for Giddey to stay on the path of improvements he’s secured under his belt.

Finishing just inside the top 60, Giddey would be someone to target inside the top 50 come 2025-26 drafts. The expected improvement is real and the Aussie is looking like the real deal as a cornerstone for the rebuilding Bulls franchise.

Fantasy Basketball: Top 10 Assists Leaders in 2024-25

Tags: