SuperCoach NBA cheat sheet: Pick a team in five minutes

HOW IT WORKS

In this brand new fantasy format, you will select a squad of 15 players within the salary cap and choose your starting 10 each week – with the best nine scores counting toward your weekly tally.

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You select real players, and based on their real, actual performances each week, your team scores points according to each of your selected players’ stats, with a captain scoring double points.

Now let’s find the best starters and cheapies in each position.

POINT GUARD

Pick 1 or 2 of these guys

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ($22,010,000)

Luke Doncic ($19,430,000)

Steph Curry ($15,560,000)

LaMelo Ball ($14,480,000)

Andrew Nembhard* ($9,030,000)

Pick 1 or 2 of these cheapies

Reed Sheppard* ($4,000,000)

Dylan Harper* ($4,950,000)

Egor Demin* ($4,650,000)

* Players available in two positions but I prefer picking in the listed position

One of SGA or Doncic will likely be the topscoring SuperCoach point guard this season, with Doncic coming in at a discount relative to his ability – and LeBron set to miss the start of the season. Outside the big two, Curry’s hot early schedule or the value of Nembhard (without Haliburton) are tempting. LaMelo Ball is also a fun play for anyone who only gets to catch the highlights! Sheppard and Harper are two rookies with great upside and should find a spot in your team at either guard position given their dual position status, while Demin should get plenty of reps with the hapless Nets.

SHOOTING GUARD

Pick 1 or 2 of these guys

Cade Cunningham* ($17,790,000)

Anthony Edwards* ($16,240,000)

Devin Booker* ($15,550,000)

Amen Thompson* ($14,870,000)

Derrick White* ($12,670,000)

Pick 1 or 2 of these cheapies

Kon Knueppel* ($4,850,000)

VJ Edgecombe* ($4,900,000)

Tre Johnson* ($4,750,000)

* Players available in two positions but I prefer picking in the listed position

Cunningham and Edwards are two superstars who could still elevate their games to even greater heights in 2025-2026. Booker will need to do a lot more after Phoenix got rid of their other two leading scorers, Thompson is looking like a huge third-year breakout candidate, and White should take more offensive burden without Jayson Tatum (Achilles). Knueppel and Edgcombe are two rookies who should make a heap of money and both could start immediately, while Johnson will be given minutes on the Wizards but could be a slow burn.

SMALL FORWARD

Lock in

Cooper Flagg* ($5,000,000)

Ace Bailey* ($4,800,000)

Pick 1 of these guys

Josh Giddey* ($14,720,000)

Jaylen Brown* ($13,920,000)

Deni Avdija* ($13,090,000)

Lauri Markkanen* ($11,120,000)

The only reason you won’t pick Flagg and Bailey at small forward is if you’re picking them at power forward (or Flex!). Both of these guys will get big minutes and usage right from the jump are absolute must-have rookies in SuperCoach NBA. Giddey must be considered after putting up huge numbers in the back end of last season, as should Jaylen Brown – who will be the No.1 option at the Celtics sans Tatum. Avdija is for anyone who loves a point of difference (POD) pick after averaging 33.2 SuperCoach points in his final 13 games, while Markkanen presents value after the 2023 All Star had an injury ravaged season.

NOTE: Keep an eye on Ace Bailey’s injury status heading into week one after dealing with knee tendinitis. I’d still be tempted to start him on the bench regardless given his scoring potential.

POWER FORWARD

Pick 1 or 2 of these guys

Giannis Antetokounmpo* ($23,290,000)

Alperen Sengun* ($16,360,000)

Paulo Banchero* ($15,450,000)

Chet Holmgren* ($14,060,000)

Michael Porter Jr.* ($13,020,000)

Pick 1 or 2 of these cheapies

Matas Buzelis ($6,670,000)

Ryan Dunn ($5,780,000)

Collin Murray-Boyles ($4,600,000)

The Greek Freak is a SuperCoach lock, averaging between 32 and 38 over each of the past nine seasons. If you’re running low on cash, there are plenty of solid mid-price options at power forward. Sengun is basically a budget Jokic, and could be even more Joker-like this year after an incredible off-season and near triple-double averages in the pre-season. Banchero is a popular starting pick able to thoroughly stuff the stat sheet, Holmgren is a gut-feel POD pick with some upside if he remains healthy, and MPJ will get the highest usage rate he’s ever seen on the Nets. Buzelis is another who could be considered a must-have after his strong back half of the season.

CENTRE

Pick 1 of these guys

Nikola Jokic ($28,070,000)

Victor Wembanyama ($21,860,000)

Anthony Davis* ($21,070,000)

Joel Embiid ($16,740,000)

Donovan Clingan ($9,870,000)

Pick 1 of these cheapies

Yang Hansen ($4,250,000)

Jock Landale ($4,660,000)

Dario Saric* ($4,000,000)

Nikola Jokic is your permanent captain if your salary cap permits it, averaging SEVEN more points than the next best player in SuperCoach last season. The Nuggets do have a light game schedule in their first two weeks, and Wembenyama is the obvious fallback if you’re fading or can’t afford Jokic. Wemby is an alien that plays basketball and stuffs the stat sheet like few others. Davis could put up numbers on the Mavs, while Embiid is a major injury risk but severely underpriced with $20m-plus potential. Clingan and rookie Yang Hansen should both see solid minutes for the Blazers after the departure of Deandre Ayton, while Landale and Saric are more speculative bench options.

More Coverage

Seven must-have cheapies for your SuperCoach NBA squad

Haydn Kenny

Easy trick to make a flying start in SuperCoach NBA

FLEX

Flex can be a player from any position! Pick one of the players you wanted to squeeze in along the journey but couldn’t quite find the room. It could be a great spot to fit in another centre if you want to run two bigs or get a valuable rookie off your bench and onto your court. There are plenty of ways to approach the flex, so trust your instincts – and good luck!

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