NBA Fantasy Guide: Categories Scoring vs Points Leagues
Nine-cat head-to-head versus points scoring, balanced cores versus specialists, and how to build a winner.
Published September 10, 2026
NBA fantasy comes in two scoring styles. Categories leagues, usually nine-cat, score each week head-to-head across field goal percentage, free throw percentage, three-pointers made, points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks and turnovers. You win the week by taking more categories than your opponent, so a specialist who wins you blocks and rebounds can matter more than a balanced scorer. Eight-cat leagues drop turnovers, which raises the value of high-usage guards.
Points leagues assign a value to every stat, for example one point per point, 1.2 per rebound, 1.5 per assist, three per steal or block, and minus one per turnover. This flattens positional value and rewards volume, so durable high-minute players rise.
Roster construction differs too. In categories, draft a balanced core of about 13 players and stream the last two spots. In points, chase players who rarely miss games, because availability is a stat. In both formats, guard your percentages: one low-percentage volume shooter can cost you two categories every week. Start a basketball league at /nba and set your lineup before the first tip-off.