NBA Fantasy 2026-27: Top High Score players from last season

Luka Dončić’s league-high 33.5 points per game slotted him within the top three High Score fantasy performers last season.

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With NBA preseason underway, a new year in fantasy basketball is rapidly approaching. Last season came with some historic performances, which boded well for many in Yahoo High Score.

With players not being penalized for turnovers or missed shots, there’s an opportunity for more points in High Score, which completely changes strategy. A list of the top fantasy basketball stars in standard points or category leagues could differ from one centered around High Score. With that in mind, here are the league leaders in High Score fantasy points (HSFP) from the 2025-26 season as we gear up for 2026-27.

10. Donovan Mitchell

49.1 HSFP per game

Mitchell technically averaged less in the 22 regular-season games he played with James Harden after the blockbuster trade, but he still had some stellar performances. In High Score, all you need is one big game to push you over the top.

Last season, Mitchell averaged 27.9 points, 4.5 rebounds, 5.7 assists and a sneaky 1.5 steals per game. That defensive metric is the separator between him and Harden, who is in the No. 11 spot.

9. Jaylen Brown

50.1 HSFP per game

With Jayson Tatum out for most of 2025-26, Brown stepped into a definitive lead role, and it did wonders for High Score players. The former Boston Celtic averaged 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game en route to making All-NBA Second Team.

Brown’s fantasy stats could take a dip now that he’s surrounded by Tyrese Maxey, LeBron James and Joel Embiid on the Philadelphia 76ers, but he’s still one of the best two-way players in the league. Last season was the best fantasy performance of his 10-year career.

8. Giannis Antetokounmpo

53.1 HSFP per game

Antetokounmpo only appeared in 36 games for the Milwaukee Bucks last season, but remember, in High Score that matters significantly less than traditional fantasy leagues. When healthy the Greek Freak put up 27.6 points, 9.8 rebounds and 5.4 assists a night.

His 0.9 steals and 0.7 blocks per game was down from career averages of 1.1 and 1.2, but he was still a force in the paint. Now fully healthy and a member of the Miami Heat, he should be even more valuable in High Score leagues.

7. Jalen Johnson

53.5 HSFP per game

Johnson made his first All-NBA appearance last season, but his do-it-all play style put him firmly within the top 10 for High Score statistics. Of the players on this list, his 22.5 points ranks 10th, but rebounds (10.3 per game) and assists (7.9 per game) skyrocketed him to seventh overall.

The Atlanta Hawks have true all-around stud in Johnson, able to impact the game in every aspect. On Nov. 13, he became the only NBA player ever to record at least 30 points, 15 rebounds, 10 assists and 5 steals in a game. That’s a good example of what he can do for those in High Score leagues.

6. Tyrese Maxey

Maxey, one of the best true point guards in the NBA, has gotten better every season since entering the league in 2020. 2025-26 saw him average a career-high 28.3 points to go along with 4.1 rebounds, 6.6 assists and 1.9 steals per game.

Like Brown, Maxey’s numbers could decrease due to the talent around him, but he’s still a lethal High Score weapon to watch. Both are still good for massive performances, and all you need is one per week in High Score.

5. Victor Wembanyama

55 HSFP per game

Defense and rebounding propelled Wembanyama into High Score royalty, notching the top five largely due to 11.5 rebounds, one steal and 3.1 blocks per game. It almost felt like his 25 points and 3.1 assists were complementary to that and not the other way around.

With the San Antonio Spurs having risen to the top tier of the Western Conference, Wembanyama is in heavy contention for his first MVP award at 22 years old. His ascension has been rapid, even for the generational hype he came with back in 2023.

4. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

55.1 HSFP per game

Speaking of MVPs, the reigning back-to-back winner didn’t lose a step statistically after a 2025 title run. Gilgeous-Alexander remains a two-way superstar, averaging 31.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, 6.6 assists and 1.4 steals per game last season.

While missed shots don’t penalize players in High Score, it certainly helps to be efficient, and that he was. Gilgeous-Alexander recorded 55-39-88 shooting splits in 2025-26, a true three-level scorer.

3. Cade Cunningham

HSFP: 56.1 per game

Like Johnson, Cunningham’s points weren’t necessarily the driving factor in his High Score statistics, although 23.9 per game cannot be ignored. Detroit’s point guard nearly averaged a double-double with 9.9 assists, and got active on the glass with 5.5 rebounds. Being 6-foot-6 and 220 pounds is a major advantage for the position.

Cunningham will have his go-to co-star back in Jalen Duren, who recently agreed to a major deal with the Pistons. They also upgraded three-point shooting with Isaiah Joe, John Collins and Taurean Prince to play similar roles to Duncan Robinson and Kevin Huerter. Cunningham should once again be a High Score savant as the floor general in Detroit.

2. Luka Dončić

HSFP: 64.3 per game

Dončić did not disappoint in his first full season with the Lakers, leading the NBA in points per game at 33.5. Not to mention 7.7 rebounds, 8.3 assists and 1.6 steals a night are each elite in their own right. He led the top 10 with four turnovers, but again, those don’t count in High Score, which makes it that much easier to watch him perform.

An early-April injury kept Dončić out through the end of Los Angeles’ regular season and entire playoff run, but his 64 games in uniform were spectacular to see. With a revamped roster and a full summer of recovery, the Slovenian sensation is expected to do more of the same in Year 9.

1. Nikola Jokić

HSFP: 68.7 per game

If not for Dončić averaging just 4.4 less High Score fantasy points per game, Jokić would be in a clear tier of his own. He stands 12.6 above third place (Cunningham), with season averages of 27.7 points, 12.9 rebounds (league-high), 10.7 assists (league-high) and 1.4 steals per game.

As long as he’s on the floor, Jokić is the all-around statistical king, quite literally being one of, if not, the best in every aspect of the offense. He was the driving force in the Denver Nuggets finishing first in offensive rating.