With the fantasy basketball season coming to a close, here are some players who underperformed compared to their initial draft position to begin the 2024-25 season. These players were drafted higher than their eventual finish as they all saw their values fall for various reasons.
Joel Embiid (ADP- 10.5): Joel Embiid saw his worst statistical season in multiple years as his primary 9 categories (outside of turnovers and FT%) all regressed. Joel only played 19 games this season before getting shut down. Overall, the lack of availability killed Embiid’s value, as he was never able to get going for a Philly squad that desperately needed him. For the remainder of his career, health/availability will be the main driving factor toward Joel’s fantasy value.
2023-24 Stats: 34.7 PPG, 11 RPG, 5.6 APG, 1.7 BPG, 1.2 SPG, 53/39/88 shooting splits
2024-25 Stats: 23.8 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 4.5 APG, 0.9 BPG, 0.7 SPG, 44/30/88 shooting splits
Lauri Markkanen (ADP- 32.5): After two straight fantastic seasons for Utah, Lauri Markkanen saw his value come crashing down. The decreased efficiency and volume resulting from playing alongside both Walker Kessler and John Collins (less spacing/available rebounds) has led to Lauri’s worst season since being traded to Utah. Couple that with the Jazz’s constant tanking this year, which made it so Markkanen could not return on his early third-round value.
2023-24 Stats: 23.2 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 0.9 SPG, 48/40/90 shooting splits
2024-25 Stats: 19 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 0.7 SPG, 42/35/88 shooting splits
Paul George (ADP- 37.5): The Paul George to Philly trade was an absolute disaster as PG could never get going offensively for the Sixers. George’s decreased efficiency and volume were the primary reasons why he couldn’t replicate his success from previous years. Paul has a habitual 20 PPG scorer but that changed for the first time in nine seasons as he failed to crack that mark. The availability did not help as well, as he played 41 games (compared to 74 last year), and Paul could never get into a shooting rhythm for a sustained stretch. If PG can improve his shooting next season, he still has the intangibles to provide another good fantasy campaign.
2023-24 Stats: 22.6 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 3.5 APG, 1.5 SPG, 47/41/91 shooting splits
2024-25 Stats: 16.2 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 4.3 APG, 1.8 SPG, 43/36/81 shooting splits
Fred VanVleet (ADP- 48.5): Fred VanVleet has seen regression in fantasy as he could maintain his efficiency and volume from last season. The emergence of Amen Thompson and Jalen Green did not help as they both controlled more on-ball possessions this year, further limiting the fantasy effectiveness of VanVleet. Fred is still a solid all around fantasy contributor but won’t have as much upside moving forward if he remains in Houston, given their young and upcoming talent.
2023-24 Stats: 17.4 PPG, 8.1 APG, 1.4 SPG, 0.8 BPG, 42/38/86 shooting splits
2024-25 Stats: 14.1 PPG, 5.6 APG, 1.6 SPG, 0.4 BPG, 38/34/81 shooting splits
D’Angelo Russell (ADP- 63): After a career year for LA, D’Angelo Russell struggled mightily as he saw Austin Reaves replace him as the secondary ball-handler for the Lakers. Russell only lasted 29 games for LA before being traded to Brooklyn for Dorian Finney-Smith. In Brooklyn, D-Lo couldn’t get his shooting on track and had an inconsistent workload for the tanking Nets. Another change in scenery could help D’Angelo reclaim some of his former fantasy glory.
2023-24 Stats: 18 PPG, 6.3 APG, 0.9 SPG, 46/42/83
2024-25 Stats: 12.6 PPG, 5.1 APG, 1 SPG, 39/31/83
Jusuf Nurkic (ADP- 85.5): Jusuf Nurkic failed to meet the expectations that he set last season, as he was benched on multiple occasions while on Phoenix. He had the potential for new life when he was traded to Charlotte while Mark Williams was moved to Los Angeles. That was a short-lived increase in value as the Williams trade was quickly rescinded by LA, which meant that Nurkic would be stuck coming off the bench rather than starting again. Overall, Nurkic probably won’t find another starting center role again, which means he’ll continue to serve as an above-average backup option.
2023-24 Stats: 10.9 PPG, 11 RPG, 4 APG, 1.1 SPG, 1.1 BPG, 51/24/64 shooting splits
2024-25 Stats: 8.8 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 2.3 APG, 0.7 SPG, 0.7 BPG, 47/30/67 shooting splits
Terry Rozier (ADP- 98.5): Terry Rozier easily looked the worst out of every player on this list as he has had a disastrous season for Miami. Despite Jimmy Butler being out for multiple stretches to begin the year, he was never able to fully take advantage as he struggled offensively. The addition of Davion Mitchell (a better defensive option) at the All-Star break has also led to him being cut out of the Heat rotation. Overall, Terry needs a new team, as the Miami experiment has ultimately failed.
2023-24 Stats: 19.8 PPG, 5.6 APG, 4 RPG, 1 SPG, 44/36/87 shooting splits
2024-25 Stats: 10.7 PPG, 2.6 APG, 3.7 RPG, 0.6 SPG, 40/30/85 shooting splits
Honorable Mention:
Bradley Beal (ADP- 72.5): Bradley Beal’s tenure in Phoenix can be described as frustrating as he has failed to return on the value that he was initially traded for. His shooting has been pretty good, but the regression in volume has led to his fantasy value suffering this season. Despite struggling with his all-around volume, Beal was still a solid shooter, which is why I feel obligated not to include him as a total bust this season.
2023-24 Stats: 18.2 PPG, 5 APG, 4.4 RPG, 1 SPG, 51/43/81 shooting splits
2024-25 Stats: 17 PPG, 3.7 APG, 3.3 RPG, 1.1 SPG, 50/39/80 shooting splits
*Please note that the ADP used takes the average between drafts on ESPN and Yahoo
Nicholas Misurelli - Fantasy Basketball Insider
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Robbin Marx
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Experience: NBC Sports - Rotoworld, HashTag Basketball, Bleav Network
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