Fantasy Basketball 2024: Breakout Stars Ready to Be Among the NBA's Best

There is a clear set of NBA players who are ready to take the next step during the 2024-25 season.

Paolo Banchero seems like the player most ready to take the leap into superstardom among players with less than five years of NBA experience.

Banchero should be high on the draft list for any fantasy basketball player because of how he contributes in every statistical category for the Orlando Magic.

Jalen Williams and Cam Thomas belong in the tier of young players below Banchero, but they can still be incredibly valuable to fantasy basketball rosters.

Williams will still be asked to do a bit of everything for the Oklahoma City Thunder, while Thomas should be the Brooklyn Nets' top scorer by a wide margin.

Paolo Banchero

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SAN ANTONIO, TX - OCTOBER 9: Paolo Banchero #5 of the Orlando Magic handles the ball during the game against the San Antonio Spurs during a NBA preseason game on October 9, 2024 at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photos by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images)

Paolo Banchero is on the verge of superstardom.

The No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 NBA draft averaged over 20 points per game in his first two seasons.

Banchero should eclipse the 22.6 points per game mark he set last season, and he will receive more attention for that increase because of the Orlando Magic's spot in the Eastern Conference.

Orlando's push up to the No. 5 seed last season caught some people off guard, but now another year of success is the expectation in central Florida.

Banchero is the star of a young core and he should be near, or at, the top of all the Magic's statistical charts.

The third-year player out of Duke averaged 22.6 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game in his sophomore campaign.

Another well-rounded season is expected out of Banchero, and that should make him a pretty high fantasy basketball pick.

Jalen Williams

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DALLAS, TEXAS - MAY 18: Jalen Williams #8 of the Oklahoma City Thunder brings the ball up the court during the second half of Game Six of the Western Conference Second Round Playoffs against the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center on May 18, 2024 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images)

Jalen Williams might find it hard to be the top star on the Oklahoma City Thunder, but he can still be one of the most productive players in the NBA.

Williams is a perfect fit for the Thunder alongside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren. He can do a bit of everything and that is what intrigues fantasy basketball players.

Williams increased his points per game total by five from his rookie to sophomore campaigns. He also averaged 1.2 more assists last season compared to the 2022-23 season.

Williams' rebound average remained near the same number, but that had more to do with Holmgren's addition than anything he did on the floor.

With Josh Giddey now in Chicago, Williams is the clear No. 3 scoring option inside the Thunder offense, and he may be the top or second-best scorer in certain matchups.

He's similar to Banchero in that he's a stat-filler with high usage. He'll start the season in the tier below Banchero, but his ceiling could be a similar set of stats.

Cam Thomas

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PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 14: Cam Thomas #24 of the Brooklyn Nets shoots the ball in the third quarter against Kyle Lowry #7 of the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center on April 14, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)

Cam Thomas will be the primary scoring option on a bad Brooklyn Nets team.

Thomas averaged 22.5 points per game last season and might do more damage against opposing defenses given the lack of talent on the Nets roster.

Cameron Johnson and Dorian Finney-Smith are not primary scorers, and while Dennis Schroder could be that in certain games, he is more of an assist man.

Schröder's presence might help Thomas create more shots because the German has such a strong passing game.

Thomas' scoring will be what sets him apart from other players in his average draft position range.

The fourth-year player averaged 2.5 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game in his career, and while he could increase numbers there, his primary focus is scoring and scoring even more.