Percentages and Turnovers Matter! High Efficiency Players To Target in Fantasy Basketball (2025)

Thunder Dan Palyo lists his category studs for efficiency stats (FT%, FG%, turnovers). Target these players to help with shooting percentages and low turnovers in your 2025-2026 fantasy basketball leagues.

As the NBA season draws nearer by the day, I'm gearing up for my final set of fantasy basketball drafts. I'm guessing that you are doing the same thing, and I want to offer up some more content this week that you may find helpful when making those difficult decisions on draft day.

What makes 9-cat fantasy hoops special for me is the fact that it allows us to value players very differently based on what categories we are focused on winning every week. Points leagues are fine, but they're a bit oversimplified for my taste. In the points league world, you'd never see a player like Dyson Daniels (with his incredible steal ability) with more value than someone like Paolo Banchero.

Yes, the big stars who stuff the stat sheets with counting stats are still very valuable in category leagues, but efficiency also matters! FG%, FT%, and turnovers are three of the nine categories that you have to compete in every week. When other managers in your league decide to punt one or more of the efficiency categories to focus on counting stats, that's something we can capitalize on by honing in on those categories. I'm looking to target efficient players as often when I build my teams. Here are some players to consider this year if you want to do the same!

Early and Middle Round Fantasy Basketball Efficiency Studs

Desmond Bane, SG/SF - Orlando Magic

• Last Season 9-CAT Per-Game Value: 32
• Current Yahoo Rank: 42
• Strongest Categories: PTS, THREES, AST

Only one person gets to draft Nikola Jokic, who is the god of efficiency. So if you don't have the first or second pick, you're not getting him, and it isn't too helpful to break down his game. So let's jump down into the third round with one of my favorite guards to draft this season, Desmond Bane.

Many seem to think I am a bit too high on Bane this season, but the sharpshooter with impressive biceps has a silky smooth game that is built for 9-CAT. He finished above league average in seven of the nine categories last season, and was only 0.2 blocks and 0.4 turnovers away from all nine.

Desmond Bane pic.twitter.com/h1ZagpPh2a

— Orlando Magic (@OrlandoMagic) October 6, 2025

He averaged 19.2 points last season, but was at 23 and 21 points per game in the previous two. He's a career 41% shooter from behind the arc, which is why Orlando paid a pretty penny in picks to bring him in as they needed another scorer and some more outside shooting.

I think he's going to fit in seamlessly alongside Banchero and Franz Wagner, and that he should continue to score and assist at a high level, as neither of those players needs to be initiating the offense as much as they have had to the last two seasons without a true point guard.

Maybe Bane is too "bland" for your tastes, but if that's the way you're going to view him, then you should probably stop reading this article because it's filled with guys whose strengths are helping you NOT to lose those crucial efficiency categories!

Jimmy Butler III, SF/PF - Golden State Warriors

• Last Season 9-CAT Per-Game Value: 36
• Current Yahoo Rank: 39
• Strongest Categories: AST, STL, FT%, TO

But Dan, can he stay healthy? Yes, that is the question, as Butler has missed his fair share of games over his career. He's played more than 60 games just once over the last seven seasons and played in 55 contests last season between his time in Miami and Golden State.

I'd probably be happy with something in the 60 to 65 range from Butler as he enters his age-36 season. He did look reinvigorated when he came to the Warriors last season and saw a slight increase in scoring and assists while helping Stephen Curry carry the Dubs to the playoffs and a win in the first round over Houston.

JIMMY, GOLDEN STATE WIN 8 OF 9 🔥

24 PTS | 8 REB | 10 AST

The @warriors are 15-2 with Butler III on the court! pic.twitter.com/3AYXd0WL0s

— NBA (@NBA) March 19, 2025

His game has aged well, at least in terms of fantasy value. His days of scoring 20+ points a night are gone, but fewer shot attempts (and fewer threes) have led to some elite FG%. His assists remain strong as he's averaged five or more dimes per game in five straight seasons, and he's giving you those assists without the usual turnovers that come with them. His 4.1 AST/TO was the 5th-best mark in the league last year behind pass-first point guards Tyrese Haliburton, Tyus Jones, Chris Paul, and Mike Conley.

DeMar DeRozan, SF - Sacramento Kings

• Last Season 9-CAT Per-Game Value: 70
• Current Yahoo Rank: 55
• Strongest Categories: PTS, AST, FT%, TO

Butler and DeRozan are throwback players who are the last of a dying breed. They are players who make their living at the free-throw line and by hitting mid-range shots. But the fact that they haven't molded their game to incorporate more threes and continue to play an old-fashioned style of play is what makes them unique and quite valuable to managers who value efficiency.

DeRozan's first season in Sacramento went pretty much as expected in terms of his statistical profile. He took a small hit in scoring and assists, but still posted a strong 47.7% FG% and 85.7% from the free throw line on 5.7 attempts. The volume of free throws and field goal attempts is what matters here.

Plenty of big men will give you great FG%, but on only a handful of shot attempts. DDR has been flirting with 50% from the field on 17 attempts the last three seasons, and like Butler, he has a terrific AST/TO ratio of 3.2. If you take Butler and DDR on the same team, you'll have to consider punting threes or loading up some 3-point specialists in other rounds. DeRozan did hit 1.1 per game last year, which was the most for him since his last season in Toronto, but it's still not his strength. His game is all about knocking down mid-range shots, getting to the free-throw line, and helping to initiate the offense, as the Kings don't really have a true point guard in the lineup anymore.

Jarrett Allen, C - Cleveland Cavaliers

• Last Season 9-CAT Per-Game Value: 53
• Current Yahoo Rank: 62
• Strongest Categories: FG%, REB, TO

Allen led the NBA in FG% last season with a whopping 70.6% mark on 7.8 attempts per game. I watch enough Cavs games to tell you, those are not all dunks, too. Allen has developed an impressive set of post moves in Cleveland and can even knock down shots in the mid-range.

He's a very skilled big man who would be posting bigger numbers on a team that was less balanced than the Cavs. With Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, and Evan Mobley, the Cavs don't need Allen to be a workhorse. They ask him to help protect the rim, crash the boards, and finish in the paint, and he's developed into one of the most efficient big men in the game.

Allen played in all 82 games last season and 77 the year before. His durability is certainly an asset and something to consider if you need a safe pick in the fifth round. He's a career 71% free-throw shooter, which is better than a lot of bigs but below league average. He only attempted 3.4 free throws per game last season, so it's not too big a wart.

I'd love to see him get his blocks back up, as he dipped below 1.0 blocks per game for the first time in his career last year. However, he also played just 28 minutes a night as the Cavs rolled over so many teams and were able to run a deep rotation. If his minutes tick back up to 30 per night, we could see him get a little bump in counting stats, which would be a nice addition to his already uber-efficient profile.

Later Round Fantasy Basketball Efficiency Studs

Cameron Johnson, SF/PF - Denver Nuggets

• Last Season 9-CAT Per-Game Value: 52
• Current Yahoo Rank: 92
• Strongest Categories: FT%, THREES, PTS

The Nuggets traded for Cam Johnson in the offseason, dumping (I mean, "sending") Michael Porter Jr. to the Nets. Like a lot of other analysts, I view this move as an upgrade for Denver as Johnson is arguably a better shooter and defender than MPJ, even if he's not quite as good a rebounder.

Johnson is about to receive the benefit of the "Jokic-factor," where playing alongside the MVP center results in a lot of open threes and opportunities for dribble drives to the hoop. Jokic's skills in the high and low post allow Denver to create elite spacing on offense and run different types of action that end in open looks for their shooters.

Johnson was already a borderline top-50 option last season, even while playing in the chaos that was (and still is) the Brooklyn Nets. Even if his overall scoring average takes a small hit, he should be able to knock down threes at a high rate and chip in with some steals while boosting both FG%, FT%, and keeping his turnovers low.

Christian Braun, SG/SF - Denver Nuggets

• Last Season 9-CAT Per-Game Value: 57
• Current Yahoo Rank: 80
• Strongest Categories: FG%, TO, PTS

The Jokic-factor is strong! Braun's first year in the starting lineup was a successful one both in real life and fantasy. He averaged over 15 points a game while shooting an incredible 58% from the floor on just over 10 field goal attempts per game. He had plenty of open drives to the paint like this one.

This is so tough from Christian Braun pic.twitter.com/6qDPQcdPUv

— Matt Brooks (@MattBrooksNBA) October 13, 2025

He didn't shoot a high volume of threes (just 2.8 attempts per game), but drilled them at a high rate (39.7%). He also shot 83% from the line on 2.7 attempts per game. His game is certainly not flashy, but he's a great fit around Jokic and is a sneaky-good value in drafts this year as he simply doesn't hurt you anywhere, while helping you win percentages and turnovers every week. The 58% shooting from a guy with SG eligibility is an awesome "out-of-position" stat that makes him a great fit for teams that draft big men in the early rounds.

Aaron Gordon is another Nugget you can take late in drafts, but he may need an injury to Jokic or another rotation player to really be a must-own in standard formats. He's much too content to let the other guys eat first on offense and is a much better real-life player than a fantasy player.

Ty Jerome, SG - Memphis Grizzlies

• Last Season 9-CAT Per-Game Value: 125
• Current Yahoo Rank: 146
• Strongest Categories: FG%, FT%, TO, STL

I was sad to see Jerome leave Cleveland this offseason, as he was a key part of the Cavs' incredible regular-season finish. He is a lot of fun to watch, and his game is perfect for any team that needs an efficient scorer and passer to run their second unit.

Jerome broke out in a big way last season. He played in 70 games for Cleveland, finishing with 12.5 points, 3.4 assists, and 1.1 steals in just 20 minutes a night. He finished third in the voting for "Sixth Man of the Year," and his per-36 numbers were 22.7-4.5-6.1 with 2.9 threes and 2.0 steals. He shot a blistering 44% from three last year and 51.6% from the field overall.

Zaccharie Risacher 3.
Ty Jerome 3.

Hawks & Grizzlies battling in Grind City! pic.twitter.com/YrQEFj6shD

— NBA (@NBA) October 12, 2025

He's not playing 36 minutes a night; otherwise, we would be drafting him much earlier. However, Ja Morant is already hurt, and we've seen Jerome in the starting lineup in preseason with Scotty Pippen Jr. coming off the bench. Morant has been dealing with injuries now for several seasons, playing in just 59 games over the last two years for Memphis.

Jerome should have a solid role in Memphis, and his ability to slide in and put up big numbers as a spot starter could help you win some weeks.

Tre Jones, PG/SG - Chicago Bulls

• Last Season 9-CAT Per-Game Value: 212
• Current Yahoo Rank: 248
• Strongest Categories: TO, FG%, AST

This one is for the deep leaguers! The Jones brothers are two of the more efficient point guards in the league. Tyus is known as one of the better pass-first guards in the league, but he will be functioning in a reserve role in Orlando this year. Tre is the better (and more efficient) scorer as his game is tied less to three-point shooting.

Jones was buried on the bench in San Antonio last year, but had some new life in Chicago after being dealt there mid-season. He appeared in 18 games for the Bulls (9 starts) and posted 11.5 points, 4.9 assists, 1.1 steals on 57% shooting in 25 minutes per game.

Jones is set to come off the bench behind Josh Giddey and Coby White, but the departure of Lonzo Ball to Cleveland has opened up an opportunity for him to possibly lead the second unit. I love a guard who can get me some assists and steals without hurting my FG%, and Jones is that guy! Heck, he may even creep onto some rosters in standard leagues depending on those minutes shake out in Chicago. Keep an eye on Jones; he could be a sneaky pick late in drafts or a guy to snag off the wire early in the season.

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