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The 2008-2009 regular season is about the be over and by now we should be rounding up on who are the top fantasy basketball players for this year. Half of the players in this list had an average draft pick in the first round while the rest were either in the second or the third rounds. This just goes to show that the players you draft in the first round might not produce top numbers. So here are your top ten players.

1. Chris Paul
Blame Paul’s fairly quiet year on his team not making that much noise this season compared to last. But when it came to fantasy hoops there wasn’t anything quiet about him. When we thought he was really good last year to be number 1 this year, he proved it and went on to average career highs in points, field goal and free throw percentages, steals and rebounds. The sky is the limit for this fantasy monster and he is still my first pick overall in next year’s draft.

2. Lebron James
Lebron, the MVP of the regular season. Possible or should I say it’s a sure thing. In the fantasy world I’ll let you judge his 28 points, 7 assists and 7 rebounds. He even reached his career high in field goal and free throw percentages, which is now at 48.7% and 77% respectively. He is also averaging career lows in turnovers, which is a good thing but he is also playing just 37 minutes a game this year. Just another great year for the King, so you tell me, who’s your MVP?

3. Dwayne Wade
Let’s all welcome Mr. Wade back to fantasy relevancy after a forgettable year last year or should I say years, which include the other one. He is averaging career highs in points, assists, steals, blocks and he has even added a three to every game. You just got to love his game and how he has helped your team this year. Fantastic season Dwayne Wade, good to have you back.

4. Kobe Bryant
Kobe’s stats have been on a decline for the last three years but no one is complaining as he is still giving your team 27 points, 5 rebounds and close to 5 assists a game. He has been very efficient with his percentages and you have got to love the 2.6 turnovers a game –low for a star player. He should still be a top five for next year’s draft.

5.Dirk Nowitzki
The ever effective Dirk showed us the real reason why as he averaged close to 26 points a game, grabbed his usual 8 rebounds and shot well from the field and the line. What made him more effective was the simple fact that he was playing unlike other big men that were drafted in the first two round (Amare Stoudemire, Kevin Garnett, Carlos Boozer and Al Jefferson).

6. Kevin Durant
Everyone should have known that Kevin Durant was going to have a great season as early as the end of last season but he still fell to the third round of this year’s fantasy draft. He’s an all around fantasy basketball player and he won’t hurt you in any category except turnovers (3), which isn’t that bad for a star player. I don’t know about you but this guy has to be a top five in next year’s fantasy draft.

7. Yao Ming
Although his scoring and rebounding dipped a little to 19.6 and 9.9 a game respectively, he improved his percentages from the field and the line. But what’s best about Yao’s season is that he played in at least 75 games (as of April 12) compared with just an average of 53 games in each of the last three seasons. If you can get at least 70 games from Yao in a season, he surely deserves to be in the top 10.

8. Brandon Roy
Remember that long three point shot made by Roy at the buzzer to beat the Rockets early in the season? That shot saved the Blazers this season. As for those who drafted him in the third round, your team was probably helped or saved too big time because he has increased his stats in almost every category. You just have to love the 22 points, 5 assists and close to 5 rebounds a game. He’s shooting pretty well too.

9. Pau Gasol
Kobe’s sidekick has stepped up when needed especially when Bynum was out with an injury. He showed toughness and intensity that was lacking in his game before and that resulted to a very fantasy friendly season. He doesn’t give you threes, which is rare for a big man, but he has contributed solidly in every category. This is another solid season for the Spanish big man.

10. Jason Kidd
Kidd is this high in our rankings simply because his average draft round was in the third round but his stats are those of a first rounder (back where he belongs). We all know that he doesn’t score much but we know he can distribute the rock and play D as evidenced by his 8.7 assists and 2 steals a game. He’s now third in the all time assist list.

Close but didn’t make it: Danny Granger, Chauncey Billups, Ray Allen, Troy Murphy, Chris Bosh

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