There are so many markets for bettors to evaluate before the start of an NBA season. We have to consider the players under pressure, evaluate the best defensive players, and much more when trying to decide where the value lies in the preseason betting markets.
FanDuel also has a wide range of season-long player props to wager on along with their awards markets. These cover the league leaders in the main categories, and how much players will average for points, assists, rebounds, three made, steals, and blocks.
Here are some of our favorite season average bets for the 2025-26 season:
Michael Porter Jr. To Average 24+ Points (+700)
This Nets roster is primed for a competition between Michael Porter Jr. and Cam Thomas for who can take the most shots. Thomas led the team with 18.2 field-goal attempts in 2024-25.
Dennis Schröder, Cam Johnson, and Keon Johnson averaged a combined 37.1 attempts per game. None of those players are on the team anymore.
For his long-running health issues, his inconsistent defensive effort, and his limited playmaking, Porter can really shoot. Never more than a third option on the Nuggets, Porter may see this as an opportunity to show off his upside as a scorer. He could easily average 20+ field-goal attempts.
With his shot-making talent, that makes 24+ points extremely achievable.
Desmond Bane To Average 4+ Made Threes (+1400)
Desmond Bane made a career-high 3.3 threes per game two seasons ago. The sharpshooting two guard is now joining a Magic team desperate for perimeter scoring.
Bane’s acquisition is meant to create space for the forward duo of Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, who averaged 9.4 and 9.3 potential assists per game, respectively, last season.
Shooting has long been a problem for the offensively challenged Magic. Bane will be encouraged to fire up as many outside shots as possible. Look for the share of his shots beyond the arc to be around 45%.
Bane is a great shooter, and notably so from above the arc. This, as a season-long average, is very much within his reach.
Giannis Antetokounmpo To Average Most Rebounds (+1600)
Take your pick of Giannis props. The Greek Freak is going to have a massive year.
His minutes are going to be higher than in recent years to keep the Bucks competitive. He was 10th in rebounding rate last year and needs to compensate for the lack of rebounding provided by summer acquisition Myles Turner.
Since winning his first MVP, Giannis has averaged 12 rebounds per game. Only four regular starters averaged more rebounds per 36 minutes in 2024-25.
Domantas Sabonis led the league with 13.9 rebounds per game last season. No one else had more than 13. If he plays a couple of extra minutes per game, Giannis is very much capable of averaging 13+ rebounds per night.
Jalen Johnson To Average 20+ Points (+200)
Jalen Johnson was scoring 18.9 points per game on a career-high usage rate before suffering a season-ending injury in 2024-25. Quin Snyder has Trae Young playing the most selfless basketball of his career, which included finishing with 4.2 more potential assists per game than any other player last season.
Johnson isn’t going to run a huge amount of pick-and-roll, but he can be a supplemental ball handler with Kristaps Porziņģis as a floor spacer and Onyeka Okongwu working on his outside shot.
It was a surprise to see the +200 on this bet. Johnson was only 1.1 shy of this market last season. Atlanta projects to win around 50 games, and the offense is set up for Johnson to take his usage rate to 25% or beyond.
Trey Murphy III To Average 22+ Points (+155)
The logic here is the same as with Johnson. Both players are still developing, and both were close to these lines last year. Trey Murphy III averaged 21.2 points per game in his age-24 season before suffering a torn labrum.
Murphy shot a career-high percentage at the rim and on short mid-range looks. Fewer of his three-point shots were assisted, and more were from above-the-break, so his percentage naturally dipped, but Murphy is a legitimate three-level scorer.
Thirty-five NBA players averaged 22+ points in the 2024-25 regular season. Already entrusted as a secondary ball handler and an ideal forward partner for Zion Williamson, Murphy has already broken out but could take another leap if the Pels exceed expectations.
Josh Giddey To Average 9+ Rebounds (+200)
Josh Giddey averaged 9.5 rebounds over the final 24 games of last season. He had 24 games out of 70 with 10 or more rebounds, and it’s not like there are many rivals for boards on this Bulls team.
Matas Buzelis averaged 3.5 per game as a rookie. Nikola Vučević’s rebounding rate was his lowest since his rookie year. Giddey is often going to be hidden on opposing threes and fours defensively, allowing him to sneak in and grab rebounds.
Chicago was second in pace with Giddey running the offense last season. It’s going to be a similar formula this time around, and Billy Donovan will be encouraging the Australian to get boards and go.
Zion Williamson To Average 6+ Assists (+155)
Williamson averaged a career-high 5.3 assists per game last season. His 36.6% assist rate was 10.1 percentage points higher than any other year in his career.
In the last three seasons, Zion has been between 3.5 and 3.8 pick-and-roll ball handler possessions per game. New Orleans should be looking to increase that towards six or seven in 2025-26.
Williamson is the slimmest he’s been since Duke, so he can carry the additional offensive workload. The Pelicans are also short on ball handlers with Dejounte Murray injured, Jordan Poole more of a scorer, and CJ McCollum in Washington.
The Pels can put the ball in Zion’s hands, even with Kevon Looney on the floor. Think of the chaos that can be caused with Poole screening for Zion. He’s got the vision to make the right pass and set up easy buckets.
De’Aaron Fox To Averages 2+ Made Threes (+140)
One of the top point guards in the NBA, De’Aaron Fox is doubtful for the start of the season due to a hamstring issue, but he promises to be an ideal running mate for Victor Wembanyama when he’s healthy.
Fox averaged two made threes per game before the trade last season. He averaged 2.9 made threes per game in 2023-24. That season was a turning point for the electric guard as he takes a much higher percentage of his field goal attempts from beyond the arc than he did earlier in his career.
Over 80% of his threes as a Spur were assisted, again representing a marked change from his Kings days. San Antonio will need Fox to be a floor spacer at times, either benefiting from teams helping on Wemby or compensating for the number of subpar shooters on the roster.
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