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Bruski 150SportsEthos 2026 Fantasy Basketball Draft Guide
Fantasy Basketball Draft Guide 2026: The Triple-One Club
Last Updated on October 6, 2026 6:39 pm by Mike Passador | Published: October 6, 2026
Longtime readers will know that this author is big on those support stats. Guys who score a lot tend to get drafted very early, and it’s no shock that the very best players are big scorers. When things outside the points column start to dry up, however, the calculus changes. Not all numbers are created equal and while it’s points, rebounds and assists that are scrolling across our TV, computer and phone screens, savvy fantasy managers know that it’s the other stats that can carry you to victory. Steals, blocks and 3-pointers are called “cash counters” for a reason — they’re the scarce stats that separate good teams from great ones. If you can dominate those stats, generally you’re going to end up in the money.
Players that can contribute in those areas are true difference-makers in fantasy and those who can deliver one steal, one block and one 3-pointer per game are members of the elusive, informal — but still prestigious — Triple-One Club.
You’ll notice that many of the names below are elite fantasy players or guys who will be universally drafted. In those cases, knowing which players are Triple-Ones might impact your draft plans and subsequent picks. After that we’ll cover the guys who are close to the markers, some who might be breaking into the club this season and a few deeper-league targets who are simply lacking the minutes for membership.
We also have an article breaking down steal, block and 3-pointer specialists. The certified Triple-One guys are hard to get because there aren’t that many of them around, and missing out doesn’t mean you should forgo competing entirely. You can still find quality production at a great price in the back half of all drafts. We’re here in this article to say that if you’re going down that route, why not try to plan ahead and do all your shopping in one spot?
If you’re on the hunt for specific specialists — say you’ve built a team strong in steals but want to punt blocks — we have you covered. Our Steals, Blocks and 3-pointers Specialists article can be found right here.
Elite Values and Sure Things
This space is for the mortal locks to enter the club this season. You’ll notice that they are almost all typically early-round picks, making them difficult to acquire unless you’re blessed by the draft gods. There’s four or five names here who won’t be taken at the top of the draft, however, and while their games do feature flaws that explain their standing compared to the rest, it should be noted that they can contribute somewhat similarly to fantasy’s elite. Any time you can get guaranteed steals, blocks and triples later in the draft it presents an immense opportunity for value. There are five players here who were not Triple-One entries last season; one is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who needs no introduction, another is defensive maestro Scottie Barnes, and we fully expect another two players to break through by virtue of new roles in new situations. And then there’s one in a new situation who flashed some intriguing capability in an extremely limited sample last year…
| Season | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FGM | FGA | FG% | FTM | FTA | FT% | 3PTM | 3PTA | 3PT% | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25-26 | SA | 64 | 55 | 29.2 | 8.6 | 16.9 | 51.2 | 5.8 | 7.0 | 82.7 | 1.9 | 5.5 | 34.9 | 25.0 | 11.5 | 3.1 | 1.0 | 3.1 | 2.4 |
| 24-25 | SA | 46 | 46 | 33.2 | 8.9 | 18.6 | 47.6 | 3.4 | 4.1 | 83.6 | 3.1 | 8.8 | 35.2 | 24.3 | 11.0 | 3.7 | 1.1 | 3.8 | 3.2 |
| 23-24 | SA | 71 | 71 | 29.7 | 7.8 | 16.7 | 46.5 | 4.1 | 5.2 | 79.6 | 1.8 | 5.5 | 32.5 | 21.4 | 10.6 | 3.9 | 1.2 | 3.6 | 3.7 |
The gold standard. The guy we put as the photo for this article. Wembanyama is going to be a surefire top-2 pick in all drafts this season and for years to come. There just isn’t anyone else on the planet who can provide this kind of production.
| Season | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FGM | FGA | FG% | FTM | FTA | FT% | 3PTM | 3PTA | 3PT% | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25-26 | OKC | 68 | 68 | 33.2 | 10.8 | 19.4 | 55.3 | 7.9 | 9.0 | 87.9 | 1.7 | 4.4 | 38.6 | 31.1 | 4.3 | 6.6 | 1.4 | 0.8 | 2.2 |
| 24-25 | OKC | 76 | 76 | 34.2 | 11.3 | 21.8 | 51.9 | 7.9 | 8.8 | 89.8 | 2.1 | 5.7 | 37.5 | 32.7 | 5.0 | 6.4 | 1.7 | 1.0 | 2.4 |
| 23-24 | OKC | 75 | 75 | 34.0 | 10.6 | 19.8 | 53.5 | 7.6 | 8.7 | 87.4 | 1.3 | 3.6 | 35.3 | 30.1 | 5.5 | 6.2 | 2.0 | 0.9 | 2.2 |
Right behind him is Gilgeous-Alexander, who fell short of the mark last year but has been at at least 0.8 blocks per game in each of the last five seasons. You don’t necessarily draft SGA because he’s in the Triple-One Club (or close to it) but it certainly helps him lock into a top-4 spot in all drafts. As we said at the top, guys who can produce steals, blocks and 3-pointers like this tend to be drafted highly. For the guys later in this article it’s the backbone of their appeal but for the very best players in teh game, it’s just the cherry on top. Considering how few guard-eligible players are able to join the club, it’s a real edge to go with SGA as your first pick because the rest of the board remains wide open.
Want to see the exclusive members of the Triple-One Club and those who might be knocking on the door? You’ll need to have an Ethos 360, All-Sport or NBA FantasyPass membership. Click here to learn more and sign up! Premium Access Required Error: Cannot find in player database
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Mike graduated from Boston University’s Dual Degree Program with a BA in Economics and a BS in Business with Concentrations in Marketing and Operations Management. He is a faithful supporter of Toronto sports and the Detroit Lions and is always ready to be let down. Tweet to him @Mike_Pandador, but if you badmouth Jose Calderon you might get blocked.
