I May Have Found My New Favorite NBA Fantasy Game

Don’t get me wrong. I love what DraftKings and FanDuel have to offer when it comes to DFS for the NBA playoffs. I’ve played them. I’ve enjoyed them, and on several occasions I’ve won some money. But, well, you know— change can be a good thing.

Picking out the best team is a challenge, but it isn’t always fun to compete with the diehards/pros on DraftKings and FanDuel. Sometimes, I can’t help but think it would be nice not to compete with those players but still have a shot at a solid payday.

That is, of course, entirely possible.

Underdog: Time to Climb That Ladder

Now, I’m aware of the different options that FanDuel (where I typically play DFS) provides, but nothing made me think,” Oooohhhh!!!! I have to play that!!!!”

But a game I saw on the Underdog app did.

I’ve always used Underdog for the pick’em games, but had not really explored the other options the app has to offer until trying to come up with a new and interesting topic for this week’s article.

I have to say that I love one of the games that I discovered (yes, I know that I’m late to the party because Underdog has been around for a while, but better late than never, right?).

I’m talking about Ladders.

Here’s what you do: pick a roster of up to five players (must be from at least two different teams). Each player will have a performance metric (or ladder) with different point totals. You want everyone on your roster to advance as far as they can on their ladder.

But here’s the catch.

How much money you can win depends on the multiplier. Each rung of the ladder is assigned one. Go with a five-player roster, and the progression is as follows:

0x – 1x – 10x – 100x

Now, the multiplier that gets applied to your entry fee is for the highest level achieved by all players. So, if three players reach the 100x, and two reach 10x, multiply your entry fee by 10x to see what you’ve won.

If someone just reaches the 1x rung, you just get your money back, even if everyone else hits the 100x.

FanDuel has a multiplier game, but your earning potential here is greater.

Underdog NBA Fantasy: Roster Strategies

There is no easy path, of course. Yeah, Underdog wants it to be possible, but if it's easy, everyone will do it, and Underdog will lose its metaphorical shirt. But let’s see what we can come up with.

As I type this Sunday afternoon (going out for dinner on Mother’s Day will not pay for itself), Oklahoma City vs. Denver players are not available since that game is in progress. So, let’s focus on the superstars (point total for 100x multiplier) on the other teams (Cleveland, Indiana, Minnesota, Golden State, Boston, and New York).

Donovan Mitchell (43), Jayson Tatum (37), Jalen Brunson (39), Anthony Edwards (37), and Jimmy Butler (36).

To get to the 100x, everyone has to score at least 36 points.

As of Sunday afternoon, and before Game 4 between the Pacers and Cavs, Donovan Mitchell has reached the 100x multiplier twice; no one else has done it once. Jayson Tatum hasn’t even reached his 1x mark once in this series.

So, let’s try something else.

• Donovan Mitchell: I’m sticking with him since he scored 43 and 48 in the last two games.

I’m going to be honest with y’all. I went through every player listed, and I do not see a roster that I can say has a solid chance of everyone hitting 100x. But I do see a pretty solid roster for 10x (point total for 10x):

• Donovan Mitchell (31): He’s scored 31+ in all three games vs. Indiana.
• Julius Randle (20): He’s scored 20+ in four of his last five games, including the last two. The one where he didn’t, Game 1 vs. Golden State, he scored 18.
• Josh Hart (12): He’s scored 13+ in four of his last five games but scored 10 in Game 3 vs. Boston.
• Jimmy Butler (27): He has only hit this mark twice in his last five games, but with the Warriors' offense going through him right now, I like his chances of scoring at least 27.
• Buddy Hield (14): He has scored 14+ in his last four games, but just 15 and 14 in his last two games.

Other players worth taking a look at include T.J. McConnell, Myles Turner, and Derrick White.

Underdog’s Ladder format won’t guarantee a win, but it offers a fun, strategic alternative to the traditional DFS grind—especially if you’re hunting value beyond the obvious superstars. With the right mix of upside and consistency, you can build a competitive roster and potentially climb to big multipliers. So if you’re ready for a new way to enjoy NBA fantasy, give Ladders a shot—you might just find your next favorite format too.