League Constitution
بِسْمِ اللَّـهِ الرَّحْمَـٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
In the name of God, the most gracious, the most merciful
Article I — League Purpose
The purpose of this league is to provide a competitive, fair, and enjoyable fantasy basketball experience for all managers.
By participating in the league, every manager agrees to follow the rules outlined in this constitution and compete in good faith throughout the entire season.
The Commissioner will be responsible for enforcing league rules, resolving disputes, and handling situations not specifically addressed in this constitution.
Article II — League Structure
2.1 League Size
The league will consist of 10 teams/managers each season.
2.2 League Format
The league will operate as a redraft league.
All rosters will reset at the conclusion of each season, and a completely new draft will take place before the following NBA season.
2.3 Weekly Matchups
The league will use a Head-to-Head (H2H) weekly matchup format.
Each team will compete against another team every matchup week according to the league schedule.
2.4 Season Length
The fantasy basketball regular season will consist of 19 weeks.
The regular season will run from Week 1 through Week 19.
The fantasy playoffs will begin in Week 20.
Article III — League Draft
3.1 Draft Date
The annual fantasy basketball draft will take place approximately one to two weeks before the start of the NBA regular season.
The Commissioner will coordinate the exact date with league members.
3.2 In-Person Draft
The league draft is intended to be an in-person event.
Managers are strongly encouraged to attend the draft in person.
3.3 Draft Order
Draft position will be determined in person on draft day.
Managers who attend the draft in person will receive priority when choosing their draft positions.
After the attending managers have selected their draft positions, managers who are drafting remotely will choose or be assigned from the remaining available draft positions.
Once all draft positions have been confirmed, the draft will follow a snake draft format.
The draft order will reverse after each round. For example, the manager with the 1st pick in Round 1 will have the last pick in Round 2, while the manager with the last pick in Round 1 will have the 1st pick in Round 2.
3.4 Remote Drafting
A manager who cannot attend the draft in person may participate through the league's online draft platform.
However, any manager who drafts remotely will forfeit their 6th-round draft pick.
When that manager's 6th-round selection arrives, the pick will be skipped.
3.5 No Auto-Drafting
Auto-drafting is not permitted.
Every manager is responsible for making their own selections.
If a manager's draft timer expires before they make a selection, their turn will be skipped rather than automatically selected by the system.
The manager may make their selection when permitted by the league platform and Commissioner, provided doing so does not disrupt selections that have already been made.
Article IV — Rosters & Lineups
4.1 Roster Format
Each team will have the following roster:
- PG: 2
- SG: 2
- SF: 2
- PF: 2
- C: 1
- UTIL: 3
- Bench: 3
- IR: 1
Each team will have 12 starting lineup spots, 3 bench spots, and 1 IR spot.
This equals 15 active roster spots plus 1 IR spot.
Players placed in a UTIL position may be used according to the eligibility rules established by the league's official fantasy basketball platform.
Player positional eligibility will also follow the designations established by the league platform.
4.2 Starting Lineups
Managers are responsible for setting and maintaining their own active lineups.
Managers are expected to maintain a competitive and reasonable lineup throughout the entire season, even if they have already been eliminated from playoff contention.
Intentionally starting inactive or injured players when healthy alternatives are available, intentionally leaving starting roster positions empty, or otherwise attempting to manipulate the standings is prohibited.
The Commissioner may take circumstances into consideration, including unexpected injuries, late scratches, postponed games, or other situations outside of a manager's reasonable control.
Repeated lineup violations may result in disciplinary action by the Commissioner.
Depending on the number and severity of the violations, the Commissioner may remove the manager from the league for the following season.
Managers who repeatedly violate league rules, intentionally compromise competitive integrity, or demonstrate a pattern of abandoning their team may also be placed on the league's Banned List.
A manager placed on the Banned List will not be permitted to rejoin the league unless the Commissioner approves their reinstatement.
Article V — Waivers & Free Agents
5.1 Waiver System
The league will use a Reverse Standings Waiver System.
Waiver priority will be based on the current league standings, with the team in last place receiving the highest waiver priority and the team in first place receiving the lowest waiver priority.
As league standings change throughout the season, waiver priority will adjust accordingly based on the settings of the league's official fantasy basketball platform.
5.2 Free Agents
Managers may add and drop players throughout the season as permitted by the league platform.
Any attempt to manipulate waivers, coordinate waiver claims to unfairly benefit another manager, or intentionally transfer players to another team is prohibited.
Article VI — Trades
6.1 Trading Players
Trades between teams are permitted as long as both managers believe the trade benefits their respective teams.
Trades do not have to be perfectly equal.
Managers are allowed to take risks, value players differently, and make decisions based on their own team strategy.
6.2 Trade Review
Trades should not be vetoed simply because other managers believe one team received the better deal.
A trade may only be overturned when there is reasonable evidence of:
- Collusion
- Roster dumping
- Player sharing
- An agreement involving money or benefits outside the league
- An attempt to unfairly manipulate the league or playoff race
The Commissioner will have final authority to investigate questionable trades.
6.3 Trade Deadline
The league trade deadline will be at the end of Fantasy Week 16.
All trades must be accepted and completed before the Week 16 trade deadline established by the league platform.
Once the Week 16 deadline has passed, no additional trades may be completed for the remainder of the season.
Article VII — Competitive Integrity
All managers are expected to compete honestly throughout the entire season.
The following actions are prohibited:
- Collusion between managers
- Intentionally losing matchups
- Intentionally manipulating statistical categories or matchups
- Roster dumping
- Sharing players between teams
- Coordinating waiver claims to benefit another manager
- Abandoning a team
- Intentionally leaving eligible players out of the lineup to manipulate standings
- Making trades or transactions for compensation outside the league
- Allowing another manager to secretly control your team
Any manager found intentionally compromising the integrity of the league may face penalties determined by the Commissioner.
Possible penalties may include:
- Loss of waiver priority
- Loss of draft picks
- Reversal of transactions
- Removal from playoff eligibility
- Removal from the league
- Suspension from the following season
- Placement on the league's Banned List
Article VIII — Regular Season
The fantasy basketball regular season will consist of 19 weeks.
The regular season will begin in Week 1 and conclude at the end of Week 19.
League standings will primarily be determined by the league's established Head-to-Head scoring and standings system.
Any regular-season standings tiebreakers will follow the official league platform unless otherwise established by the Commissioner before the season begins.
Managers are expected to remain competitive throughout the entire regular season regardless of their position in the standings.
At the conclusion of Week 19, the final regular-season standings will determine playoff qualification and seeding.
Article IX — Playoffs
9.1 Playoff Qualification
Seven teams will qualify for the fantasy basketball playoffs.
The remaining three teams will be eliminated from championship contention.
The playoffs will begin in Week 20.
9.2 First-Round Bye
The team that finishes 1st in the regular-season standings will receive a first-round playoff bye.
The remaining six playoff teams will compete during the opening round.
9.3 Playoff Round Length
Every playoff round will consist of one fantasy week only.
There will be no two-week playoff matchups.
The playoff schedule will be:
- Week 20 — First Round
- Week 21 — Semifinals
- Week 22 — Championship
The #1 seed will receive a bye during Week 20 and advance directly to the semifinals in Week 21.
9.4 Playoff Seeding
Teams will be seeded according to their final regular-season standings after Week 19.
Unless otherwise established before the season begins, playoff tiebreakers and seeding procedures will follow the settings of the league's official fantasy basketball platform.
9.5 Championship
The final two remaining teams will compete in the Fantasy Basketball Championship during Week 22.
The winner of the Week 22 championship matchup will be recognized as the official league champion for that season.
Article X — Commissioner Authority
The Commissioner is responsible for administering the league and enforcing this constitution.
Commissioner responsibilities include:
- Scheduling the annual draft
- Managing league settings
- Resolving rule disputes
- Investigating collusion
- Correcting obvious platform or administrative errors
- Enforcing league penalties
- Protecting competitive integrity
- Removing managers who repeatedly violate league rules
- Maintaining the league's Banned List
The Commissioner may not use their authority to create an unfair competitive advantage for themselves or another manager.
When a situation is not specifically covered by this constitution, the Commissioner will make a ruling based on fairness, competitive integrity, league precedent, and the best interests of the league as a whole.
Article XI — Rule Changes
Rules should generally not be changed during an active season unless a change is necessary to correct an obvious problem or protect the integrity of the league.
Major rule changes should generally take effect before the following season.
Any manager may propose a rule change or provide input regarding existing league rules.
The Commissioner will take the opinions, concerns, and input of all league managers into consideration before making a decision.
After considering manager feedback, the Commissioner will make the final decision based on what is determined to be best for the league as a whole, with fairness, competitive balance, and the long-term success of the league as the primary considerations.
Article XII — Team Abandonment
Managers are expected to remain active throughout the entire season regardless of their record or position in the standings.
A manager may not stop setting or maintaining their lineup simply because their team has been eliminated from playoff contention.
If a manager abandons their team, the Commissioner may take reasonable steps necessary to protect the competitive integrity of the league.
Repeated abandonment may result in the manager not being invited back the following season or being placed on the league's Banned List.
Article XIII — Sportsmanship
Trash talk and competitive banter are part of fantasy basketball and are encouraged within reasonable limits.
However, league members are expected to treat one another with respect.
Personal attacks, harassment, threats, or behavior that seriously disrupts the league may result in disciplinary action.
The goal is simple: Compete hard, talk your trash, have fun, and keep the league fair.
Article XIV — Acceptance of Rules
Participation in the league constitutes acceptance of this constitution.
Every manager is responsible for knowing the league rules.
Claiming that a manager was unaware of a rule will not automatically excuse a violation.
The Commissioner should provide all managers access to the current version of the league constitution before the annual draft.