FAQ
Questions asked. Excuses denied.
Leagues, draft, lineups, bench and roster moves. The practical stuff.
Can I create a private league with friends?
Yes, that is the whole point. Create a league, invite your friends or share the league code, and play against people you actually know.
Leagues are private and every manager is a real person: no bots, no strangers.
How many people do we need?
Between 6 and 16 managers, odd numbers included. 10 is the default. The size locks when the draft starts.
How do drafts work?
It is a live snake draft in the app: 10 rounds, the order reverses every round, and everyone ends up with 10 players.
The order is drawn at random when the draft is launched. There is no pick timer and no autopick, so every pick is yours to make (and to defend).
When do lineups lock?
At the scheduled tip-off of the first NBA game of the Gameweek (Monday to Sunday). One lock for the whole week: starters, captain, bench order and Bonus Card all freeze at that moment.
Do I have to set my lineup every week?
No. If you change nothing, your lineup carries over to the next Gameweek, along with your captain if they are still starting.
Can I see my opponent’s lineup before the lock?
No. It stays hidden until the lock. Same for yours.
How does the captain work?
Pick one of your five starters, or nobody. Your captain adds 25% of their Form Score on top of their normal score.
Negative week? Negative bonus. Captain plays zero games? Bonus is 0 and the armband does not pass to anyone.
What happens if a player is injured or DNP?
If a starter plays zero games in the whole Gameweek, a ranked bench player who played and fits the slot replaces them automatically. If they play even once, their own score counts.
If a player is listed as out injured, you can move them to injured reserve and sign a free agent in their place, for free.
How does the bench work?
Before the lock, rank up to five bench players. Only ranked players can sub in, and only for a starter who played zero games all week.
Your best-ranked sub who was not needed becomes your Sixth Man and adds 30% of their Form Score.
How are points calculated?
Every NBA game turns a box score into Fantasy Points: points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks score; turnovers and missed shots cost. Each player’s week is the average of their two best games.
The full table is on the Rules page.
Why do scores look like real NBA scores?
Team Fantasy Points are converted into an NBA-style score (an average team lands around 112), so a matchup reads like a real game. The math underneath does not change.
Can a matchup end in a draw?
Never. Equal displayed scores go to the higher raw Team FP, then to further tiebreakers starting with your ranked bench.
How does free agency work?
You start with 5 recruiting tokens. Signing a free agent means releasing one of your players: one swap, one token, and your roster stays at 10.
Spent tokens do not come back. You get one extra token at the midseason redraft.
Can we trade players?
Yes: one player for one player, for free, with no commissioner or league veto. Offers expire after 48 hours, and trading stops at the last regular-season lock.
What are Bonus Cards?
Draw three, keep one. You can hold a card for up to three matchups and play one per matchup before the lock. Some cards do nothing at all. You were warned.
What is the midseason redraft?
Halfway through a full season, everyone protects 5 players, releases the other 5 and redrafts 5. Last place picks first.
Who makes the playoffs?
Everyone. The top of the standings plays the main bracket, the rest play the consolation bracket. Both finals happen the same week.
What if we create a league late in the NBA season?
If there is enough season left, you play a shorter season without a redraft. If not, the league waits for the next NBA season.
Is this betting or daily fantasy?
No. Garbage Time is a season-long fantasy game between friends. It is not a betting product and not daily fantasy.
Where can I play?
Right now, in your browser: hit “Play on Web”, create your account and start a league. The iOS and Android apps are coming soon; this page will link to them the day they are live.
Still here? Start the argument.
The full rules have every detail your league will try to argue about.