The ESPN fantasy basketball experts got together for their second mock draft of the 2025-26 NBA season, using a 10-team head-to-head categories format.
If you’re new to fantasy hoops and looking to try it out for the first time, here is a tutorial of all the basics. From there, it’s easy to grab a handful of people, set up a draft and have some fun! Before that, though, it’s always smart to spend a little time preparing with a mock draft of your own.
In category leagues, specialists who can contribute and dominate one stat such as steals or blocks or assists are more valuable than in points leagues. And players who struggle with FG% and FT% aren’t as valuable as they can be in points leagues. With that in mind, how did this draft shake out?
The participants of our 10-team H2H categories mock were Andre Snellings, Eric Moody, Eric Karabell, Tom Carpenter, Joe Kaiser, Jim McCormick, Matt Williams and Steve Alexander, and joining us from Rotowire.com were Alex Barutha and Kirien Katzmarek.
1. Victor Wembanyama, SA, C (C1) — Karabell 2. Nikola Jokic, Den, C (C2) — Carpenter 3. Luka Doncic, LAL, PG (PG1) — Alexander 4. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC, PG (PG2) — Williams 5. Anthony Davis, Dal, PF/C (C3) — McCormick 6. Anthony Edwards, Min, SG/SF (SG1) — Katzmarek 7. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Mil, PF/C (PF1) — Barutha 8. James Harden, LAC, PG/SG (PG3) — Snellings 9. Stephen Curry, GS, PG (PG4) — Kaiser 10. Trae Young, Atl, PG (PG5) — Moody
11. Chet Holmgren, OKC, PF/C (C4) — Moody 12. Karl-Anthony Towns, NY, PF/C (C5) — Kaiser 13. Domantas Sabonis, Sac, PF/C (C6) — Snellings 14. Cade Cunningham, Det, PG/SG (PG6) — Barutha 15. Donovan Mitchell, Cle, PG/SG (SG2) — Katzmarek 16. Scottie Barnes, Tor, SG/SF/PF (SF1) — McCormick 17. Amen Thompson, Hou, SG/SF/PF (SF2) — Williams 18. Devin Booker, Phx, PG/SG (PG7) — Alexander 19. Jalen Brunson, NY, PG (PG8) — Carpenter 20. LeBron James, LAL, SF/PF (SF3) — Karabell
21. Kevin Durant, Hou, PF (PF2) — Karabell 22. Tyrese Maxey, Phi, PG/SG (PG9) — Carpenter 23. Dyson Daniels, Atl, PG/SG (SG3) — Alexander 24. Jalen Williams, OKC, SF/PF/C (PF3) — Williams 25. Cooper Flagg, Dal, SF/PF (SF4) — McCormick 26. LaMelo Ball, Cha, PG (PG10) — Katzmarek 27. Josh Giddey, FA, PG/SG/SF (SG4) — Barutha 28. De’Aaron Fox, SA, PG (PG11) — Snellings 29. Derrick White, Bos, PG/SG (SG5) — Kaiser 30. Jaren Jackson Jr., Mem, PF/C (C7) — Moody
31. Ja Morant, Mem, PG (PG12) — Moody 32. Nikola Vucevic, Chi, C (C8) — Kaiser 33. Paolo Banchero, Orl, SF/PF (PF4) — Snellings 34. Evan Mobley, Cle, PF/C (PF5) — Barutha 35. Jalen Johnson, Atl, PF (PF6) — Katzmarek 36. Jamal Murray, Den, PG (PG13) — McCormick 37. Alperen Sengun, Hou, C (C9) — Williams 38. Brandon Miller, Cha, SG/SF (SF5) — Alexander 39. Myles Turner, Mil, C (C10) — Carpenter 40. Desmond Bane, Orl, SG/SF (SG6) — Karabell
41. Bam Adebayo, Mia, PF/C (C11) — Karabell 42. Austin Reaves, LAL, PG/SG/SF (SG7) — Carpenter 43. Trey Murphy III, NO, SG/SF (SF6) — Alexander 44. Joel Embiid, Phi, C (C12) — Williams 45. Jaylen Brown, Bos, SG/SF (SF7) — McCormick 46. Franz Wagner, Orl, SF/PF (SF8) — Katzmarek 47. Pascal Siakam, Ind, PF (PF7) — Barutha 48. Josh Hart, NY, SG/SF (SF9) — Snellings 49. Walker Kessler, Utah, C (C13) — Kaiser 50. Miles Bridges, Cha, SF/PF (SF10) — Moody
51. Jalen Green, Phx, SG (SG8) — Moody 52. Mikal Bridges, NY, SG/SF (SF11) — Kaiser 53. Zion Williamson, NO, PF (PF8) — Snellings 54. Deni Avdija, Por, SF/PF (SF12) — Barutha 55. Kristaps Porzingis, Atl, PF/C (C14) — Katzmarek 56. Lauri Markkanen, Utah, SF/PF (PF9) — McCormick 57. Ivica Zubac, LAC, C (C15) — Williams 58. Coby White, Chi, PG/SG (PG14) — Alexander 59. Zach LaVine, Sac, SG/SF (SG9) — Carpenter 60. Anfernee Simons, Bos, PG/SG (SG10) — Karabell
61. Darius Garland, Cle, PG (PG15) — Karabell 62. OG Anunoby, NY, SF/PF (SF13) — Carpenter 63. Rudy Gobert, Min, C (C16) — Alexander 64. Ausar Thompson, Det, SF/PF (SF14) — Williams 65. Julius Randle, Min, PF (PF10) — McCormick 66. Jordan Poole, NO, PG/SG (SG11) — Katzmarek 67. Jimmy Butler III, GS, SG/SF/PF (SF15) — Barutha 68. DeMar DeRozan, Sac, SF/PF (SF16) — Snellings 69. Brook Lopez, LAC, C (C17) — Kaiser 70. Naz Reid, Min, PF/C (C18) — Moody
71. Jalen Duren, Det, C (C19) — Moody 72. Tyler Herro, Mia, PG/SG (SG12) — Kaiser 73. Michael Porter Jr., Bkn, SF/PF (SF17) — Snellings 74. Kawhi Leonard, LAC, SF/PF (SF18) — Barutha 75. Brandon Ingram, Tor, SF (SF19) — Katzmarek 76. Paul George, Phi, SF/PF (SF20) — McCormick 77. Jalen Suggs, Orl, PG/SG (PG16) — Williams 78. John Collins, LAC, PF/C (PF11) — Alexander 79. Daniel Gafford, Dal, C (C20) — Carpenter 80. CJ McCollum, Wsh, PG/SG (SG13) — Karabell
81. Jakob Poeltl, Tor, C (C21) — Karabell 82. Devin Vassell, SA, SG/SF (SG14) — Carpenter 83. Reed Sheppard, Hou, SG (SG15) — Alexander 84. Norman Powell, Mia, SG/SF (SG16) — Williams 85. Dejounte Murray, NO, PG/SG (SG17) — McCormick 86. Cam Thomas, Bkn, SG/SF (SG18) — Katzmarek 87. Immanuel Quickley, Tor, PG/SG (PG17) — Barutha 88. Alex Sarr, Wsh, C (C22) — Snellings 89. Draymond Green, GS, PF/C (PF12) — Kaiser 90. Malik Monk, Sac, PG/SG/SF (SG19) — Moody
91. Keegan Murray, Sac, SF/PF (PF13) — Moody 92. Cameron Johnson, Den, SF/PF (SF21) — Kaiser 93. Deandre Ayton, LAL, C (C23) — Snellings 94. Mark Williams, Phx, C (C24) — Barutha 95. Tobias Harris, Det, SF/PF (PF14) — Katzmarek 96. P.J. Washington, Dal, PF (PF15) — McCormick 97. Andrew Nembhard, Ind, PG/SG (PG18) — Williams 98. Kel’el Ware, Mia, C (C25) — Alexander 99. Nic Claxton, Bkn, C (C26) — Carpenter 100. Jarrett Allen, Cle, C (C27) — Karabell
101. Jrue Holiday, Por, PG/SG (PG19) — Karabell 102. Jaden Ivey, Det, PG/SG (SG20) — Carpenter 103. Matas Buzelis, Chi, SF/PF (SF22) — Alexander 104. VJ Edgecombe, Phi, SG (SG21) — Williams 105. D’Angelo Russell, Dal, PG/SG (PG20) — McCormick 106. Jabari Smith Jr., Hou, PF/C (PF16) — Katzmarek 107. Payton Pritchard, Bos, PG (PG21) — Barutha 108. Shaedon Sharpe, Por, SG/SF (SG22) — Snellings 109. Kevin Porter Jr., Mil, SG (SG23) — Kaiser 110. Aaron Gordon, Den, PF (PF17) — Moody
111. Donte DiVincenzo, Min, PG/SG (SG24) — Moody 112. T.J. McConnell, Ind, PG (PG22) — Kaiser 113. Stephon Castle, SA, PG/SG (PG23) — Snellings 114. Donovan Clingan, Por, C (C28) — Barutha 115. Bennedict Mathurin, Ind, SG/SF (SF23) — Katzmarek 116. Ace Bailey, Utah, SF/PF (SF24) — McCormick 117. RJ Barrett, Tor, SG/SF/PF (SF25) — Williams 118. Davion Mitchell, Mia, PG (PG24) — Alexander 119. Tari Eason, Hou, SF/PF (SF26) — Carpenter 120. Scotty Pippen Jr., Mem, PG/SG (PG25) — Karabell
121. Bobby Portis, Mil, PF (PF18) — Karabell 122. Collin Sexton, Cha, PG/SG (SG25) — Carpenter 123. Onyeka Okongwu, Atl, C (C29) — Alexander 124. Jeremiah Fears, NO, PG/SG (SG26) — Williams 125. Russell Westbrook, FA, PG (PG26) — McCormick 126. Kon Knueppel, Cha, SG (SG27) — Katzmarek 127. Keyonte George, Utah, PG/SG (PG27) — Barutha 128. Kyrie Irving, Dal, PG/SG (PG28) — Snellings 129. Kelly Oubre Jr., Phi, SG/SF (SF27) — Kaiser 130. Bradley Beal, LAC, SG/SF (SF28) — Moody
Team rosters are presented in first-round pick order. Picks indicated in parentheses in this manner: (Round.Pick)
PG1 Darius Garland, Cle, PG (Pick: 7.1) PG2 Jrue Holiday, Por, PG/SG (Pick: 11.1) PG3 Scotty Pippen Jr., Mem, PG/SG (Pick: 12.10) SG1 Desmond Bane, Orl, SG/SF (Pick: 4.10) SG2 Anfernee Simons, Bos, PG/SG (Pick: 6.10) SG3 CJ McCollum, Wsh, PG/SG (Pick: 8.10) SF1 LeBron James, LAL, SF/PF (Pick: 2.10) PF1 Kevin Durant, Hou, PF (Pick: 3.1) PF2 Bobby Portis, Mil, PF (Pick: 13.1) C1 Victor Wembanyama, SA, C (Pick: 1.1) C2 Bam Adebayo, Mia, PF/C (Pick: 5.1) C3 Jakob Poeltl, Tor, C (Pick: 9.1) C4 Jarrett Allen, Cle, C (Pick: 10.10)
PG1 Jalen Brunson, NY, PG (Pick: 2.9) PG2 Tyrese Maxey, Phi, PG/SG (Pick: 3.2) SG1 Austin Reaves, LAL, PG/SG/SF (Pick: 5.2) SG2 Zach LaVine, Sac, SG/SF (Pick: 6.9) SG3 Devin Vassell, SA, SG/SF (Pick: 9.2) SG4 Jaden Ivey, Det, PG/SG (Pick: 11.2) SG5 Collin Sexton, Cha, PG/SG (Pick: 13.2) SF1 OG Anunoby, NY, SF/PF (Pick: 7.2) SF2 Tari Eason, Hou, SF/PF (Pick: 12.9) C1 Nikola Jokic, Den, C (Pick: 1.2) C2 Myles Turner, Mil, C (Pick: 4.9) C3 Daniel Gafford, Dal, C (Pick: 8.9) C4 Nic Claxton, Bkn, C (Pick: 10.9)
PG1 Luka Doncic, LAL, PG (Pick: 1.3) PG2 Devin Booker, Phx, PG/SG (Pick: 2.8) PG3 Coby White, Chi, PG/SG (Pick: 6.8) PG4 Davion Mitchell, Mia, PG (Pick: 12.8) SG1 Dyson Daniels, Atl, PG/SG (Pick: 3.3) SG2 Reed Sheppard, Hou, SG (Pick: 9.3) SF1 Brandon Miller, Cha, SG/SF (Pick: 4.8) SF2 Trey Murphy III, NO, SG/SF (Pick: 5.3) SF3 Matas Buzelis, Chi, SF/PF (Pick: 11.3) PF1 John Collins, LAC, PF/C (Pick: 8.8) C1 Rudy Gobert, Min, C (Pick: 7.3) C2 Kel’el Ware, Mia, C (Pick: 10.8) C3 Onyeka Okongwu, Atl, C (Pick: 13.3)
PG1 Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC, PG (Pick: 1.4) PG2 Jalen Suggs, Orl, PG/SG (Pick: 8.7) PG3 Andrew Nembhard, Ind, PG/SG (Pick: 10.7) SG1 Norman Powell, Mia, SG/SF (Pick: 9.4) SG2 VJ Edgecombe, Phi, SG (Pick: 11.4) SG3 Jeremiah Fears, NO, PG/SG (Pick: 13.4) SF1 Amen Thompson, Hou, SG/SF/PF (Pick: 2.7) SF2 Ausar Thompson, Det, SF/PF (Pick: 7.4) SF3 RJ Barrett, Tor, SG/SF/PF (Pick: 12.7) PF1 Jalen Williams, OKC, SF/PF/C (Pick: 3.4) C1 Alperen Sengun, Hou, C (Pick: 4.7) C2 Joel Embiid, Phi, C (Pick: 5.4) C3 Ivica Zubac, LAC, C (Pick: 6.7)
PG1 Jamal Murray, Den, PG (Pick: 4.6) PG2 D’Angelo Russell, Dal, PG/SG (Pick: 11.5) PG3 Russell Westbrook, FA, PG (Pick: 13.5) SG1 Dejounte Murray, NO, PG/SG (Pick: 9.5) SF1 Scottie Barnes, Tor, SG/SF/PF (Pick: 2.6) SF2 Cooper Flagg, Dal, SF/PF (Pick: 3.5) SF3 Jaylen Brown, Bos, SG/SF (Pick: 5.5) SF4 Paul George, Phi, SF/PF (Pick: 8.6) SF5 Ace Bailey, Utah, SF/PF (Pick: 12.6) PF1 Lauri Markkanen, Utah, SF/PF (Pick: 6.6) PF2 Julius Randle, Min, PF (Pick: 7.5) PF3 P.J. Washington, Dal, PF (Pick: 10.6) C1 Anthony Davis, Dal, PF/C (Pick: 1.5)
PG1 LaMelo Ball, Cha, PG (Pick: 3.6) SG1 Anthony Edwards, Min, SG/SF (Pick: 1.6) SG2 Donovan Mitchell, Cle, PG/SG (Pick: 2.5) SG3 Jordan Poole, NO, PG/SG (Pick: 7.6) SG4 Cam Thomas, Bkn, SG/SF (Pick: 9.6) SG5 Kon Knueppel, Cha, SG (Pick: 13.6) SF1 Franz Wagner, Orl, SF/PF (Pick: 5.6) SF2 Brandon Ingram, Tor, SF (Pick: 8.5) SF3 Bennedict Mathurin, Ind, SG/SF (Pick: 12.5) PF1 Jalen Johnson, Atl, PF (Pick: 4.5) PF2 Tobias Harris, Det, SF/PF (Pick: 10.5) PF3 Jabari Smith Jr., Hou, PF/C (Pick: 11.6) C1 Kristaps Porzingis, Atl, PF/C (Pick: 6.5)