ESPN Fantasy Basketball 2025-26: Expert NBA Mock Draft Results & Analysis

Join Alex, Kirien, and Ken as they break down their expert picks and strategies in ESPN's 10-team fantasy basketball mock draft.
ESPN Fantasy Basketball 2025-26: Expert NBA Mock Draft Results & Analysis

Are you preparing for your 2025-26 fantasy basketball draft? To help you get ready, our RotoWire experts recently participated in a 10-team ESPN points league mock draft. This article provides a pick-by-pick breakdown of our teams, a look into our core draft strategy, and deep analysis of our biggest steals and reaches. See the full round-by-round results to find undervalued players and discover key insights that can serve as a cheat sheet to help you dominate your league this season.

Since some team names are a bit vague, here is who drafted, by first round order:

  1. Alex Barutha, RotoWire
  2. Eric Moody, ESPN
  3. Eric Karabell, ESPN   ("Karabell")
  4. Andre' Snellings, ESPN   ("Andre's Awesome Team")
  5. Tom Carpenter, ESPN  ("Tom's Talented Team")
  6. Ken Crites, RotoWire  ("K-Train RW")
  7. Joe Kaiser, ESPN  ("Joe's Team")
  8. Jim McCormick, ESPN  ("Jim's Finest Team")
  9. Steve Alexander, ESPN ("Steve's Smart Team")
  10. Kirien Sprecher, RotoWire  ("Kirien")

ESPN Points League Scoring

Field Goals Made (FGM): 2
Field Goals Attempted (FGA): -1
Free Throws Made (FTM): 1
Free Throws Attempted (FTA): -1
Three Pointers Made (3PM): 1
Rebounds (REB): 1
Assists (AST): 2
Steals (STL): 4
Blocks (BLK): 4
Turnovers (TO): -2
Points (PTS): 1

Here are Alex's, Kirien's and Ken's teams with some analysis on their picks and strategy. After that, you can see the complete draft results.

For up-to-the-minute updates on injuries, lineups, roster changes and more, head to RotoWire's NBA News or follow @RotoWireNBA on X.

Alex's Team

RoundNO.Player (NBA Team, Position)
11Nikola Jokic (Den, C)
220Evan Mobley (Cle, PF)
321Josh Giddey (FA, SG)
440Amen Thompson (Hou, SF)
541Coby White (Chi, PG)
660Walker Kessler (Utah, C)
761Payton Pritchard (Bos, PG)
880Paul George (Phi, SF)
981Mark Williams (Phx, C)
10100T.J. McConnell (Ind, PG)
11101Bobby Portis (Mil, PF)
12120Scoot Henderson (Por, PG)
13121Jaden Ivey (Det, SG)

Who do you consider your "draft steal" and why?

I loved getting Amen Thompson at 40 and Mark Williams at 81. Steals and blocks count for 4 points in this format, so Thompson's upside is immense even if he doesn't make massive offensive strides. Williams' injury history is a bit of a worry, but I already shored up my center position with Nikola Jokic and Walker Kessler, so I love him as an upside play. He's one of the best per-minute producers at center in fantasy basketball.

Who was a player you were targeting who was taken right before your pick? How did you pivot?

Ken was sniping me all draft. Ausar Thompson, Santi Aldama and Brandin Podziemski were three guys in my queue who he took. I pivoted to players like Paul George and Scoot Henderson, who I don't like as much this year but still have plenty of potential if things go right.

Which player did you draft based more on a "gut feeling" than on a stat or ranking?

Pritchard at 61 is probably too rich for some people, but I don't trust the Celtics to be a great team, and I think we could see a lot of rest games for Jaylen Brown and Derrick White.

Stay up to date on who is in and who is out with RotoWire's NBA Injury Report!

Kirien's Team

RoundNO.Player (NBA Team, Position)
110Karl-Anthony Towns (NY, C)
211Jalen Williams (OKC, PF)
330LaMelo Ball (Cha, PG)
431Scottie Barnes (Tor, SF)
550Dyson Daniels (Atl, SG)
651Deni Avdija (Por, SF)
770Darius Garland (Cle, PG)
871Zach LaVine (Sac, SG)
990Jalen Suggs (Orl, PG)
1091Cam Thomas (Bkn, SG)
11110Zach Edey (Mem, C)
12111Donovan Clingan (Por, C)
13130Neemias Queta (Bos, C)

Who do you consider your "draft steal" and why?

Dyson Daniels at pick 50. With 4 points per steal, Daniels could be a top-20 player in this league. I also think the Hawks are going to take a huge leap forward in a depleted Eastern Conference this season, and Daniels is going to be a huge reason why.

Who was a player you were targeting who was taken right before your pick? How did you pivot?

Like I said, I LOVE Atlanta this season, so I really wanted Trae Young to fall to me at the end of the 1st round. I had other players ranked ahead of KAT and JDub, but those players (LeBron, Booker, AD, Maxey, Siakam) all have serious question marks heading into this season. Instead, I went with two guys I felt like were safer options because they have solidified lead roles on championship contending teams.

Which player did you draft based more on a "gut feeling" than on a stat or ranking?

Zach Edey and Donovan Clingan. There were probably safer options available, but with my first two bench spots in a shallow league, I wanted to take big swings. The upside for these two is through the roof, and they have clear paths to reaching their potential this season.

Check out where all the players on your fantasy basketball team fit into RotoWire's Fantasy Basketball Cheat Sheet!

Ken's Team

RoundNO.Player (NBA Team, Position)
16Anthony Edwards (Min, SG)
215Tyrese Maxey (Phi, PG)
326Bam Adebayo (Mia, C)
435Jalen Johnson (Atl, PF)
546Derrick White (Bos, SG)
655Immanuel Quickley (Tor, PG)
766Alex Sarr (Wsh, C)
875Ausar Thompson (Det, SF)
986Kel'el Ware (Mia, C)
1095Santi Aldama (Mem, PF)
11106Isaiah Hartenstein (OKC, C)
12115Brandin Podziemski (GS, SG)
13126Bub Carrington (Wsh, PG)

Who do you consider your "draft steal" and why?

Derrick White at pick #46.  I had him ranked at #27 on my cheat sheet.  White always plays a lot of games, and there are a ton of shots available in Boston with Tatum out plus KP and Holiday gone. I think White is looking at career highs in points, 3's and rebounds. 

Who was a player you were targeting who was taken right before your pick? How did you pivot?

In the sixth round, I was eyeing Charlotte's Brandon Miller, but he got sniped at #52.  So I went with Toronto's Immanuel Quickley with the hopes he can stay healthy and match last year's per game totals.

Which player did you draft based more on a "gut feeling" than on a stat or ranking?

My gut told me to bet on upside for two young Centers, Alex Sarr (#66) and Kel'el Ware (#86).  Neither pick felt like a reach.  I suspect the "one Center" format left them available longer than they should have been

Results by Round

Round 1

NO.Player (NBA Team, Position)Fantasy Team
1Nikola Jokic (Den, C)Alex Barutha RotoWire
2Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (OKC, PG)Eric N. Moody
3Victor Wembanyama (SA, C)Karabell
4Giannis Antetokounmpo (Mil, PF)Andre's Awesome Team
5Luka Doncic (LAL, PG)Tom's Talented Team
6Anthony Edwards (Min, SG)K-Train RW
7Cade Cunningham (Det, PG)Joe's Team
8Domantas Sabonis (Sac, C)Jim's Finest Team
9Trae Young (Atl, PG)steve's Smart Team
10Karl-Anthony Towns (NY, C)Kirien

Round 2

NO.Player (NBA Team, Position)Fantasy Team
1Jalen Williams (OKC, PF)Kirien
2LeBron James (LAL, SF)steve's Smart Team
3Devin Booker (Phx, PG)Jim's Finest Team
4Anthony Davis (Dal, C)Joe's Team
5Tyrese Maxey (Phi, PG)K-Train RW
6Ivica Zubac (LAC, C)Tom's Talented Team
7Jalen Brunson (NY, PG)Andre's Awesome Team
8James Harden (LAC, PG)Karabell
9Pascal Siakam (Ind, PF)Eric N. Moody
10Evan Mobley (Cle, PF)Alex Barutha RotoWire

Round 3

NO.Player (NBA Team, Position)Fantasy Team
1Josh Giddey (FA, SG)Alex Barutha RotoWire
2Donovan Mitchell (Cle, SG)Eric N. Moody
3Stephen Curry (GS, PG)Karabell
4Alperen Sengun (Hou, C)Andre's Awesome Team
5Franz Wagner (Orl, SF)Tom's Talented Team
6Bam Adebayo (Mia, C)K-Train RW
7Nikola Vucevic (Chi, C)Joe's Team
8Jaylen Brown (Bos, SF)Jim's Finest Team
9Paolo Banchero (Orl, PF)steve's Smart Team
10LaMelo Ball (Cha, PG)Kirien

Round 4

NO.Player (NBA Team, Position)Fantasy Team
1Scottie Barnes (Tor, SF)Kirien
2Kevin Durant (Hou, PF)steve's Smart Team
3De'Aaron Fox (SA, PG)Jim's Finest Team
4Cooper Flagg (Dal, SF)Joe's Team
5Jalen Johnson (Atl, PF)K-Train RW
6Desmond Bane (Orl, SG)Tom's Talented Team
7Ja Morant (Mem, PG)Andre's Awesome Team
8DeMar DeRozan (Sac, SF)Karabell
9Zion Williamson (NO, PF)Eric N. Moody
10Amen Thompson (Hou, SF)Alex Barutha RotoWire

Round 5

NO.Player (NBA Team, Position)Fantasy Team
1Coby White (Chi, PG)Alex Barutha RotoWire
2Jaren Jackson Jr. (Mem, C)Eric N. Moody
3Austin Reaves (LAL, SG)Karabell
4Chet Holmgren (OKC, C)Andre's Awesome Team
5Jalen Green (Phx, SG)Tom's Talented Team
6Derrick White (Bos, SG)K-Train RW
7Josh Hart (NY, SF)Joe's Team
8Jalen Duren (Det, C)Jim's Finest Team
9Trey Murphy III (NO, SF)steve's Smart Team
10Dyson Daniels (Atl, SG)Kirien

Round 6

NO.Player (NBA Team, Position)Fantasy Team
1Deni Avdija (Por, SF)Kirien
2Brandon Miller (Cha, SF)steve's Smart Team
3Tyler Herro (Mia, SG)Jim's Finest Team
4Jarrett Allen (Cle, C)Joe's Team
5Immanuel Quickley (Tor, PG)K-Train RW
6Mikal Bridges (NY, SF)Tom's Talented Team
7Joel Embiid (Phi, C)Andre's Awesome Team
8Jamal Murray (Den, PG)Karabell
9Myles Turner (Mil, C)Eric N. Moody
10Walker Kessler (Utah, C)Alex Barutha RotoWire

Round 7

NO.Player (NBA Team, Position)Fantasy Team
1Payton Pritchard (Bos, PG)Alex Barutha RotoWire
2Jordan Poole (NO, SG)Eric N. Moody
3Julius Randle (Min, PF)Karabell
4Michael Porter Jr. (Bkn, SF)Andre's Awesome Team
5Miles Bridges (Cha, SF)Tom's Talented Team
6Alex Sarr (Wsh, C)K-Train RW
7Jimmy Butler III (GS, SF)Joe's Team
8Kevin Porter Jr. (Mil, SG)Jim's Finest Team
9Matas Buzelis (Chi, SF)steve's Smart Team
10Darius Garland (Cle, PG)Kirien

Round 8

NO.Player (NBA Team, Position)Fantasy Team
1Zach LaVine (Sac, SG)Kirien
2Norman Powell (Mia, SG)steve's Smart Team
3Jakob Poeltl (Tor, C)Jim's Finest Team
4Christian Braun (Den, SG)Joe's Team
5Ausar Thompson (Det, SF)K-Train RW
6Onyeka Okongwu (Atl, C)Tom's Talented Team
7Kawhi Leonard (LAC, SF)Andre's Awesome Team
8Lauri Markkanen (Utah, PF)Karabell
9Nic Claxton (Bkn, C)Eric N. Moody
10Paul George (Phi, SF)Alex Barutha RotoWire

Round 9

NO.Player (NBA Team, Position)Fantasy Team
1Mark Williams (Phx, C)Alex Barutha RotoWire
2CJ McCollum (Wsh, SG)Eric N. Moody
3Rudy Gobert (Min, C)Karabell
4Kristaps Porzingis (Atl, C)Andre's Awesome Team
5Devin Vassell (SA, SG)Tom's Talented Team
6Kel'el Ware (Mia, C)K-Train RW
7Daniel Gafford (Dal, C)Joe's Team
8OG Anunoby (NY, SF)Jim's Finest Team
9Deandre Ayton (LAL, C)steve's Smart Team
10Jalen Suggs (Orl, PG)Kirien

Round 10

NO.Player (NBA Team, Position)Fantasy Team
1Cam Thomas (Bkn, SG)Kirien
2Naz Reid (Min, C)steve's Smart Team
3John Collins (LAC, PF)Jim's Finest Team
4Fred VanVleet (Hou, PG)Joe's Team
5Santi Aldama (Mem, PF)K-Train RW
6Keegan Murray (Sac, PF)Tom's Talented Team
7Shaedon Sharpe (Por, SG)Andre's Awesome Team
8Anfernee Simons (Bos, SG)Karabell
9RJ Barrett (Tor, SF)Eric N. Moody
10T.J. McConnell (Ind, PG)Alex Barutha RotoWire

Round 11

NO.Player (NBA Team, Position)Fantasy Team
1Bobby Portis (Mil, PF)Alex Barutha RotoWire
2Brandon Ingram (Tor, SF)Eric N. Moody
3Stephon Castle (SA, PG)Karabell
4Andrew Nembhard (Ind, PG)Andre's Awesome Team
5Cameron Johnson (Den, SF)Tom's Talented Team
6Isaiah Hartenstein (OKC, C)K-Train RW
7Aaron Gordon (Den, PF)Joe's Team
8Andrew Wiggins (Mia, SF)Jim's Finest Team
9Bennedict Mathurin (Ind, SF)steve's Smart Team
10Zach Edey (Mem, C)Kirien

Round 12

NO.Player (NBA Team, Position)Fantasy Team
1Donovan Clingan (Por, C)Kirien
2Donte DiVincenzo (Min, SG)steve's Smart Team
3Jaden McDaniels (Min, SF)Jim's Finest Team
4Malik Monk (Sac, SG)Joe's Team
5Brandin Podziemski (GS, SG)K-Train RW
6Keyonte George (Utah, PG)Tom's Talented Team
7D'Angelo Russell (Dal, PG)Andre's Awesome Team
8Dereck Lively II (Dal, C)Karabell
9Tobias Harris (Det, PF)Eric N. Moody
10Scoot Henderson (Por, PG)Alex Barutha RotoWire

Round 13

NO.Player (NBA Team, Position)Fantasy Team
1Jaden Ivey (Det, SG)Alex Barutha RotoWire
2Collin Sexton (Cha, SG)Eric N. Moody
3Dennis Schroder (Sac, PG)Karabell
4Dylan Harper (SA, PG)Andre's Awesome Team
5Zaccharie Risacher (Atl, SF)Tom's Talented Team
6Bub Carrington (Wsh, PG)K-Train RW
7Draymond Green (GS, PF)Joe's Team
8Scotty Pippen Jr. (Mem, PG)Jim's Finest Team
9Davion Mitchell (Mia, PG)steve's Smart Team
10Neemias Queta (Bos, C)Kirien

Results by Team

Joe's Team

RoundNO.Player (NBA Team, Position)
17Cade Cunningham (Det, PG)
214Anthony Davis (Dal, C)
327Nikola Vucevic (Chi, C)
434Cooper Flagg (Dal, SF)
547Josh Hart (NY, SF)
654Jarrett Allen (Cle, C)
767Jimmy Butler III (GS, SF)
874Christian Braun (Den, SG)
987Daniel Gafford (Dal, C)
1094Fred VanVleet (Hou, PG)
11107Aaron Gordon (Den, PF)
12114Malik Monk (Sac, SG)
13127Draymond Green (GS, PF)

Karabell

RoundNO.Player (NBA Team, Position)
13Victor Wembanyama (SA, C)
218James Harden (LAC, PG)
323Stephen Curry (GS, PG)
438DeMar DeRozan (Sac, SF)
543Austin Reaves (LAL, SG)
658Jamal Murray (Den, PG)
763Julius Randle (Min, PF)
878Lauri Markkanen (Utah, PF)
983Rudy Gobert (Min, C)
1098Anfernee Simons (Bos, SG)
11103Stephon Castle (SA, PG)
12118Dereck Lively II (Dal, C)
13123Dennis Schroder (Sac, PG)

Kirien

RoundNO.Player (NBA Team, Position)
110Karl-Anthony Towns (NY, C)
211Jalen Williams (OKC, PF)
330LaMelo Ball (Cha, PG)
431Scottie Barnes (Tor, SF)
550Dyson Daniels (Atl, SG)
651Deni Avdija (Por, SF)
770Darius Garland (Cle, PG)
871Zach LaVine (Sac, SG)
990Jalen Suggs (Orl, PG)
1091Cam Thomas (Bkn, SG)
11110Zach Edey (Mem, C)
12111Donovan Clingan (Por, C)
13130Neemias Queta (Bos, C)

K-Train RW

RoundNO.Player (NBA Team, Position)
16Anthony Edwards (Min, SG)
215Tyrese Maxey (Phi, PG)
326Bam Adebayo (Mia, C)
435Jalen Johnson (Atl, PF)
546Derrick White (Bos, SG)
655Immanuel Quickley (Tor, PG)
766Alex Sarr (Wsh, C)
875Ausar Thompson (Det, SF)
986Kel'el Ware (Mia, C)
1095Santi Aldama (Mem, PF)
11106Isaiah Hartenstein (OKC, C)
12115Brandin Podziemski (GS, SG)
13126Bub Carrington (Wsh, PG)

Alex Barutha RotoWire

RoundNO.Player (NBA Team, Position)
11Nikola Jokic (Den, C)
220Evan Mobley (Cle, PF)
321Josh Giddey (FA, SG)
440Amen Thompson (Hou, SF)
541Coby White (Chi, PG)
660Walker Kessler (Utah, C)
761Payton Pritchard (Bos, PG)
880Paul George (Phi, SF)
981Mark Williams (Phx, C)
10100T.J. McConnell (Ind, PG)
11101Bobby Portis (Mil, PF)
12120Scoot Henderson (Por, PG)
13121Jaden Ivey (Det, SG)

Jim's Finest Team

RoundNO.Player (NBA Team, Position)
18Domantas Sabonis (Sac, C)
213Devin Booker (Phx, PG)
328Jaylen Brown (Bos, SF)
433De'Aaron Fox (SA, PG)
548Jalen Duren (Det, C)
653Tyler Herro (Mia, SG)
768Kevin Porter Jr. (Mil, SG)
873Jakob Poeltl (Tor, C)
988OG Anunoby (NY, SF)
1093John Collins (LAC, PF)
11108Andrew Wiggins (Mia, SF)
12113Jaden McDaniels (Min, SF)
13128Scotty Pippen Jr. (Mem, PG)

steve's Smart Team

RoundNO.Player (NBA Team, Position)
19Trae Young (Atl, PG)
212LeBron James (LAL, SF)
329Paolo Banchero (Orl, PF)
432Kevin Durant (Hou, PF)
549Trey Murphy III (NO, SF)
652Brandon Miller (Cha, SF)
769Matas Buzelis (Chi, SF)
872Norman Powell (Mia, SG)
989Deandre Ayton (LAL, C)
1092Naz Reid (Min, C)
11109Bennedict Mathurin (Ind, SF)
12112Donte DiVincenzo (Min, SG)
13129Davion Mitchell (Mia, PG)

Tom's Talented Team

RoundNO.Player (NBA Team, Position)
15Luka Doncic (LAL, PG)
216Ivica Zubac (LAC, C)
325Franz Wagner (Orl, SF)
436Desmond Bane (Orl, SG)
545Jalen Green (Phx, SG)
656Mikal Bridges (NY, SF)
765Miles Bridges (Cha, SF)
876Onyeka Okongwu (Atl, C)
985Devin Vassell (SA, SG)
1096Keegan Murray (Sac, PF)
11105Cameron Johnson (Den, SF)
12116Keyonte George (Utah, PG)
13125Zaccharie Risacher (Atl, SF)

Andre's Awesome Team

RoundNO.Player (NBA Team, Position)
14Giannis Antetokounmpo (Mil, PF)
217Jalen Brunson (NY, PG)
324Alperen Sengun (Hou, C)
437Ja Morant (Mem, PG)
544Chet Holmgren (OKC, C)
657Joel Embiid (Phi, C)
764Michael Porter Jr. (Bkn, SF)
877Kawhi Leonard (LAC, SF)
984Kristaps Porzingis (Atl, C)
1097Shaedon Sharpe (Por, SG)
11104Andrew Nembhard (Ind, PG)
12117D'Angelo Russell (Dal, PG)
13124Dylan Harper (SA, PG)

Eric N. Moody

RoundNO.Player (NBA Team, Position)
12Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (OKC, PG)
219Pascal Siakam (Ind, PF)
322Donovan Mitchell (Cle, SG)
439Zion Williamson (NO, PF)
542Jaren Jackson Jr. (Mem, C)
659Myles Turner (Mil, C)
762Jordan Poole (NO, SG)
879Nic Claxton (Bkn, C)
982CJ McCollum (Wsh, SG)
1099RJ Barrett (Tor, SF)
11102Brandon Ingram (Tor, SF)
12119Tobias Harris (Det, PF)
13122Collin Sexton (Cha, SG)

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ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Alex is RotoWire's Chief NBA Editor. He writes articles about daily fantasy, year-long fantasy and sports betting. You can hear him on the RotoWire NBA Podcast, Sirius XM, VSiN and other platforms. He firmly believes Robert Covington is the most underrated fantasy player of the past decade.
An early RotoWire contributor from the 90's, K-Train returns with the grace of Gheorghe Muresan and the wisdom of Joe Gibbs. Ken is a two-time FSWA award winner and a co-host on the RW NBA Podcast. Championships incude: 2016 RW Staff NBA Keeper, 2019 RW Staff NFL Ottoneu Keeper, 2022-23 SiriusXM NBA Experts, 2022-23 SiriusXM NBA Kamla Keeper and 2023-24 FSGA NBA Expert Champions. Ken still owns a RotoNews shirt.
Kirien Sprecher is a University of Wisconsin-Madison graduate who has covered the NBA, NFL and MLB for RotoWire since early 2021. In his free time, Kirien is probably arguing a foul call during a pickup basketball game at a local rec center.
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