NBA 2025-26 Mock Fantasy Draft: Nikola Jokic, Luka Doncic, and a First-Round Shocker

The NBA preseason, like pretty much every professional sports preseason, is a blessing and a curse.

On one hand, Yay, it’s basketball. On the other hand, Hey, let’s see the starters play more than 11 minutes.

On the third hand, Now that I’ve seen some hoops, I’m ready to draft my fantasy team.

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Today, we’re rolling with the third hand and dropping our first NBA mock fantasy draft, because, simply put, it’s time.

But we’re keeping this one tight: Ten teams, five rounds, 9-cat format, some round-by-round analysis, final rosters, some PrizePicks NBA projections for  Opening Night (October 21), boom, let’s tip it off.

NBA 2025-26 Mock Fantasy Draft

ROUND 1

• Team 1: C: Nikola Jokic (Nuggets)

• Team 2: C: Victor Wembanyama (Spurs)

• Team 3: SG: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Thunder)

• Team 4: PG: Luka Doncic (Lakers)

• Team 5: PF: Giannis Antetokounmpo (Bucks)

• Team 6: PF: Anthony Davis (Lakers)

• Team 7: SG: Anthony Edwards (Timberwolves)

• Team 8: PG: Cooper Flagg (Mavericks)

• Team 9: PG: Jalen Brunson (Knicks)

• Team 10: C: Karl-Anthony Towns (Knicks)

Analysis: Isn’t it weird that we can all agree Doncic falling to four makes sense? Previously a consensus number one or two pick, Luka’s fantasy value will be dinged by the somehow-still-super-productive-and-possibly-retiring LeBron James.

And can we talk about Cooper Flagg? Listen, somebody in every fantasy draft in every professional sport takes a dart-throw on a touted rookie, and Team 8 does just that. Which, let’s be honest here, is weird.

And then there’s Giannis falling to five, but that, again, makes sense, Wemby and SGA are younger and thus should likely get more minutes, plus Giannis wants out of Milwaukee.

Keep your eye on the Ant Man, who could climb your board as we get closer to Draft Day.

Lakers G Luka Doncic PrizePicks Projection (vs. Warriors): 44.5 Points+Rebounds+Assists

ROUND 2

• Team 10: C: Joel Embiid (76ers)

• Team 9: SG: Tyrese Maxey (76ers)

• Team 8: PF: Domantas Sabonis (Kings)

• Team 7: SG: Donovan Mitchell (Cavaliers)

• Team 6: PF: Pascal Siakam (Pacers)

• Team 5: PG: Stephen Curry (Warriors)

• Team 4: PG: Trae Young (Hawks)

• Team 3: SF: Jalen Williams (Thunder)

• Team 2: SF: Kevin Durant (Rockets)

• Team 1: SF: LeBron James (Lakers)

Analysis: You know the times are a’changin’ when K.D. and Bron go at the bottom of round two — and after Jalen freakin’ Williams. But Williams is a young’un, and Durant and James, um, aren’t.

I’d be nervous to grab Embiid in the second round, but Team 10 thinks he’ll remain on the court, so bully for them.

Lakers F LeBron James PrizePicks Projection (vs. Golden State): 7.5 Rebounds

ROUND 3

• Team 1: SG: Devin Booker (Suns)

• Team 2: SF: Paolo Banchero (Magic)

• Team 3: PF: Evan Mobley (Cavaliers)

• Team 4: PF: Alperen Sengun (Rockets)

• Team 5: C: Bam Adebayo (Heat)

• Team 6: SG: Desmond Bane (Magic)

• Team 7: PG: Cade Cunningham (Pistons)

• Team 8: C: Chet Holmgren (Thunder)

• Team 9: SF: Franz Wagner (Magic)

• Team 10: PG: Ja Morant (Grizzlies)

Analysis: Grabbing Bane at six reveals Team 6’s strategy, that being to load up on three-pointers and free throw percentages, a category-stuffing approach that has won me not one, but two leagues.

Morant is a second-round talent, but his ability to stay in the lineup — injuries, off-court issues, yadda, yadda, yadda — hurts his value.

Thunder C Chet Holmgren PrizePicks Projection (vs. Houston): 16 Points

ROUND 4

• Team 10: SF: Jayson Tatum (Celtics)

• Team 9: C: Jaren Jackson Jr. (Grizzlies)

• Team 8: SG: Jaylen Brown (Celtics)

• Team 7: SG: DeMar DeRozan (Kings)

• Team 6: SF: Scottie Barnes (Raptors)

• Team 5: SG: James Harden (Rockets)

• Team 4: PG: Darius Garland (Cavaliers)

• Team 3: PF: Kawhi Leonard (Clippers)

• Team 2: SF: Jimmy Butler (Warriors)

• Team 1: C: Kristaps Porzingis (Hawks)

Analysis: Two Celts take a big tumble, but you can’t really argue, as Tatum and his Achilles are stash candidates, while Brown might have to deal with some lingering ouchies. And then there’s DeRozen, a box-score-filler who could be a sneaky-good get.

Warriors F Jimmy Butler PrizePicks Projection (vs. Lakers): 6 Rebounds

ROUND 5

• Team 1: PG: Jamal Murray (Nuggets)

• Team 2: SG: LaMelo Ball (Hornets)

• Team 3: SF: Austin Reaves (Lakers)

• Team 4: C: Nikola Vucevic (Bulls)

• Team 5: PF: Miles Bridges (Hornets)

• Team 6: PG: Damian Lillard (Trail Blazers)

• Team 7: SG: Josh Giddey (Bulls)

• Team 8: C: Ivica Zubac (Clippers)

• Team 9: PF: Jarrett Allen (Cavaliers)

• Team 10: PG: Tyler Herro (Heat)

Analysis: Like Morant, Melo has first-round talent, but the uncertainty about either his current team (they stink) or his new team (if I’m Charlotte, I’d totally blow it up), makes him an iffy early-round pick.

After inking a nice deal in Chicago, don’t be surprised if Giddey vaults up the hit parade. It’ll be less of a surprise for Bulls truthers if Nikola Vucevic — who’s been on the trading block since, like, three days after Chicago acquired him — is double/doubling somewhere other than the United Center.

Final Rosters

Team 1

• C: Nikola Jokic

• SF: LeBron James

• SG: Devin Booker

• C: Kristaps Porzingis

• PG: Jamal Murray

Team 2

• C: Victor Wembanyama

• SF: Kevin Durant

• SF: Paolo Banchero

• SF: Jimmy Butler

• SG: LaMelo Ball

Team 3

• SG: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

• SF: Jalen Williams

• PF: Evan Mobley

• PF: Kawhi Leonard

• SF: Austin Reaves

Team 4

• PG: Luka Doncic

• PG: Trae Young

• PF: Alperen Sengun

• PG: Darius Garland

• C: Nikola Vucevic

Team 5

• PF: Giannis Antetokounmpo

• PG: Stephen Curry

• C: Bam Adebayo

• SG: James Harden

• PF: Miles Bridges

Team 6

• PF: Anthony Davis

• PF: Pascal Siakam

• SG: Desmond Bane

• SF: Scottie Barnes

• PG: Damian Lillard

Team 7

• SG: Anthony Edwards

• SG: Donovan Mitchell

• PG: Cade Cunningham

• SG: DeMar DeRozan

• SG: Josh Giddey

Team 8

• SF: Cooper Flagg

• PF: Domantas Sabonis

• C: Chet Holmgren

• SG: Jaylen Brown

• C: Ivica Zubac

Team 9

• PG: Jalen Brunson

• SG: Tyrese Maxey

• SF: Franz Wagner

• C: Jaren Jackson Jr.

• PF: Jarrett Allen

Team 10

• C: Karl-Anthony Towns

• C: Joel Embiid

• PG: Ja Morant

• SF: Jayson Tatum

• PG: Tyler Herro

Analysis: There’s a ton of fantasy talent in this draft, so rather than hoping, praying, and wishing for the top spot, you should be crossing your fingers to land at four or five.

To that point, Team 4 looks like a juggernaut, with three guards who will help them make huge noise in four categories: Points, assists, free throw percentage, and steals. They’ll likely punt on rebounds and blocks, and load up on more of the same in the next three rounds, as well they should. Remember, you just need to win each week 5-4.

Speaking of punting, Team 10 is sacrificing the first half of the season altogether, hoping that Tatum returns to the court — and to form — after the All-Star break. That said, if Tatum does Tatum things from February on, and Embiid can stay out of the trainer’s room, they could dominate in big-man stats. It’s a dice-roll, but that’s fantasy hoops, y’all.

Predicted League Standings

• Team 4

• Team 2

• Team 10

• Team 7

• Team 5

• Team 1

• Team 3

• Team 8

• Team 6

• Team 9

Hopefully that’ll get us through until October 21.

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