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The Lakers\u2019 Luka Don\u010di\u0107 led the league in scoring at 33.5 points per game for the 2025-26 season.<\/p>\n
The 2025-26 regular season wrapped up on Sunday and my mind is already shifting to next year\u2019s drafts. Before you call it obsessive, analysts are already drafting \u2014 and that\u2019s exactly what we want. Debating how this season\u2019s performances should shape next season\u2019s decisions is part of the fun. So, before the NBA playoffs, draft and free agency begin, let\u2019s get an early jump on projecting the first round.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s how my way-too-early top 10 is shaping up \u2014 and why.<\/p>\n
1. Nikola Joki\u0107, Denver Nuggets<\/a><\/p>\n Another year, another season averaging a triple-double. Joki\u0107 joined Russell Westbrook as the only players in NBA history to accomplish that feat in consecutive seasons<\/a>. Another notable record was that Joki\u0107 was the first player in NBA history to lead the league in rebounds and assists in a season<\/a> \u2014 ridiculous.<\/p>\n Though Joki\u0107 uncharacteristically missed 17 games this season, he finished the campaign as the top player in 9-cat and High Score on a per-game basis. Until he gives you a legitimate reason to doubt him, he remains your consensus first overall pick.<\/p>\n 2. Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs<\/a><\/p>\n After completing his third NBA season, Wemby is already the best defensive player in the league and on the shortlist for MVP. He improved his scoring, rebounding and FG% despite averaging fewer than 30 minutes per night. More impressively, he\u2019s generated 4 stocks per game for the third consecutive season and showed his durability, playing in at least 65 games in two of his first three seasons. The two-way production is so tantalizing, I wouldn\u2019t be mad at anyone taking Wemby at 1.01.<\/p>\n 3. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder<\/a><\/p>\n Career highs in field goal percentage (55.4%) and assists (6.4) to go with 31.1 points per game, and he\u2019s shaping up to win back-to-back MVPs. SGA is the safest pick next to Jokic in the entire draft. Elite scoring, steals, efficiency and he\u2019s the engine for the best team in the NBA. You know exactly what you\u2019re getting \u2014 a top-three asset in 9-cat and top-five in High Score.<\/p>\n 4. Luka Don\u010di\u0107, Los Angeles Lakers<\/a><\/p>\n Don\u010di\u0107 led the league in scoring at 33.5 points per game and had an absolutely absurd March \u2014 the first player to score 600 points in a calendar month since Michael Jordan in 1987. The hamstring injury that cost him the tail end of the regular season shouldn\u2019t be an issue heading into next year, but it could be something worth monitoring. It\u2019s also worth following what LeBron James<\/a> decides to do in free agency. Should Bron go elsewhere or retire, Luka\u2019s ceiling goes even higher, making him every bit worthy of a top-four pick.<\/p>\n 5. Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons<\/a><\/p>\n Cunningham was second in the NBA in assists (9.8) and averaged 24.2 points per game while leading Detroit to the best record in the Eastern Conference. As a guy who had a few Cunningham shares this season, Cade sustaining a collapsed lung in the heat of the fantasy playoffs was brutal. But that doesn\u2019t discount how well he played throughout the season.<\/p>\n He was a second-round value in 9-cat and top-three in High Score. He could be the next point guard to average 20-10-5 in fantasy, while averaging over 2 stocks per game \u2014 that\u2019s more than enough counting stats to take him in the mid-first round.<\/p>\n 6. Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia 76ers<\/a><\/p>\n Maxey was an All-NBA player, leading the league in minutes played and closing the fantasy season fifth overall in 9-cat and sixth in High Score. The all-around growth for Maxey was evident, as he increased his value in 7 of 9 categories, including a significant boost on the defensive end, averaging 2.7 stocks per game (1.9 steals and 0.8 blocks, respectively). At 25 years old and the franchise clearly in his hands, Maxey\u2019s trajectory is of the caliber of a top-five player across formats.<\/p>\n 7. Jalen Johnson, Atlanta Hawks<\/a><\/p>\n The breakout is official. Johnson cemented himself as Atlanta\u2019s offensive anchor in the post-Trae Young<\/a> era. The five-year pro finished 18th overall in 9-cat and 7th in High Score this season. He was a nightly triple-double threat, ending the season top-seven in rebounds and top-five in assists per game. As with most players projected to be drafted in this area of the first round, there is some injury risk; however, it\u2019s nothing that would prevent me from selecting him. The Hawks\u2019 revamped roster is exciting and offers plenty of fantasy value across positions for managers next season, beginning with Johnson.<\/p>\n 8. Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves<\/a><\/p>\n Edwards played in at least 72 games in every season except for this one. A runner\u2019s knee limited him to 61 games, but he continues to improve various aspects of his game, increasing his fantasy value. In terms of per-game pedigree, Edwards seldom sits among the rest of this crew. However, his superstar trajectory offers some ceiling expectations that haven\u2019t been reached. Edwards had his best finish in 9-cat (14th) this season and ranked 17th in High Score, averaging 47.8 fantasy points per game. He posted nearly 29 ppg while shooting more efficiently from the field and added over 2 stocks per night. While he certainly is an aesthetically pleasing rising star, I\u2019m confident he has the counting stats and the efficiency potential on both ends to warrant being a top-10 selection next season.<\/p>\n