Six college hoops scribes staged an eight-round, snake-style fantasy draft focused on college performance from 1999-2000 onward, selecting seven players and a head coach. Anthony Davis led off, followed by Zion Williamson and Kevin Durant in the top picks, forming a fearsome frontcourt and guard core built on elite college resumes and championship pedigree rather than NBA careers. The piece highlights how college-impact players, not draft stock or pro ceilings, power this fictional roster, with debates about defense, playmaking, and title resumes shaping each pick.

The writeups mix star-power with strategic fit: Davis-Oden anchor a two-way frontcourt, Brunson and Walker provide guard firepower, and the coaching choices (Self, Pitino, Wright) underscore the chess-like side of building a winner in college fantasy. The exercise stakes depth and championship culture over mere upside, delivering a playful yet thoughtful lens on college basketball’s most impactful performers of the last 25 years.

In the end, the draft isn’t just about the NBA futures of these players; it’s about which college performances translate into fantasy points and championships in a hypothetical seven-man grid, with coaching pedigree and historic trophies weighing as much as raw scoring ability. It’s a nostalgic, data-driven sprint through college hoops’ most influential juggernauts.

Houston enters next season as a premier Western Conference contender, pairing Alperen Sengun and Amen Thompson with Kevin Durant and a deep mix of youth and experience. Reed Sheppard is earmarked for bigger bench reps, while Russell Westbrook remains unsigned and the Rockets weigh whether a reunion would help or hinder development. Minutes, fit, and roster gymnastics will shape the Rockets’ ceiling in a brutal West.

Key questions loom: can Houston sustain continuity while accelerating Sheppard’s growth, and would adding Westbrook disrupt or accelerate the second unit? Durant’s presence changes spacing and late-game dynamics, but the roster must balance development with a title-or-bust mindset, navigating roster spots and chemistry as the West stiffens.

Eurobasket delivered a Jokic–Sengun showcase: Serbia vs Turkey became a high‑drama airing of two big‑man maestros, with Sengun flashing Jokic‑style vision and footwork as he pushed Turkey toward a key win. The near‑triple‑double display, plus the playful “Baby Jokic” chatter, underscored Sengun’s growing ceiling even as veteran parallels with Jokic are debated. Shane Larkin’s take trimmed the nickname, but the rising star’s confidence and playmaking will fuel Rockets’ projections this season, especially with Durant’s saga circling Houston.

Houston’s late‑summer buzz around Durant pairs with Sengun’s maturation, while Jokic remains the steadying force for Serbia. The November 21 Houston‑at‑Denver matchup looms as a microcosm of the season: Sengun’s usage and decision‑making, Jokic’s mastery, and Durant’s potential impact will frame fantasy leagues and betting boards alike as the NBA horizon meets international spectacle.

Durant remains among the game’s most lethal scorers and now anchors a Rockets squad that aims to pair elite offense with a renewed, defense-first identity. Amen Thompson and Sengun form a dynamic frontcourt duo with Adams protecting the rim, while Dorian Finney-Smith and Durant spacing the floor. The defense looks to trend top-five again, potentially unlocking Durant’s stamina and elevating Houston’s ceiling for fantasy impact across scorers, passers, and multipliers.

Durant’s path to a top-five all-time scoring finish stays in play, even at 36, as the Rockets lean into a zone-heavy, hard-nosed approach that lets Durant conserve energy on defense while still dominating on offense. The mix of Durant’s gravity, Sengun’s playmaking, and Thompson’s burst could make Houston a sleeper for fantasy managers who chase high-usage stars paired with a stifling defense.

Porter Jr. arrives in Brooklyn aiming to expand his impact, with the Nets banking on his veteran leadership and scoring efficiency as they rebuild around a high-character culture. His on-court value is undeniable, but his off-court persona has sparked significant PR scrutiny in a marquee NYC market. Nets staff must balance Porter’s high usage upside with the risk of distraction, especially given a $79.4 million two-year commitment and a duty to protect locker-room harmony during a pivotal season.

Fantasy players should weigh Porter’s proven shooting (around 50% FG and near 40% from deep last season) and potential for a larger role against the potential for public-relations noise to cap him. Brooklyn’s strategic path will shape his ceiling—whether he remains a primary scorer or slides into a complementary, high-usage role that could still yield top-20 fantasy value if he avoids off-court distractions and stays healthy.