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.

Brooklyn locks in Day’Ron Sharpe on a two-year, 12.5M deal with a second-year option, preserving frontcourt depth as the Nets rebuild. Sharpe, 23, posted 7.9 PPG and 6.6 RPG in about 18 minutes per game last season and should push for minutes in 2025-26.

Additionally, Brooklyn adds EJ Liddell on a two-way deal, boosting versatility on the wings/forward spot. The moves reflect a focus on youth with cap flexibility, giving the Nets room to develop while preserving options if the timeline shifts.

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.

Ben Simmons remains unsigned with just over a month until the 2025-26 season, drawing interest from the Knicks and several other teams, while he weighs whether to play again. The 29-year-old has a storied peak but a brutal injury stretch that kept him out for long spells, making his fantasy upside a true health lottery. If the Knicks or any bidder signs him, his fantasy value hinges on role and minutes, not just raw stats, given his elite defense and playmaking but limited scoring.

Rumors have tied Boston, Phoenix and Sacramento to him, with Denver brushing him off in playoffs-era chatter. The Clippers are still the most recent stop after a February buyout, yet nothing is guaranteed. Fantasy managers should monitor landing spots, cap space, and how each team would use him off the ball and in driving creating lines, since a secure role could unlock sporadic but impactful stat lines.

NBA's 2025-26 media rights shift TV games from TNT to NBC and Amazon, with Peacock and Prime Video streaming much of the slate. The move raises questions for fans and fantasy players who must locate games and manage scheduling across platforms.

Charles Barkley voices sharp skepticism, arguing the deal prioritizes network money over fan access and could complicate Inside The NBA as it moves to ESPN. Suns context frames the potential impact on timing and visibility, underscoring how platform changes may influence fantasy monitoring and nightly decision making.