The inaugural NBA High Score Creator League draft is officially in the books, and let me tell you, it was a ride. Yahoo experts are coming together with some of the biggest NBA creators to compete in a Yahoo High Score fantasy basketball league. Follow along all season to see who outplays who, and eventually who gets crowned the champion.
Going into it, I thought I had a solid plan. Then the draft started, and, well, you know how it goes. Everyone’s strategy gets thrown into a blender. Let’s break down what happened with some insights on how the draft unfolded.
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Frontcourt dominates early-round selections
Frontcourt players commanded the early spotlight, with 33 of the first 50 picks coming from F/C-eligible players. While I’ve been preaching that guards are more valuable, I may have underestimated how the High Score format’s requirement for filling three starting frontcourt slots created a scarcity that influenced early picks.
Dual eligibility: Flexibility drives value
Nine of 10 teams selected at least one dual-eligible G/F/C player, offering flexibility that becomes vital over the course of the season. These multi-position contributors — such as Jaylen Brown, Desmond Bane, Scottie Barnes, Paul George and Shaedon Sharpe — bring lineup adaptability along with well-rounded stat lines. There are 22 players with dual eligibility in the High Score Top 150.
Late-Round observations: Injury list stashes and more
Across 10 rounds, the positional rhythm of the draft revealed intentional roster construction. While F/Cs dominated the early rounds (including a 90% frontcourt surge in Round 5), the final five rounds (Rounds 6–10) saw a near-even split — 26 F/Cs and 24 Guards — as teams adjusted to their roster needs and the remaining player pool.
Managers used these later rounds to scoop up secondary guards, dual-eligible wings and injury stashes. Scoring guards like Anfernee Simons, Jordan Poole and Cam Thomas, versatile wings like Alex Sarr and Bennedict Mathurin, and lottery-ticket breakout players like Matas Buzelis and Jaden Ivey highlighted the value-hunting process.
Here is each team’s full draft:
Team 1: NBA Recap Pod
1.01 – Nikola Jokić (DEN, FC)
2.20 – Jaylen Brown (BOS – G,FC)
3.21 – Josh Giddey (CHI – G)
4.40 – Franz Wagner (ORL – FC)
5.41 – Michael Porter Jr. (BKN – FC)
6.60 – Darius Garland (CLE – G)
7.61 – Kel’el Ware (MIA – FC)
8.80 – Matas Buzelis (CHI – FC)
9.81 – Alex Sarr (WAS – FC)
10.100 – Jayson Tatum (BOS – FC)
Team 2: Dan Titus
1.02 – Giannis Antetokounmpo (MIL – FC)
2.19 – Amen Thompson (HOU – G,FC)
3.22 – Tyrese Maxey (PHI – G)
4.39 – Ja Morant (MEM – G)
5.42 – Deni Avdija (POR – FC)
6.59 – Jalen Duren (DET – FC)
7.62 – Jalen Green (PHX – G)
8.79 – Shaedon Sharpe (POR – G,FC)
9.82 – Andrew Nembhard (IND – G)
10.99 – Santi Aldama (MEM – FC)
Team 3: NBAinDepth
1.03 – Victor Wembanyama (SAS – FC)
2.18 – Jalen Brunson (NYK – G)
3.23 – Stephen Curry (GSW – G)
4.38 – Zion Williamson (NOP – FC)
5.43 – Ivica Zubac (LAC – FC)
6.58 – Brandon Ingram (TOR – G, FC)
7.63 – DeMar DeRozan (SAC – FC)
8.78 – Cam Thomas (BKN – G,FC)
9.83 – Jordan Poole (NOP – G)
10.98 – Kevin Porter Jr. (MIL – G)
Team 4: Justin Henry
1.04 – Luka Dončić (LAL – G)
2.17 – Alperen Sengun (HOU – FC)
3.24 – Chet Holmgren (OKC – FC)
4.37 – Dyson Daniels (ATL – G, FC)
5.44 – Joel Embiid (PHI – FC)
6.57 – Nikola Vučević (CHI – FC)
7.64 – Myles Turner (MIL – FC)
8.77 – Payton Pritchard (BOS – G)
9.84 – Rudy Gobert (MIN – FC)
10.97 – Mikal Bridges (NYK – FC)
Team 5: The Dream Team
1.05 – Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (OKC – G)
2.16 – LaMelo Ball (CHA – G)
3.25 – Kristaps Porziņģis (ATL – FC)
4.36 – Ace Bailey (UTA – FC)
5.45 – De’Aaron Fox (SAS – G)
6.56 – Aaron Gordon (DEN – FC)
7.65 – Zach LaVine (SAC – G)
8.76 – Kyrie Irving (DAL – G)
9.85 – Naz Reid (MIN – FC)
10.96 – Stephon Castle (SAS – G)
Team 6: Zone Defense
1.06 – Anthony Davis (DAL – FC)
2.15 – Evan Mobley (CLE – FC)
3.26 – Donovan Mitchell (CLE – G)
4.35 – Paolo Banchero (ORL – FC)
5.46 – Jaren Jackson Jr. (MEM – FC)
6.55 – Walker Kessler (UTA – FC)
7.66 – Jaylen Wells (MEM – G, FC)
8.75 – Ausar Thompson (DET – FC)
9.86 – Dejounte Murray (NOP – G)
10.95 – Jaden Ivey (DET – G)
Team 7: Strictly BBall
1.07 – Cade Cunningham (DET – G)
2.14 – Kevin Durant (HOU – FC)
3.27 – Jalen Williams (OKC – FC)
4.34 – Derrick White (BOS – G)
5.47 – Desmond Bane (ORL – G, FC)
6.54 – Jimmy Butler III (GSW – FC)
7.67 – Lauri Markkanen (UTA – FC)
8.74 – Paul George (PHI – G, FC)
9.87 – OG Anunoby (NYK – FC)
10.94 – Bradley Beal (LAC – G, FC)
Team 8: Hoop Venue
1.08 – Karl-Anthony Towns (NYK – FC)
2.13 – James Harden (LAC – G)
3.28 – Jalen Johnson (ATL – FC)
4.33 – Jamal Murray (DEN – G)
5.48 – Trey Murphy III (NOP – FC)
6.53 – Tyler Herro (MIA – G)
7.68 – Josh Hart (NYK – G, FC)
8.73 – Julius Randle (MIN – FC)
9.88 – Isaiah Hartenstein (OKC – FC)
10.93 – RJ Barrett (TOR – FC)
Team 9: Nooners
1.09 – Anthony Edwards (MIN – G)
2.12 – Domantas Sabonis (SAC – FC)
3.29 – Pascal Siakam (IND – FC)
4.32 – Scottie Barnes (TOR – G,FC)
5.49 – Brandon Miller (CHA – FC)
6.52 – Cooper Flagg (DAL – FC)
7.69 – Coby White (CHI – G)
8.72 – Deandre Ayton (LAL – FC)
9.89 – Anfernee Simons (BOS – G)
10.92 – Bennedict Mathurin (IND – G,FC)
Team 10: Kevin O’Connor
1.10 – Devin Booker (PHX – G)
2.11 – Trae Young (ATL – G)
3.30 – LeBron James (LAL – FC)
4.31 – Bam Adebayo (MIA – FC)
5.50 – Kawhi Leonard (LAC – FC)
6.51 – Austin Reaves (LAL – G)
7.70 – Miles Bridges (CHA – FC)
8.71 – Jarrett Allen (CLE – FC)
9.90 – Immanuel Quickley (TOR – G)
10.91 – Norman Powell (MIA – G,FC)
