NBL27 Fantasy Draft Rankings: Top 50 Players for Draft Leagues

Updated: 20 September 2026 — after opening night

Welcome to the first proper Buckets NBL27 Draft rankings.

This is not a SuperCoach list with the prices removed. Draft is a different game.

There is no salary cap to rescue you from a bad pick. There is no ownership percentage to hide behind. You are trying to decide which player you want before somebody else takes him, and that means role security, positional scarcity, durability, upside and the shape of the roster around a player all matter.

These rankings are built for NBL27 fantasy draft leagues and are designed to answer one question: if we were drafting today, who would we want first?

The list uses Buckets' current player roles and preseason evaluations, last season's production where relevant, NBL27 roster context, the Blitz and final preseason hit-outs, and current injury information. It is intentionally role-first rather than reputation-first.

Draft note: exact value will move slightly depending on your league size and scoring settings. Think of the rankings as an overall draft board, not a command to take player No. 17 with exactly the 17th pick.

If you are coming from SuperCoach, the biggest change is simple: price no longer matters. A player can be a brilliant SuperCoach value pick and still be only a middle-round draft target. Likewise, an expensive SuperCoach player can be worth an early draft pick if the production is secure.

For current role context, keep our NBL27 projected starting fives open alongside this list. If injuries are driving a decision, check the Round 1 injury report.

Buckets NBL27 Draft Top 50

Tier 1: First-round cornerstones

1. Bryce Cotton, Adelaide 36ers

Cotton remains the safest answer at No. 1. Adelaide may want to manage the workload a little more intelligently than last season, but that does not change who the offence belongs to. The scoring ceiling is unmatched, the role is bulletproof and his floor remains enormous.

2. Kendric Davis, Sydney Kings

The passport issue that kept Davis out of the Blitz is an annoyance rather than a reason to rewrite his fantasy profile. He is coming off a championship run in which he controlled games as both scorer and creator. If he is on the floor, the ball is in his hands.

3. Parker Jackson-Cartwright, New Zealand Breakers

PJC might have the cleanest fantasy floor of any guard in the competition. He scores enough, creates at an elite level and generates steals. New Zealand added more scoring around him, but that may help the assists more than it hurts his usage.

4. Luke Travers, Melbourne United

Travers is exactly what draft managers should chase: production that does not depend on one category. He can score, rebound, pass, steal and block shots. His Blitz form looked like another step forward, and that all-round profile is particularly valuable in draft because there are fewer ways for his night to disappear.

5. Skylar Mays, South East Melbourne Phoenix

Mays has looked every bit like a lead guard who can immediately sit among the NBL's best fantasy players. He can create for himself, organise others and produce defensively. The presence of Sobey is a feature, not a bug: Phoenix can stagger them without asking either to carry every possession.

6. Nathan Sobey, South East Melbourne Phoenix

Sobey remains one of the league's most explosive fantasy guards. Mays takes some creation pressure away, but Sobey's scoring, assists and steals keep the ceiling elite. There will be nights when either Phoenix guard leads the box score, which is the only reason Sobey is not even higher.

7. Josh Bannan, Tasmania JackJumpers

Bannan is the kind of player draft managers can forget about because he is not a flashy guard, then regret passing on. He averaged nearly a double-double last season and Tasmania still needs his rebounding and interior production every night. The arrival of Taran Armstrong should create easier looks.

8. Kristian Doolittle, Perth Wildcats

Doolittle is one of the safest early-round forwards in the league. He contributes as a scorer, rebounder and passer, does not need a huge usage spike to produce and rarely gets played off the floor. In draft, reliability has real value.

Tier 2: Early-round stars

9. Jo Lual-Acuil Jr., Perth Wildcats

JLA has a legitimate argument to be the first centre drafted. Scoring, rebounding and blocks are all there, and his preseason has only reinforced the ceiling. If you want to lock down centre early, this is the cleanest target.

10. Taran Armstrong, Tasmania JackJumpers

Armstrong has been handed the keys. The preseason combination of scoring and assists suggests the role could translate immediately, and a true lead guard with this much ball-handling responsibility is exactly the archetype worth betting on in draft.

11. Jack McVeigh, Cairns Taipans

McVeigh remains the safest Taipans fantasy pick even after Cairns added more talent around him. He has a secure role, a proven scoring profile and enough rebounding to avoid becoming purely shot-dependent.

12. Will Hickey, Illawarra Hawks

Hickey does a little bit of everything, which is why he continues to score better in fantasy than casual draft boards sometimes expect. He rebounds unusually well for a guard and creates enough offence that even Illawarra's loaded backcourt should not erase his floor.

13. Sam Mennenga, New Zealand Breakers

Last season's leap looks sustainable. Mennenga scores efficiently, rebounds and has moved beyond prospect status into genuine premium-forward territory. There is less uncertainty here than with most players in this range.

14. Arnas Velička, Brisbane Bullets

The EuroCup assists leader has looked at home immediately. Brisbane needs someone to organise the offence, and Velička has already shown the ability to pile up assists while scoring enough himself. The combination creates a very high fantasy ceiling.

15. Zylan Cheatham, Adelaide 36ers

Cheatham is a classic draft-friendly player because he can score without needing to be a first option and fills multiple columns around it. Rebounds, assists and defensive stats make him a strong early-round forward even next to Cotton.

16. Keanu Pinder, Cairns Taipans

If healthy, Pinder belongs around this range every season. He can score, rebound and generate defensive stats at a level few forwards can match. The only thing stopping him climbing into Tier 1 territory is the durability history.

17. Tyrell Harrison, Brisbane Bullets

Harrison is another centre whose per-minute production is easy to trust. He rebounds, finishes efficiently and blocks shots. Health has been the problem, not fantasy ability.

18. Cole Anthony, Melbourne United

At full health, Anthony would be comfortably higher. His NBA résumé and first Melbourne hit-out showed why. The calf issue introduces enough uncertainty that we would rather let someone else take the injury risk in the first round, but the upside from this point becomes very attractive.

Tier 3: Strong starters

This is where drafts are often won. The names are less obvious, but the gap between a player with a secure multi-stat role and one surviving on scoring alone starts to matter.

19. Xavier Cooks, Sydney Kings

Cooks is not dependent on high usage. Rebounding, assists and blocks keep his floor stable even in a deep Kings offence.

20. Milton Doyle, Illawarra Hawks

The Hawks have plenty of creators, but Doyle has already shown he can score efficiently while adding assists, rebounds and steals. He is more than just a scorer and still owns early-round upside if his role settles near the top of Illawarra's guard rotation.

21. Josh Oduro, Melbourne United

Oduro has looked like Melbourne's answer at centre from the jump. The rebounding and rim work are real, and United's spacing should keep the finishing opportunities coming.

22. Nate Hinton, Brisbane Bullets

Hinton's G League profile screamed fantasy value before he arrived, and the preseason has only strengthened the case. He rebounds exceptionally well for a wing and adds steals, which gives him a scoring-independent floor.

23. Sam Froling, Illawarra Hawks

Froling's NBL26 needs context after the Achilles return. At full strength he is a skilled centre who can score, rebound and move the ball. We are buying the bounce-back before the market fully does.

24. Kelan Martin, Illawarra Hawks

Martin has looked exactly like the powerful scoring forward Illawarra recruited. The role is real and the scoring should be steady, with enough rebounding to keep him useful when the shot cools.

25. Jaylon Brown, Cairns Taipans

Brown carries more uncertainty because we have seen less of him in the local preseason, but the role is tantalising. Cairns signed him to run the point and play fast. If that lands, there is top-20 upside here.

26. Max Mackinnon, Brisbane Bullets

Mackinnon has already looked too good to treat like a normal rookie. He can score, handle and rebound, and Brisbane has every reason to give him meaningful minutes. There is risk in a crowded rotation, but also genuine breakout upside.

27. Dejan Vasiljevic, New Zealand Breakers

DJ is a dependable source of scoring and threes with a secure role. He does not have the all-round profile of the guards above him, but the weekly floor should be useful.

28. Charles Bediako, New Zealand Breakers

Bediako's path to draft value is straightforward: rebound, finish, block shots. He does not need plays called for him to matter, and the preseason suggests the role is large enough.

29. Torrey Craig, Sydney Kings

Craig was already productive after joining Sydney last season and should benefit from a full preseason. He gives you points, boards and defensive stats without needing the offence built around him.

30. Elijah Pepper, Perth Wildcats

Pepper is one of the most exciting breakout bets on the board. His NZNBL form was enormous and his Blitz stat lines were fantasy-friendly in more ways than scoring. The eventual shape of Perth's point-guard rotation is the main variable.

Tier 4: Mid-draft value

31. Tyler Harvey, Illawarra Hawks

Harvey remains one of the league's best scorers. The deeper Hawks backcourt adds usage volatility, but the ceiling is still strong enough to draft with confidence here.

32. Brandon Knight, Perth Wildcats

Knight is Perth’s new lead guard, but his value remains provisional until he arrives and the Wildcats show us the final rotation. The upside is obvious: primary creation in a team that badly needed it on opening night. The risk is equally clear after Kristian Doolittle handled seven assists without him. Treat Knight as a stash with strong mid-round upside rather than assuming every possession immediately belongs to him.

33. David Johnson, Tasmania JackJumpers

Johnson flashed a huge scoring ceiling late last season and looks ready for another step. The role still needs to settle, but this is exactly the point in the draft to chase it.

34. Sam Waardenburg, Melbourne United

Waardenburg can score, rebound, pass and stretch the floor. Melbourne's depth caps the usage, while his versatility keeps the fantasy floor useful when healthy.

35. Jordan Hunter, South East Melbourne Phoenix

Hunter is not a glamorous pick, which is part of the appeal. He has a stable starting role and efficient centre production. The frontcourt depth limits the ceiling, but he is a safe way to avoid chasing centre later.

36. Isaac Humphries, Adelaide 36ers

Humphries remains a strong per-minute fantasy centre. Adelaide can manage his minutes and has Rakocevic behind him, so we prefer him as a value pick rather than paying for the theoretical ceiling.

37. D'Shawn Schwartz, South East Melbourne Phoenix

Schwartz has looked comfortable as a starting wing and brings enough scoring and rebounding to matter. The Phoenix guard stars will dominate the ball, but the minutes look secure.

38. Dylan Windler, Perth Wildcats

Windler remains a stash while his foot injury keeps his return date uncertain. When healthy, the threes and rebounding give him a broader fantasy profile than a pure shooter, but availability now matters more than preseason projection. Do not draft him as though the opening absence is already resolved.

39. Nick Marshall, Tasmania JackJumpers

Marshall is efficient, rebounds well for his position and does not need a high-usage role. That profile is perfect for this part of a draft.

40. Malique Lewis, Cairns Taipans

Lewis offers a different kind of upside. The scoring may not be huge, but his defence and rebounding can build strong fantasy nights without needing the offence to run through him.

Tier 5: Late-round upside

41. Andrew Carr, Sydney Kings

Carr's forward/centre flexibility and ability to rebound, pass and shoot make him a useful late roster piece, particularly with Keli Leaupepe unavailable.

42. Dash Daniels, South East Melbourne Phoenix

Daniels is still only 18, but the steals and growing playmaking give him an unusual fantasy pathway for a young guard. The ceiling rises quickly if the minutes do.

43. Angus Glover, South East Melbourne Phoenix

Glover's sixth-man role is not a reason to ignore him. He has looked increasingly comfortable as more than a spot-up shooter and can provide scoring bursts deep in a draft.

44. Reyne Smith, Cairns Taipans

Smith is scoring-dependent but can change a fantasy matchup quickly when the threes fall. This is where that volatility becomes worth buying.

45. Anthony Dell'Orso, Perth Wildcats

Dell'Orso has looked ready for NBL minutes immediately. He can shoot and rebound better than the pure-shooter label suggests, although the eventual Perth point guard signing may reshape his usage.

46. Nick Rakocevic, Adelaide 36ers

Rakocevic is a strong rebound-per-minute big and one of the better late centre options. Humphries caps the role, but there is enough production here to draft as useful depth.

47. Majok Deng, Tasmania JackJumpers

Deng does not carry huge upside, but points, rebounds and defensive stats make him reliable enough to round out a roster.

48. Kouat Noi, New Zealand Breakers

Noi has proven scoring upside and can heat up quickly off the bench. New Zealand's depth is the reason he falls this far, not a lack of talent.

49. Makuach Maluach, Sydney Kings

The late-season development carried into the Blitz. If the shooting and minutes continue to climb, Maluach has a realistic path to beating this ranking.

50. Jaylin Williams, Brisbane Bullets

Williams is a useful all-round forward who should play a real role. The Bullets have plenty of mouths to feed, but his rebounding and passing make him a safer late pick than a pure scorer.

The biggest draft-day values

If the room follows reputation rather than role, these are the players we would be particularly happy to land below this ranking:

• Will Hickey: rebounds and assists give him a brilliant fantasy floor.
• Arnas Velička: a genuine lead guard who could jump another tier quickly.
• Nate Hinton: rebounds and steals make the fantasy profile stronger than the name recognition.
• Max Mackinnon: rookie label may keep the price lower than the role deserves.
• Elijah Pepper: the breakout case is stronger than a traditional late scoring flyer.
• Josh Oduro: centre production with a clearer role than many managers may realise.

The players with the most draft risk

Risk does not mean avoid. It means understand what you are buying.

• Cole Anthony: top-tier talent, but the calf and Melbourne's depth create uncertainty.
• Keanu Pinder: premium ceiling, durability history.
• Tyrell Harrison: same story at centre. The production is excellent when healthy.
• Jaylon Brown: intriguing role, less NBL evidence than most players around him.
• Dylan Windler: strong fantasy profile, recent foot history.
• Isaac Humphries: excellent per-minute player whose actual minutes can frustrate.

Just missed the Top 50

The cut gets uncomfortable quickly. Chris Goulding, Matthew Dellavedova, Tanner Krebs, Joe Ingles, Darius Days, Jonah Bolden, Akech Aliir, Jayden Stone, Will Johnston and Tom Wilson are all draftable in the right league size or scoring setup.

Ingles is the most obvious name people will ask about. We are ranking the likely NBL27 fantasy role, not the NBA résumé, and Melbourne has enough depth that we want to see the minutes and ankle first. Goulding remains an elite real-life scorer, but lighter peripheral production makes him more scoring-dependent than the players at the bottom of our Top 50.

Draft rankings are not SuperCoach rankings

This distinction matters enough to repeat.

In SuperCoach, salary and cash generation can make a cheaper player more valuable than an established star. In draft, the only price is the pick you spend. That changes the calculation completely.

We care more about:

• secure minutes
• repeatable usage
• assists, rebounds and defensive stats that survive cold shooting nights
• positional scarcity
• health and role certainty
• the chance a player materially outperforms where the room is likely to take him

That is why this board will never perfectly match our NBL27 SuperCoach Top 50, and it should not.

How often will these rankings change?

Constantly.

The first few rounds will answer questions that preseason cannot. Roles will settle, injuries will change rotations and a few players currently outside the Top 50 will force their way in quickly.

We will keep this page updated as NBL27 develops rather than treating the preseason ranking as permanent.

NBL27 Fantasy Draft Rankings FAQ

Who should be the No. 1 pick in NBL27 fantasy draft?

Bryce Cotton is our current No. 1. Kendric Davis and Parker Jackson-Cartwright are close, but Cotton still owns the combination of role security and elite scoring that makes him the safest first selection.

Is this the same as the NBL27 SuperCoach Top 50?

No. SuperCoach rankings need to account for salary, value and cash generation. These rankings are specifically for draft leagues, where every player can be selected without a salary cap.

How should I use tiers during my draft?

Do not obsess over one-place differences. If three players remain in the same tier, you can usually let positional need or personal preference break the tie. The important drop is often between tiers, not between adjacent ranking numbers.

When should I draft a centre?

Do not force one purely because of position, but premium centres become scarce quickly. Jo Lual-Acuil Jr., Tyrell Harrison and Josh Oduro are particularly valuable because the gap to the later centre pool becomes meaningful.

Who is the best breakout target?

Arnas Velička, Max Mackinnon, Nate Hinton, Elijah Pepper and Josh Oduro are five of our favourite players to beat their likely draft position.

What happens if my league uses custom scoring?

The board will move. Heavy bonuses for assists, blocks, double-doubles or other categories can materially change value. Use this as the overall Buckets baseline, then adjust for your league settings.

What to read next

• NBL27 Projected Starting Fives: Every Team's Lineup & SuperCoach Outlook
• NBL27 Final Preseason Stock Report
• NBL27 Round 1 Injury Report
• NBL27 SuperCoach Top 50

Next, read our NBL27 Fantasy Draft Strategy: How to Win Your Draft for roster construction, positional runs, when to reach, when to wait and how to avoid leaving draft night with five versions of the same player.

Buckets is an independent fantasy basketball platform. Rankings are editorial analysis and will change as roles, injuries and form change through NBL27.

Late preseason changes to the draft board

Three developments have changed this ranking since the first version. Brandon Knight has signed with Perth to become the Wildcats’ lead guard, but is unlikely to play in Round 1 while his arrival is finalised. Dylan Windler is out with a foot injury, return TBC, which makes him a stash rather than a normal mid-round selection. And Josiah-Jordan James is out for four to six weeks with a torn hamstring, so he drops out of the Top 50 entirely.

Mojave King has reportedly joined New Zealand as James’ injury replacement. King is an experienced NBL rotation player, but until his Round 1 availability and role are confirmed we are treating him as a watchlist name rather than forcing him into the Top 50.

The important draft principle is simple: availability changes price, not just ranking. Knight can still be worth drafting if the room discounts the opening absence. Windler can still be worth stashing if your bench is deep enough. James should not be drafted as though he is available in September.