The No Ceilings team has joined forces with Yahoo Sports and the NBA for a 12-team fantasy basketball league, bringing its entire crew together to compete for the championship and some serious bragging rights. With multiple general managers teaming up on certain rosters, the group is breaking down its draft results, must-have players, missed targets and biggest steals of the season.
Key Takeaways from the No Ceilings Fantasy Draft
12-team fantasy league: The No Ceilings crew is competing in a public NBA fantasy basketball league hosted with Yahoo Sports.
Draft grades revealed: Team managers rate their rosters from B- to A, assessing star power, depth and potential upside.
Must-have players: Jayson Tatum, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Tyrese Maxey feature among the managers’ top draft targets.
Biggest draft steals: LeBron James, Joel Embiid, Paul George and Ty Jerome stand out among the players managers believe offered strong value in later rounds.
No Ceilings Joins Yahoo Sports for Fantasy Basketball League
The No Ceilings team is putting its NBA knowledge to the test in a 12-team fantasy basketball league organised in partnership with the NBA and Yahoo Sports. The entire team has come together for the competition, with some rosters managed by multiple general managers working towards the same goal: winning the championship.
The league is publicly accessible, allowing fans to check every team's roster and follow the competition throughout the season.
To break down the draft, members of the No Ceilings team participated in a fantasy basketball roundtable, evaluating their own selections while discussing the players they targeted, missed out on and managed to secure at excellent value.
No Ceilings Fantasy Basketball Draft Grades
The managers offered a range of draft grades, with several confident that their combination of established stars, depth and breakout candidates could make their teams competitive.
Rucker awarded himself an A, highlighting his opening selections of Jayson Tatum and Jalen Brunson before adding Kevin Durant and LeBron James. His strategy focused on high-upside players early, followed by value picks and positional depth in the later rounds.
Nathan gave his roster a B, pointing to the potential of Cooper Flagg, Tyrese Maxey, Devin Booker and Amen Thompson. He also selected Joel Embiid, Ivica Zubac and Jarrett Allen, although the health of his players and the development of his less-established depth remain concerns.
Albert settled on an A-, with Toumani Camara among his favourite late-round selections. He also took a chance on Anthony Davis and selected rookies Darryn Peterson, Brayden Burries and Mikel Brown Jr., whom he expects to have opportunities to contribute.
Other managers were similarly optimistic. Corey initially gave his team a B before reconsidering after selecting Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kon Knueppel, Tyler Herro and Julius Randle. Paige and Izzy awarded their roster a B+, with Nikola Jokić leading their team after they secured the first overall pick.
Jacob and Finn gave themselves an A-, citing Victor Wembanyama, roster depth and breakout potential. Stephen and Jam both settled on B+ grades for their shared team, while Owen gave his roster an A, pointing to Tyrese Haliburton, Deni Avdija and Chet Holmgren as key players.
Ignacio and Latif also awarded their team a B+, led by Jalen Johnson, Stephen Curry and Walker Kessler. Rowan and Parker were more cautious, giving themselves a B- despite having Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Evan Mobley at the core of their roster.
Must-Have Players: Tatum, Giannis and SGA Lead the Picks
When asked which player they most wanted to draft, the managers highlighted a mix of established NBA stars, versatile contributors and promising young talents.
Rucker identified Jayson Tatum as his top target, believing the forward could deliver an outstanding season. Nathan was particularly keen to land Tyrese Maxey in the second round, valuing his scoring, versatility and ability to contribute across multiple statistical categories.
Albert selected Karl-Anthony Towns, anticipating that his offensive role with the New York Knicks could translate into strong production across points, rebounds, assists and three-pointers. Metcalf, meanwhile, made an early move for rookie Cam Boozer, believing his all-around numbers would continue to improve.
For Corey, Giannis Antetokounmpo was the priority because of his ability to contribute across the statistical categories. Paige and Izzy targeted Caleb Wilson, while Finn highlighted Milwaukee Bucks guard Ryan Rollins as a player he believes could develop into a cornerstone for his team.
Stephen chose rookie AJ Dybantsa, while Jam prioritised Domantas Sabonis, expecting his versatility and triple-double potential to provide value. Owen highlighted Brandin Podziemski as a late-round target who could contribute in scoring, rebounding and defensive statistics without excessive turnovers.
Ignacio and Latif focused on Jalen Johnson, while Rowan and Parker selected Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for his consistent scoring, playmaking, rebounding and defensive contributions.
Biggest Draft Misses: Cameron Boozer and Tyrese Maxey Stand Out
The roundtable also revealed several players the managers hoped to draft but lost to competing teams. Cameron Boozer was one of the most frequently mentioned names. Nathan, Albert and Corey all wanted the rookie, with each believing his well-rounded game and potential statistical production could make him a valuable fantasy selection.
Rucker narrowly missed out on Stephon Castle, while Metcalf wanted Jalen Williams. Nick was disappointed when Nathan selected Tyrese Maxey one pick before his turn, particularly with the two teams scheduled to face each other in Week One.
Other missed targets included Matas Buzelis for Paige and Izzy, Julius Randle for Finn, and Dyson Daniels or Ausar Thompson for Stephen. Jam identified Trae Young as his preferred target, while Owen had hoped to secure Reed Sheppard.
Ignacio and Latif also missed several of their initial targets after Cade Cunningham, Cooper Flagg, Tyrese Haliburton and Anthony Edwards were selected in the four picks immediately before their first-round selection. Rowan and Parker, meanwhile, had been interested in Ty Jerome but missed the opportunity to draft him.
Biggest Fantasy Basketball Draft Steals
Several managers pointed to late-round selections they believe could outperform their draft positions, highlighting the importance of finding value beyond the early rounds.
Rucker named LeBron James, whom he selected in the fifth round, as one of his biggest steals. Despite his age, Rucker believes James can continue producing consistently in fantasy basketball.
Nathan highlighted Joel Embiid, whom he drafted in the eighth round. He believes Embiid's scoring, rebounding and shot-blocking could make the centre a valuable pick if he remains healthy enough to contribute consistently.
Albert pointed to Toumani Camara, whose defensive contributions and offensive development made him an appealing late-round choice. Metcalf also praised his sixth- and seventh-round selections of Zach Edey and Nickeil Alexander-Walker.
Other managers identified Ajay Mitchell, Ja Morant, Ayo Dosunmu and Ryan Rollins as potential bargains. Stephen and Jam both singled out Paul George, whom they selected in the 10th round, while Owen highlighted rookie Dylan Harper as a strong fifth-round pick.
Ty Jerome was another popular choice, with Ignacio and Latif selecting him in the ninth round. Rowan and Parker also viewed Jerome as a potential steal, pointing to his per-minute production and pick-and-roll efficiency while acknowledging his injury history.
With their draft grades submitted and their key picks identified, the No Ceilings managers will look to see which selections live up to expectations as the fantasy basketball season progresses.