25/26 Pairing Guides – Part 1

Deciding who to pair your first-round pick with will be one of the most important decisions you will make during your draft. Not every second-round pick fits well with every first-round pick, and a less-than-ideal pairing can get you into trouble. Below are some first- and second-round pairings that complement each other well. I’ve broken them down by first-round pick and punting strategy. I’ve also included a breakdown of where you will stand after the second round if you start with one of the below pairings. That will make it easier to figure out which categories you need to focus on during the middle rounds.

I’ve compared each pairing’s projected numbers to the projected average numbers of the 24 players I think will make up the first two rounds of most competitive 12-team drafts. There are a few players on this list who have the potential to fall into the third, but at least 20 of these players will be off the board by the end of the second in the majority of standard league drafts.

The players that I have included in these calculations are: Nikola Jokic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Victor Wembanyama, Luka Doncic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Anthony Davis, Tyrese Maxey, Karl-Anthony Towns, Anthony Edwards, Stephen Curry, Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, Jalen Williams, Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, LaMelo Ball, Scottie Barnes, James Harden, Domantas Sabonis, Cade Cunningham, Trae Young, LeBron James, Jalen Brunson, Paolo Banchero

Average Projected Numbers of the likely Top-24 Players: 24.7 PPG, 2.3 3PG, 7.1 RPG, 6.2 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.8 BPG, 48.8 FG%, 80.9 FT%, 3.0 TOPG

Note: The average FT% of the top 24, if we exclude Giannis Antetokounmpo, is 82.5%. That is a better benchmark to use for determining whether or not a pairing is below average or above average in the category.

*I have added a Roto tag to pairings that work well in that format.

Luka Doncic (Pick 4-5)

Punt FT%

Luka Doncic/Evan Mobley (Roto)

Above average in Threes, Rebounds, Steals, Blocks, FG%

Average in Points, Turnovers

Below average in Assists

• This is close to a perfect start in punt FT%. The slightly below-average start in dimes is not an issue. If you take an above-average source of assists in round three, you will be near the top of the standings in the category. This is a strong start for a pairing that includes a big in points, steals, and especially threes. That’s key given the build’s natural weakness in those categories. This pairing also puts your squad in an average position in turnovers. If you avoid taking another 3.0 TOPG guard, you should be able to finish the draft in a clearly above-average position in the category. With a big man already on your squad, you’ll want to target guards or players who produce big numbers in the guard categories with three of your next four picks. Take your second big in the fifth or the sixth. Doncic’s four-game Week 18 schedule makes Mobley’s two-game Week 18 schedule less of an issue in leagues that begin their playoffs early.

2025-2026 Pairing Guide – Part 1

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