The 2026-27 fantasy basketball season opens with high-stakes mock drafts, elite player movement, and star-studded poker drafts like the $25K Fantasy Draft at PokerGO Studio, which drew a record 24 teams and a $600,000 prize pool to kick off the World Series of Poker.
Sports and poker fans are diving into high-dollar drafts as the 2026-27 fantasy basketball outlook takes shape alongside the launch of the World Series of Poker prestige tournament events in Las Vegas. RotoWire analysts have released an early top-10 mock draft addressing major offseason player movement, while competitive poker high-rollers have pushed buy-ins and team counts to record highs at the PokerGO Studio.
Nikola Jokić and Victor Wembanyama Lead the 2026-27 Fantasy Basketball Debate
The annual debate at the top of the fantasy draft board centers on whether Victor Wembanyama can finally unseat Nikola Jokić at the 1.01 position. Jokić dominated on a per-game basis during the previous season, though he missed 17 games — snapping a decade-long streak of 12 or fewer absences. Even so, analysts note that durability is not a concern for the 31-year-old Denver star. Meanwhile, Wembanyama continues to block shots at a historic rate and drain three-pointers in bunches, making him a perennial MVP candidate when he meets the games played threshold.
Behind the top two picks, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander holds the third spot following a stellar campaign. The 28-year-old is coming off the most efficient season of his career, boasting a 66.5% true shooting mark. Luka Dončić rounds out the top tier after settling into his first full season with the Lakers. With LeBron James departing to join the Philadelphia 76ers, Dončić enters the upcoming campaign facing an expanded workload alongside backcourt running mate Austin Reaves.
Record Turnout at the $25K Fantasy Draft in PokerGO Studio
Away from the hardwood, the poker world gathered at the PokerGO Studio before the first cards were dealt at Horseshoe and Paris for the World Series of Poker 2026 series. A record 24 teams bought into the high-stakes competition, each paying a $25,000 buy-in to build a massive $600,000 prize pool.
Participants received a fictitious budget of $200 to draft eight players. Points accumulate across the summer through open WSOP tournaments, with Main Event and 50K Players Championship results weighted triple. Five teams will share the prize pool, with the ultimate winner taking home $250,000.
Shaun Deeb Commands Record Buy-In While Daniel Negreanu Drafts Himself
Bidding wars defined the poker draft night, with Shaun Deeb emerging as the most expensive acquisition. Team Trump Power and captain Gary Benson laid out an astronomical $133 for Deeb, who remains a fixture in fantasy poker circles due to his extensive tournament schedule. Michael Moncek followed closely, pulled in by Team Gators for $130, while poker icon Daniel Negreanu spent $116 to draft himself for Team DNegs.
| Player | Draft Price | Drafting Team |
|---|---|---|
| Shaun Deeb | $133 | Team Trump Power |
| Michael Moncek | $130 | Team Gators |
| Daniel Negreanu | $116 | Team DNegs |
| Joao Vieira | $101 | Team Noori |
| Brian Rast | $97 | Team Stake Kings |
| Benny Glaser | $94 | Team Chocolate Factory |
Online legend Viktor Blom commanded $69 from Team Wasserson, while bargain hunters secured elite talent like Jason Koon and Erik Seidel for just $1 each. The final pick of the draft went to Jun Weng, selected by Team Lady Gaga for the last remaining dollar.
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