Category-by-category for 2026-27, using per-game projections scored against the draftable pool. LaMelo Ball is the better 9-cat player this season, by 0.77 of total value. He takes 5 of the nine categories, gaining most in Threes made and Assists, and gives ground in Field goal percentage and Turnovers.
| Category | Desmond Bane | LaMelo Ball | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Points | 20.4 | 22.5 | LaMelo Ball by 0.41 |
| Rebounds | 4.3 | 5.5 | LaMelo Ball by 0.48 |
| Assists | 4.1 | 7.4 | LaMelo Ball by 1.64 |
| Steals | 1.1 | 1.4 | LaMelo Ball by 0.91 |
| Blocks | 0.4 | 0.3 | Desmond Bane by 0.30 |
| Threes made | 2.3 | 3.9 | LaMelo Ball by 1.66 |
| Field goal percentage | 0.482 | 0.416 | Desmond Bane by 2.03 |
| Free throw percentage | 0.904 | 0.875 | Desmond Bane by 0.60 |
| Turnovers | 2.2 | 3.2 | Desmond Bane by 1.36 |
| Total 9-cat value | +0.94 | +1.71 | LaMelo Ball |
| Overall rank | 43 | 28 | |
| Status | Available | Available |
Full profiles: Desmond Bane and LaMelo Ball. To compare any other players, or to see who actually plays tonight, use Start or Sit.
LaMelo Ball is the better 9-cat player this season, by 0.77 of total value. He takes 5 of the nine categories, gaining most in Threes made and Assists, and gives ground in Field goal percentage and Turnovers.
Per-game projections for 2026-27 converted to z-scores against the draftable pool, one per category, then totalled. A positive z means above the pool average in that category. No editorial judgement is applied.
Not necessarily. This page is 9-cat. Points leagues ignore the percentage categories and treat turnovers differently, which usually favours high-usage scorers. Switch format on the rankings page to see the other view.
Projections already carry an expected minutes load, but they cannot price a player who is ruled out. Current status is shown beside each name, so check it before acting.