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 1.05 of total value. He takes 5 of the nine categories, gaining most in Steals and Threes made, and gives ground in Field goal percentage and Turnovers.
| Category | Jalen Brunson | LaMelo Ball | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Points | 25.7 | 22.5 | Jalen Brunson by 0.60 |
| Rebounds | 3.3 | 5.5 | LaMelo Ball by 0.90 |
| Assists | 6.8 | 7.4 | LaMelo Ball by 0.26 |
| Steals | 0.8 | 1.4 | LaMelo Ball by 1.71 |
| Blocks | 0.1 | 0.3 | LaMelo Ball by 0.28 |
| Threes made | 2.5 | 3.9 | LaMelo Ball by 1.39 |
| Field goal percentage | 0.475 | 0.416 | Jalen Brunson by 1.78 |
| Free throw percentage | 0.840 | 0.875 | Even |
| Turnovers | 2.4 | 3.2 | Jalen Brunson by 1.12 |
| Total 9-cat value | +0.66 | +1.71 | LaMelo Ball |
| Overall rank | 51 | 28 | |
| Status | Available | Available |
Full profiles: Jalen Brunson 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 1.05 of total value. He takes 5 of the nine categories, gaining most in Steals and Threes made, 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.