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 1.14 of total value. He takes 4 of the nine categories, gaining most in Threes made and Steals, and gives ground in Field goal percentage and Free throw percentage.
| Category | James Harden | LaMelo Ball | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Points | 18.9 | 22.5 | LaMelo Ball by 0.70 |
| Rebounds | 4.7 | 5.5 | LaMelo Ball by 0.31 |
| Assists | 7.5 | 7.4 | Even |
| Steals | 1.1 | 1.4 | LaMelo Ball by 0.78 |
| Blocks | 0.5 | 0.3 | James Harden by 0.45 |
| Threes made | 2.6 | 3.9 | LaMelo Ball by 1.34 |
| Field goal percentage | 0.424 | 0.416 | James Harden by 0.83 |
| Free throw percentage | 0.880 | 0.875 | James Harden by 0.74 |
| Turnovers | 3.3 | 3.2 | Even |
| Total 9-cat value | +0.57 | +1.71 | LaMelo Ball |
| Overall rank | 53 | 28 | |
| Status | Available | Available |
Full profiles: James Harden 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 1.14 of total value. He takes 4 of the nine categories, gaining most in Threes made and Steals, and gives ground in Field goal percentage and Free throw percentage.
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.