2025 Pre-Season: Russell

After a nice and easy 2025 draft, we're here to look at the new SlamNation season! Good luck everyone! [ 2025 Chamberlain | 2024 End of Season: Playoff Teams | Toilet Bowl Teams ]

TeamID - Abbrev - Name (2024 Record, 2023 Record)

#1 FJUB Fat Jubas (10-8, 12-7-1)

Having made their mark in last season’s playoffs by pulling off a huge first round upset over the twin seven-foot rookies from SPDE, FJUB was only slightly disappointed to be upset themselves in the next round by eighth-seeded SQSQ.

Heading into 2025 with their playoff streak intact—ten in a row, and having only missed one playoffs ever—FJUB is actually a totally brand new team after last season’s moves. From a keeper roster that featured Fred VanVleet and Brook Lopez to one that is now headlined by Trae Young and Karl-Anthony Towns, FJUB has dramatically transformed their keeper core—replaced all six plaeyrs—in a way that SlamNation has rarely seen. While the new core didn’t rate that high on our recent keepers tiers analysis, there’s no denying that FJUB’s future is very bright as they chase their third title.

Headlined by the NBA’s first overall pick, Zaccharie Risacher (2025 RD1.10)—FJUB’s draft also brought in Keon Ellis as an intriguing three-and-D piece, along with Grayson Allen and Corey Kispert as floor spacers. While Herb Jones and Isaiah Hartenstein are defensive stalwarts, the FJUB roster is constructed to be offense-first, with Young, Towns, Bradley Beal, and Collin Sexton firing away. It’ll be interesting to see if this brand-new FJUB can continue the success of a proud franchise that is always in the contender mix, regardless of what the prognosticators say.

#2 CHMK (8-9-1, 8-12)

A pair of eight-win seasons and three years out of the playoffs marks a nadir for the CHMK franchise. Despite two straight Toilet Bowl wins in 2022-23, CHMK managed to only pull Jabari Smith (2023 RD1.1) and Amen Thompson (2024 RD1.3) from the lottery grab bag. Smith was traded after his rookie year and while Thompson has lots of promise, he certainly wasn’t last year’s rookie of the year, even accounting for Wemby-mania.

However, despite those top of the draft misfires, CHMK has been outstanding in mining Jalens, with the results speaking for themselves as they now have Anthony Edwards and Alperen Sengun after cashing in two three-for-one trades last season. Edwards accelerated to mega-superstardom incredibly quickly and is now poised for an MVP-type season. The defensive backbone of Bam Adebayo and Evan Mobley are also second to none and adding Jalen Suggs (RD2.9) will further give them a point of attack.

To put themselves back into the playoff picture however, CHMK is counting on a bounceback season from Jamal Murray, further growth from Thompson, and the mercurial D’Angelo Russell (RD1.5) to support the main core. Taylor Hendricks (RD3.6) was a great upside pick but we feel like Mike Conley (RD2.11) is about to be the washed king soon, as he’ll likely be on a minutes restriction in Minnesota.  The additions of Tari Eason and Norman Powell are nice value picks though. The intriguing news: someone drafted Bronny James (RD6.11) and it wasn’t a Lakers fan, shocking! Here’s hoping we get to see Ant-Man in the 2025 Slam playoffs!

#3 FUNK (8-9-1, 12-8)

After six straight playoff appearances, FUNK dipped back into the Toilet Bowl. The silver lining was that they made it to the Toilet Bowl Finals and due to the SWMP Rule, “earned” the top pick in the 2025 draft. In a year with no clear standouts however, FUNK chose to go with Reed Sheppard at number overall pick, and belatedly realized he was not categorized as a point guard. Pre-draft, FUNK had already traded away Dejounte Murray—straight up for Lauri Markkanen—leading to a draft that unfurled with plenty of guard options.

The two-headed monster duo of Terry Rozier (RD2.12) and Dennis Schroder (RD3.5) will have to handle point duties for the strong forward core of the team, featuring new NBA champion Jayson Tatum, Markannen, OG Anunoby, and Trey Murphy III. With Devin Vassell ailing, the rest of FUNK’s draft was more guards—Malik Monk and Jordan Clarkson—as they have semi-floor spacers Myles Turner and Wendell Carter Jr. manning the middle.

Once a team full of up-and-coming franchise level stars, FUNK find themselves in a transitional year as they look to get back into the playoffs with a roster that is young vet heavy but light on upside, minus Sheppard. This is a roster built to win now, the question will be if they can?

#4 UFOS (1-17, 3-16-1)

It took a few months for UFOS to find their footing, but by the end of the season, UFOS got a better handle on the complicated Games Played cap and should roll into their sophomore season with a better grasp of how to play with the big boys.

Rolling over almost all of their keepers from the 2024 dispersal draft—only adding Onyeka Okongwu in place of Cameron Johnson—UFOS made a huge splash pre-draft, moving on from Damian Lillard, their only true blue star player. In return, UFOS acquired Immanuel Quickley, whose youth will much better align with the rest of this squad.

The frontline of Jabari Smith Jr., Jarrett Allen, Okongwu, and Nic Claxton is rock solid, and the clear strength of this team. Josh Giddey was tossed aside by Oklahoma City but drafted at 2025 RD1.4 by UFOS, who clearly have big hopes for his multi-purpose stats in Chicago. Sophomores Bilal Coulibaly (RD2.15) and Brandin Podziemski (RD3.2) will be given even more opportunity to shine, and another fellow sophomore, Jarace Walker (RD5.2) has talent if not a direct line to playing time.

Also, rookies Bub Carrington and Rob Dillingham were brought on board for a full youth movement. With Quickley and Jordan Poole—who can’t be worse than last season—alongside the big centers, UFOS have defined strengths at least to pick up a few more wins that last season. With their feet now wet from their first fantasy basketball experience, UFOS will look to build and grow!

#5 TRUO (5-13, 4-15-1)

It’s been a long six seasons of single digit wins for TRUO, and their previous string of playoff appearances are far behind them in the rearview mirror. When can they start their re-ascent? With De’Aaron Fox and Jalen Green in the fold, at least the backcourt seems set—especially with Cam Thomas possibly putting up so many shots this upcoming season that his arm might fall off.

There are larger questions surrounding the rest of this roster though. Will Julius Randle put up another All-NBA season? Can Jonathan Kuminga finally break through? Is Keegan Murray (2023 RD1.4) a better NBA player than fantasy asset? TRUO was able to upset CHMK in the Toilet Bowl, earning themselves a top-two pick in this year’s draft. That selection was used on Zach Edey (2025 RD1.2), who has Rookie of the Year potential, but is likely to have a high floor, low ceiling career as his unique stature is more a change-of-pace option.

Aside from Edey, TRUO’s draft was mostly safe options like John Collins, Alex Caruso, and the venerable Chris Paul (RD6.6). Andrew Nembhard and GG Jackson II are very nice role players for their NBA teams, but fantasy wise are still likely a little boxed in for minutes. At the end of the day, the hopes for TRUO to hit 0.500 again rest largely on Green’s ascendance—and maybe Kuminga. Here’s hoping TRUO can start some forward momentum in 2025 and get more than five regular season wins this season, at least.

#6 SWMP (10-8, 12-8)

Our 2025 Toilet Bowl champions! The last two TB victories for SWMP resulted in Markelle Fultz (2018 RD1.1) and DeAndre Ayton (2019 RD1.1), who are both famously not the best player in their respective drafts. Perhaps having learned a valuable lesson, SWMP instead went with a non-rookie with their pick this year, choosing sophomore Keyonte George (RD1.3) as he’s already flashed some star upside.

Having already made some big moves last season—moving Alperen Sengun for Jalen Williams and Jalen Johnson—SWMP entered the 2025 draft down their RD2 and RD3 picks, but recouped a third-rounder with a trade off of Bradley Beal. SWMP’s draft was mostly for role players with the likes of Cameron Johnson (RD3.10), Ayo Dosunmu, rookie Dalton Knecht, and Max Strus offering some light shooting and offense, but nothing that will push SWMP up a level.

Much like the real life Nicola Jokic, there seems to be a need for some filling out of the roster to get SWMP back to championship level. Paul George and Zach LaVine are great on paper, but both are injury prone, to say the least. That will put a lot of pressure on Williams and George to head the backcourt, and for Jalen Johnson to really blow up this season—which we think he will. Was 2024 just a brief hiccup in SWMP’s chase for a long awaited title? Or is it the start of a slow decline?

#7 MELO (5-13, 10-10)

Four years into SlamNation, MELO fans have experienced some whiplash action, seesawing from eleven wins to three wins, back to ten, and then last year collapsing to five again. History would indicate a winning season for MELO this year, and they certainly are the strongest MELO team we’ve had on paper.

Finals MVP and NBA champ Jaylen Brown and Kevin Durant are great cornerstones to build a team around, and it looks like sophomore Brandon Miller will follow in their footsteps as a great wing player. Pascal Siakam will have renewed life in Indianapolis, as does RJ Barrett, now returned to his native Canada. That gives MELO a great nice forward rotation, buttressed by Jerami Grant (RD2.13) as well. Incoming rookie Stephon Castle (RD1.7) is another do-everything type of player and gives MELO some upside to invest in.

Solid veterans Jakob Poeltl, Marcus Smart, and Aaron Gordon (RD5.4) will be plug-and-play, and even with everyone simply matching their career averages, MELO should be much better than last year already. Will that mean a second appearance for them in the playoffs? We can sure hope so!

#8 KSKT (12-5-1, 16-4)

It only took four seasons for KSKT to rise from six wins to a 2024 championship, and KSKT’s storybook franchise saga continues as they return the exact same keeper core for the second year running. The oldest player there is Kristaps Porzingis, at twenty-nine, but everyone else is still in their young to mid twenties. This is a team that has proven their championship mettle and is still getting better, as Cade Cunningham, Tyrese Haliburton, Zion Williamson, and Anfernee Simons could all go up another level, at least.

With Porizingis out for a few months, Clint Capela (RD1.16) will step in as the nominal starter, with Kelly Olynyk (RD3.14) tapped to simulate Porzingis’ big man shooting when necessary. Without many holes to fill besides at center, KSKT drafted Donte DiVencenzo (RD2.3), PJ Washington, and De’Anthony Melton as difference making role players and additional shooting. Late pick Tidjane Salaun (RD5.14) is one of KSKT’s signature rookie bets that could pay off handsomely.

Overall, injuries will likely determine if KSKT can repeat, but if healthy, this is the Slam team best positioned to repeat in recent history—something that hasn’t been accomplished since SOUR went three-peat in 2015-17. All hail the young king!