2026 Pre-Season: Chamberlain

We took a look at Russell, so let's head on over to Chamberlain, home of the defending champion SCRM. This is also the conference with many of the true contenders, as they own a ten to five trophy edge over Russell. [ 2026 Russell | 2025 Midseason Tiers ]

TeamID - Abbrev - Name (2025 Record, 2024 Record)

#9 SQSQ Squirtle Squad (14-4, 10-8)

The Squirtle Squad are proof that experience, when properly weaponized, still wins in this league. After a steady 10–8 campaign in 2024, they exploded in 2025, finishing 14–4 — a top-tier record powered by patience, veteran savvy, and an unspoken trust built over years of shared dominance. Most teams get older and slower; SQSQ just got smarter.

The keeper core — LeBron James, Anthony Davis, DeMar DeRozan, James Harden, Derrick White, and Daniel Gafford — is both nostalgic and terrifying. LeBron continues to age like mythology, still capable of summoning huge fantasy weeks when it matters most. Davis remains the defensive skeleton key, erasing mistakes on one end and feasting on the other. DeRozan and Harden share playmaking duties like grizzled poker pros who know exactly when to check, raise, or torch you from midrange. White is the quiet stabilizer — the most underrated guard in SlamNation — while Gafford’s inclusion as a keeper shows how seriously this team values fit. He’s the rim-running vertical threat who frees AD from the grind of pure center minutes, keeping both fresh and effective deep into the season.

The 2026 draft was all about continuity — doubling down on veterans who can sustain this high-IQ style while sprinkling in upside. Payton Pritchard is the spark plug guard off the bench, a coach’s favorite with relentless energy. Kevin Porter Jr. is the risk-reward swing, a volatile scorer who could resurface as an X-factor. Tobias Harris gives them size and calm in the midrange, another classic SQSQ “do your job” pick. Kyle Filipowski, represents the frontcourt of the future — stretch touch, rebounding instincts, and attitude. Jusuf Nurkić adds bruising depth behind Gafford and Davis, while Neemias Queta is a pure developmental bet on size and hustle. Every pick fills a role. Nothing’s wasted.

There’s a sense of finality to this version of the Squad — not decline, but legacy. LeBron and AD are still the heartbeat, Harden still manipulates time and angles like a magician, and White and Gafford make the math work. It’s the kind of team you don’t rebuild from; you ride it until the wheels come off.

And if 2025 was any indication, those wheels are still spinning just fine.

#10 ABCX Another Bad Creation (4-13-1, 0-18)

Two years. Four wins. Infinite pain. But maybe, finally, a pulse. Another Bad Creation — once a punchline, now a laboratory of potential — spent the past two seasons redefining what “rebuild” means. 0–18 in 2024 was rock bottom; 4–13–1 in 2025 was a crawl toward daylight. And yet, under all that wreckage, something resembling a foundation is starting to form.

The keeper core — LaMelo Ball, trade acquisition Josh Giddey, Bennedict Mathurin, Jaden Ivey, Ivica Zubac, and Yves Missi — feels like a roster stuck between puberty and purpose. LaMelo is still the central experiment: brilliant, brittle, and utterly unique, capable of rewriting a week’s narrative on his own. Giddey brings size and vision, though both guards have yet to prove they can coexist without tripping over the ball. Mathurin and Ivey provide the slashing swagger that gives this team its personality — fearless, sometimes clueless, but always watchable. Zubac holds the defensive line and keeps the lights on, while Missi’s arrival last season as a rim-running rookie marks a quiet turning point: a big who finally gives ABCX vertical presence and defensive energy.

The 2026 draft might be the first coherent statement from this front office in years. Donovan Clingan headlines as the franchise’s future anchor — a young, modern big who instantly raises the team’s defensive ceiling. Draymond Green arrives as the necessary grown-up, bringing structure, accountability, and several inevitable ejections. Keyonte George and Cam Whitmore add more young shot creation, but this time with purpose — George’s combo-guard scoring fits alongside LaMelo’s playmaking, and Whitmore’s power-wing athleticism fills an obvious hole. Isaiah Jackson and Ayo Dosunmu round out the defensive bench corps, while Damian Lillard is the shock signing — a living legend turned mentor who can still drop thirty when the kids start playing Fortnite mid-possession when/if he returns next season.

Make no mistake: ABCX is still a project, not a product. They’ll lose games. They’ll frustrate fans. But for the first time since the franchise’s inception, the losing might actually be productive. The talent is real, the balance is improving, and the chaos feels less random now — more like the beginning of something.

For a team called Another Bad Creation, that’s progress.

#11 BUFF Buffy (7-10-1, 12-6)

There’s a kind of pride that only comes from surviving heartbreak. Two years removed from their 2024 surprise Finals run, Buffy still carries that quiet, unfinished energy — like a franchise that’s seen the mountaintop, slipped, and is already halfway back up. The 12–6 run that got them there was lightning in a bottle, built on chemistry and control. Their 7–10–1 regression in 2025? A reminder that the margins in the Chamberlain Conference are razor thin. But make no mistake — this is still one of the smartest, toughest, most balanced teams in SlamNation.

The keeper core — Jalen Brunson, Domantas Sabonis, Mikal Bridges, Brandon Ingram, Coby White, and Andrew Wiggins — might be the cleanest fit in the league. Brunson is the stabilizer, the rare guard who wins both through efficiency and edge. Sabonis continues to operate as the statistical superstructure of the offense — every play touching his hands, every rebound turning into opportunity. Bridges and Ingram stretch the floor in opposite directions: one a metronomic 3&D cyborg, the other a creative scorer with isolation gravity. White’s 2025 breakout gave the backcourt another gear, and Wiggins, forever streaky but always essential, fills the defensive voids between stars. No weak links, no redundancies — just coherence.

The 2026 draft reflected that same organizational intelligence. A pre-arranged swap sent rookie Dylan Harper (RD1.2) to FUNK in exchange for Lauri Markkanen, transforming Buffy’s structure from solid to dangerous. Lauri’s perimeter shooting fits Sabonis like he was designed in a lab for it — finally giving this frontcourt elite spacing and vertical geometry. Around that centerpiece move came a lineup of perfect fits: C.J. McCollum and D’Angelo Russell, both cerebral guards who thrive in controlled pace; Kyle Kuzma, whose box-score production remains as steady as ever; Jonathan Kuminga, the athletic swingman poised for a breakout; and Rui Hachimura, the quintessential rotation forward who thrives in the system’s subtleties. It’s not flashy — it’s precise.

Buffy’s ethos hasn’t changed. They play deliberate basketball, make every possession matter, and rarely beat themselves. The 2024 Finals run wasn’t a fluke; it was the logical endpoint of their patience. Now, with Lauri’s shooting gravity and Coby’s rise balancing Sabonis’ inside-out creation, they’re built even better than the version that came within one series of the title.

Call them the adult in the room. Call them boring. But when the lights dim in March and the standings tighten, nobody in the Chamberlain Conference wants to see Buffy on their schedule.

This team doesn’t talk — it executes. And that’s exactly why they’re back in the conversation.

#12 SOUR Sour Snails (10-7, 10-7)

The Sour Snails don’t rebuild — they regenerate. After two steady 10–7 seasons in 2024 and 2025, Trieu’s dynasty enters 2026 with the same unshakable foundation that’s carried it to six SlamNation titles. They’ve been the league’s compass for over a decade: when the Snails pivot, the rest of the league follows.

The keeper core — Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler, Scottie Barnes, Miles Bridges, Dejounte Murray, and Deni Avdija — remains a masterclass in continuity and chemistry. Curry is still the fantasy anomaly who breaks logic every week, leading the league in gravitational pull per 36 minutes. Butler, older but no less terrifying, brings playoff nastiness in a league that often forgets what defense looks like. Barnes has ascended into co-anchor status — a nightly statline of versatility — while Bridges and Avdija offer that two-way blend of effort and intelligence that has defined the Snail ethos for years. And Murray? He’s another young vet in the room. No drama, no noise, just buckets and balance.

Then came the 2026 draft, which, in true Snails fashion, looked conservative on paper — until it wasn’t. Yang Hansen, the surprise high pick of both the NBA and SlamNation drafts, landed squarely in Trieu’s lap. Most managers saw a raw, untested international big; Trieu saw the future. Hansen’s blend of rebounding touch, mobility, and basketball IQ makes him the exact kind of player this franchise turns into a ten-year contributor. Alongside him, the Snails added Ryan Kalkbrenner and Adem Bona, two more defensive-minded rookies who project as part of the next-generation interior rotation. It’s not flashy — it’s chess.

The veterans — John Collins, Kelly Oubre Jr., and Aaron Nesmith — round out the class with functional depth. Collins’ return gives the frontcourt its reliable 15-and-8 baseline, Oubre adds streaky offense and swagger, and Nesmith quietly plugs gaps on the wing — exactly the kind of player who wins you weeks in March.

Every year, someone calls the Snails “old.” Every year, someone predicts the dynasty’s end. And every single time, the standings remind everyone that Trieu doesn’t play trends — he plays time. The infusion of rookies like Hansen shows that the next generation of Snails is already germinating beneath the veterans. It’s patience as performance art.

Six banners. Zero panic. And now a fresh pipeline of bigs ready to extend the legacy. The Sour Snails aren’t fading — they’re evolving again.

#13 SBUK So Buckets (10-8, 10-8)

You don’t stay good in SlamNation by accident. The So Buckets franchise has been there, done that, and still walks like it owns the place. Two straight 10–8 seasons in 2024 and 2025 kept them near the top of the Chamberlain Conference, steady as a metronome. No drama, no regression, just consistent winning basketball — the mark of a team built on trust and taste. Once a champion, always a contender.

The keeper core — Joel Embiid, Kyrie Irving, Franz Wagner, Desmond Bane, Alex Sarr, and Ausar Thompson — hits every note a modern roster should. Embiid remains the bedrock, the fantasy cheat code who erases categories on his own. Kyrie, mercurial but still surgical, brings playmaking artistry that can decide a matchup in a single week. Wagner and Bane form one of the most elegant wing pairings in the league — unselfish scorers who stretch the floor and defend across positions. Then there’s the youth movement: Alex Sarr, the do-it-all big who already looks like the next great two-way anchor, and Ausar Thompson, whose defense, hustle, and growing offensive poise scream future All-Star. Together, it’s a core that balances star power and sustainability as well as any in SlamNation.

The 2026 draft pushed that philosophy even further. Ace Bailey and Tre Johnson headline the class — two electric rookies whose athletic ceilings could define SBUK’s next half-decade. Bailey’s length and fluid scoring make him a perfect understudy to Wagner; Johnson, a shot-creator in the purest sense, fits the system’s inside-out rhythm. Brandin Podziemski adds connective playmaking and rebounding from the guard spot, Collin Sexton returns as a proven bucket-getter and spark plug, Moussa Diabaté brings frontcourt energy, and T.J. McConnell rounds out the rotation as the veteran who keeps it all organized. It’s a roster that can win now and grow later — rare air for any franchise, even a former champ.

This is what a reboot done right looks like: old guard stabilized, young stars incubating, system intact. Embiid still commands the paint, Kyrie still closes games with poetry, and Wagner’s steady brilliance keeps everything glued together. And now, with Ace Bailey’s upside and Sarr’s growth, the Buckets have the tools to threaten both today and tomorrow.

They’ve been quiet since their title — methodical, almost patient — but don’t mistake that for decline. This team is waiting for its next window. The name’s not an accident. When So Buckets gets rolling, everyone else just drowns in the flow.

#14 SPDE Spade (10-6-2, 13-4-1)

Few teams in SlamNation have built a clearer identity than Spade. Every year, they’re at or near the top, powered by smart drafting, elite balance, and a roster that marries youth with ruthless efficiency. They don’t chase trends; they dictate tempo. And 2026 looks like the year the system fully comes together.

The keeper core — Victor Wembanyama, Chet Holmgren, Devin Booker, Tyrese Maxey, Tyler Herro, and Walker Kessler — is almost unfair on paper. Wemby and Chet are the twin pillars of modern fantasy basketball: rim protection, range, and absurd upside. Their combined defensive ceiling is so high it warps matchups before they even start. Booker remains the franchise’s veteran engine, balancing raw scoring and leadership, while Maxey has evolved into the ideal backcourt partner — fearless, fast, and remarkably consistent. Herro fills in the cracks with his quick-release shooting and streaky dynamism, and Kessler remains the sturdy, no-nonsense rim protector every star frontcourt needs behind it. The fit is seamless. The foundation, terrifying.

Then came the 2026 draft, and with it, an unmistakable message: depth time. Jarrett Allen and Naz Reid give this team frontcourt insurance that most contenders could only dream of — rebounding, efficiency, and defensive muscle to keep Wemby fresh for the stretch run. Immanuel Quickley adds punch and playmaking, Bradley Beal brings pedigree and composure, and Klay Thompson remains a plug-and-play sniper who doesn’t need touches to change a matchup. Jrue Holiday might be the draft’s masterstroke — a defensive savant and emotional anchor for a roster heavy on young flash. And finally, Gradey Dick joins as a long-term project shooter who could grow into the next trusted weapon off the bench.

Spade doesn’t make mistakes. The front office drafts for floor and ceiling, trades on time, and never loses focus. The roster’s core is young enough to compete for half a decade and talented enough to win now. It’s a blend of generational unicorns and grounded veterans — and when you mix that with a front office this composed, the outcome starts to look inevitable.

The rest of the Chamberlain Conference should be worried. Wemby and Chet are no longer “up next.” They’re here. And if 2024 and 2025 were the setup years, 2026 looks like the cash-in.

Spade isn’t playing the hand they were dealt. They’re reshuffling the whole deck.

#15 ILCN IL Conceived (10-7-1, 11-7)

There’s no team in SlamNation that lives closer to the edge of the injury report than IL Conceived. It’s right there in the name — “IL” for Illinois, sure, but also for “injured list.” Owned by a doctor, ironically, this franchise has turned the rehab ward into a laboratory for genius. Every season feels like a clinical trial in managing load, risk, and pain tolerance — and somehow, they keep winning anyway.

The core remains elite: Luka Dončić, Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, Paolo Banchero, Jaren Jackson Jr., and rising sophomore Matas Buzelis. Luka is the stabilizer — the league’s most consistent walking triple-double and the only player in SlamNation who looks unbothered by chaos. Mitchell is the adrenaline shot, Garland the steady pulse. Banchero has become the kind of do-everything forward who can mask half a roster’s ailments, while JJJ continues to play at a Defensive Player of the Year level when healthy — which, in this franchise, is about half the battle. Buzelis adds youth and intrigue: a 6’10” wing built to absorb future responsibility when one of the vets inevitably sprains a timeline.

The 2026 draft looked like a doctor’s shopping list: preventive care, protective gear, and long-term stability. Rudy Gobert arrived to handle the heavy lifting inside, freeing JJJ to roam. Aaron Gordon brings durability and defense — the on-call enforcer every contending rotation needs. Jaden McDaniels adds perimeter coverage, completing what might quietly be the best defensive trio in the conference. Then came the new blood: Egor Demin, Jeremiah Fears, and Kasparas Jakucionis, three rookies who play smart, avoid mistakes, and look like they’ve already completed their physicals. Demin especially feels like a classic IL Conceived pick — poised, tactical, and ready to contribute without drama.

What separates this version of IL Conceived is discipline. This isn’t a roster built on wishful thinking or highlight reels. It’s built like a hospital shift — roles clear, coverage continuous, communication constant. When someone goes down (and someone always does), there’s another pro ready to tape up and step in.

They’ve evolved from a team chasing chemistry to one managing stability. Luka diagnoses the defense, Mitchell provides the surgical strike, and Banchero quietly stitches the whole thing together. Healthy, they’re dangerous. Even banged up, they’re still hard to kill.

IL Conceived doesn’t just survive injuries — they’ve turned survival into a system.

#16 SCRM Screamin’ Eagles (12-5-1, 16-1-1)

The Screamin’ Eagles finally reached the summit — and they did it the old-fashioned way: through patience, star power, and a touch of madness. Their 16-1-1 rampage in 2024 turned heads, but the 12-5-1 follow-up in 2025 finished the job. Led by Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Eagles stormed through the playoffs and captured the SlamNation championship, finally validating years of promise. Giannis was the heart of that run — a nightly wrecking ball who carried them through the grind and delivered the banner every team chases.

And then — in true Screamin’ fashion — they blew it up.

This offseason, the front office stunned the league by moving Giannis in a pre-draft blockbuster, reshaping the defending champs around a younger, more balanced core. The return: Anthony Edwards and Bam Adebayo—plus a 2026 RD1 for Austin Reaves—three pieces that instantly gave the Eagles a new identity without surrendering competitiveness. Edwards steps into the alpha role with swagger to spare; Adebayo replaces Giannis’ interior dominance with defense and playmaking; and Reaves adds IQ, spacing, and chemistry.

The new look keeper core — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Anthony Edwards, Bam Adebayo, Scoot Henderson, Jalen Duren, and Austin Reaves — feels like a rebooted dynasty. Shai remains the silent superstar, a metronome of control and efficiency. Edwards is the emotional fuse, the guy who yells first and scores louder. Bam brings structure and defensive leadership. Scoot gives them dynamism, Duren anchors the boards, and Reaves glues it all together. It’s not the same team that won the title — it’s the evolved form.

The 2026 draft kept the long game in view. Nikola Topić headlines the class — a cerebral, pass-first guard in the Shai mold. Rookies Collin Murray-Boyles and Derik Queen offer strength and upside in the frontcourt. Herb Jones adds championship defense and intangibles, while Nikola Jović supplies stretch-four versatility. It’s not a rookie headline grabber — it’s a roster stabilizer, the kind of draft you make when you already know how to win.

This is what evolution looks like at the top: a champion refusing to stagnate. The Eagles didn’t cling to sentimentality; they saw the future and flew straight toward it. Giannis gave them the ring, Ant gives them the next era.

Different faces. Same scream. The Screamin’ Eagles aren’t defending a title — they’re redefining one.