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Bruski 150SportsEthos 2026 Fantasy Basketball Draft Guide
Fantasy Basketball Draft Guide 2026: Face-off, Walker Kessler vs. Donovan Clingan
Last Updated on October 17, 2026 12:06 pm by Mike Passador | Published: October 17, 2026
Our Fantasy Face-Off series will feature two SportsEthos staffers making their arguments in a head-to-head battle of comparable fantasy players.
Walker Kessler and Donovan Clingan are typically off boards in the third or fourth round if any competitive draft. Today it’s Jon Mosales arguing for LA’s new starting center and Mike Passador sticking up for the Blazers behemoth.
Last Season
| Season | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FGM | FGA | FG% | FTM | FTA | FT% | 3PTM | 3PTA | 3PT% | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25-26 | UTA | 5 | 5 | 30.8 | 5.2 | 7.4 | 70.3 | 2.8 | 4.0 | 70.0 | 1.2 | 1.6 | 75.0 | 14.4 | 10.8 | 3.0 | 1.4 | 1.8 | 3.2 |
| 24-25 | UTA | 58 | 58 | 30.0 | 4.8 | 7.2 | 66.3 | 1.4 | 2.6 | 52.0 | 0.1 | 0.6 | 17.6 | 11.1 | 12.2 | 1.7 | 0.6 | 2.4 | 1.5 |
| Season | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FGM | FGA | FG% | FTM | FTA | FT% | 3PTM | 3PTA | 3PT% | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25-26 | POR | 77 | 77 | 27.2 | 4.6 | 8.9 | 52.0 | 1.8 | 2.6 | 68.0 | 1.1 | 3.2 | 34.1 | 12.1 | 11.6 | 2.1 | 0.6 | 1.7 | 1.2 |
| 24-25 | POR | 67 | 37 | 19.8 | 2.7 | 5.0 | 53.9 | 0.9 | 1.6 | 59.6 | 0.2 | 0.7 | 28.6 | 6.5 | 7.9 | 1.1 | 0.5 | 1.6 | 1.1 |
The story of Kessler’s 2025-26 is short, but it is exciting. He was lighting it up across the entire box score before suffering a shoulder injury that required season-ending surgery. Kessler revealed after the season that it’s an issue he has been playing through since college, but last year his labrum finally gave way. His contract negotiations with the Jazz never felt smooth and he was traded to the Lakers for a haul. Kessler is going to be the defensive centerpiece of a roster that is filled with… generous defenders otherwise. Kessler showed new wrinkles to his game between the steals and 3-point shooting last year, but the sample is so small it can’t be treated as anything more than a tantalizing glimpse into the future.
Clingang was a breakout candidate after a great finish to his rookie season, and break out he did. The big man delivered career-highs in every fantasy stat besides FG% and was able to handle 27.2 mpg, holding up just fine despite obvious footspeed and mobility concerns. Those really worked against him in the playoffs but fantasy-wise, Clingan met the moment in a big way. His blocks didn’t move despite a big increase in playing time but Clingan was excellent elsewhere in his added opportunity and finished top-25 after the All-Star break. Clingan wasn’t a monstrous scorer or an elite source of blocks, but he was a walking double-double with over three combined steals, blocks and 3-pointers per game. A 60/36 finish in 8/9-cat scoring was a great first impression as a full-time starter.
The Case for Walker Kessler
We’re breaking down this Face-off from every angle. Want to see who you should take? You’ll need to have an Ethos 360, All-Sport or NBA FantasyPass membership. Click here to learn more and sign up! Premium Access Required
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