The 2026 NBA Draft was nothing short of remarkable, with multiple franchises potentially securing the missing pieces that will end their long tenures as some of the league’s bottom‑dwellers. In one of the most loaded classes in recent memory, this year’s talents provided the league with a glimpse of the next wave of stars set to leave lasting legacies.
Breaking Down the Top 10 in the NBA Draft
1. Washington Wizards – AJ Dybantsa (BYU)
In no shocking fashion, the Washington Wizards tapped the services of premier prospect AJ Dybantsa as the first overall pick in the draft.
Regarded as one of the most elite prospects in recent memory, the 6‑foot‑9 forward offers an elite offensive repertoire and boasts immense defensive pressure with a 7‑foot wingspan. In his lone season at BYU, the 19‑year‑old posted averages of 25.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game.
Entering the league with an elite point guard in Trae Young, while backing up the frontcourt with one of the most skilled big men in history in Anthony Davis, Dybantsa opens his professional career with high stakes but will surely provide Washington with enough firepower for a playoff spot.
2. Utah Jazz – Darryn Peterson (Kansas)
After a four‑year playoff drought and being stuck at the bottom end of the Western Conference, the Utah Jazz may have just found the last piece in returning to playoff contention, selecting Darryn Peterson second overall.
Known for his elite three‑level scoring, the 6‑foot‑4 guard led the Jayhawks’ offense with 20.2 points, as well as 4.2 rebounds and 3 assists per contest, all while shooting at a remarkable 46.8% clip and 39.2% from deep.
With fellow young guns Ace Bailey and Keyonte George already making lasting impacts in their short time with Utah, the 19‑year‑old Peterson is expected to follow suit, as the Jazz look to strum their loudest tunes since the Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert era.
3. Memphis Grizzlies – Cameron Boozer (Duke)
Following the departure of long‑time center Jaren Jackson Jr., the Memphis Grizzlies quickly patched up that crucial frontcourt loss, selecting Duke big man Cameron Boozer with the third overall pick.
At 18 years old, Boozer was arguably one of the most productive big men in college basketball last year, averaging 22.5 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks per contest, leading the Blue Devils to the Elite Eight.
With franchise guard Ja Morant’s time in Memphis being in serious jeopardy, Boozer headlines the Grizzlies’ rebuilding era, as he and Cedric Coward look to kickstart the team’s bright future ahead.
4. Chicago Bulls – Caleb Wilson (North Carolina)
With the Chicago Bulls missing the postseason for the first time in four years, the Windy City continues its post‑DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine rebuild by selecting big man Caleb Wilson with the fourth pick.
Another one‑and‑done freshman, the 6‑foot‑10 big held down the North Carolina frontcourt with averages of 16.4 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks per contest, despite the Tar Heels’ early exit after a first‑round upset to VCU.
Meshing with another young big man in Matas Buzelis, as well as the seasoned playmaking of Josh Giddey and Rob Dillingham, the 19‑year‑old Wilson and the Bulls will look to knock at the playoff door once again, aiming to return to the Play‑In in their 2027 campaign.
5. Los Angeles Clippers – Keaton Wagler (Illinois)
With the Clippers falling short of a playoff appearance this year, LA looks to bolster their offense by selecting arguably one of the best shooters in the lottery with Keaton Wagler as the fifth overall selection.
A 6‑foot‑6 forward hailing from Illinois, Wagler finished his freshman year notching 17.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 4.2 assists, all while shooting at a 40% clip from long range. Wagler led the Illini to the Final Four, scoring 90 points across five tournament games.
Joining an already meshed Clippers squad, headlined by defensive anchor Kawhi Leonard and emerging playmaker Darius Garland, Wagler’s arrival is sure to give the San Diego‑based squad enough spark to make some noise in the playoffs.
6. Brooklyn Nets – Mikel Brown Jr. (Louisville)
With Brooklyn recently landing Julius Randle in a trade to bolster their scoring, the Nets continue to gas up their offense by selecting Mikel Brown Jr. as the sixth overall pick.
Standing at 6‑foot‑4, Brown is a skilled guard most known for his offensive skill set, including remarkable isolation skills, pick‑and‑roll scoring, and deep three‑point range, posting averages of 18.5 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 5.4 assists.
The 20‑year‑old guard is expected to make an immediate impact with the rebuilding Nets squad, joining the likes of Randle and Michael Porter Jr. to headline the team’s scoring department.
7. Sacramento Kings – Darius Acuff Jr. (Arkansas)
With the Kings still finding their groove after trading franchise guard De’Aaron Fox last season, Sacramento may have found a new star to run the offense in Darius Acuff Jr. after being selected seventh overall.
A 6‑foot‑3 guard known for his remarkable physical strength, Acuff provides the Kings with three‑level scoring after averaging 19 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 4.8 assists for the Arkansas Razorbacks to lead the team to a Sweet Sixteen appearance.
Despite the abysmal record, Sacramento possesses seasoned veterans in DeMar DeRozan and Russell Westbrook, who will be highly integral to Acuff’s development as the Kings continue their rebuild.
8. Atlanta Hawks – Kingston Flemings (Houston)
Coming off a 2026 playoff campaign that took the eventual champions New York Knicks to their longest series, the Atlanta Hawks are poised to go even higher entering next season after selecting Kingston Flemings eighth overall.
A 6‑foot‑3 guard, Flemings averaged 14.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 6.2 assists per contest to lead the second‑seeded Houston Cougars to the Sweet Sixteen, providing Atlanta with an explosive guard.
With veteran bucket‑getter CJ McCollum reviving his career with Atlanta, Flemings, along with former first pick Zaccharie Risacher, will look to continue the Hawks’ playoff hunt.
9. Dallas Mavericks – Morez Johnson Jr. (Michigan)
With the Mavericks still in their rebuilding era following the historic Luka Doncic trade last year, Dallas continued their frontcourt development by selecting Morez Johnson Jr. with the ninth overall pick.
A reigning champion from the Michigan Wolverines, the 6‑foot‑9 forward averaged 13.1 points and 8 rebounds as the second‑leading scorer en route to the National Championship, including a 12‑point, 10‑rebound performance in the title‑clinching match.
With reigning Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg’s continued development, as well as the return of veteran guard Kyrie Irving, the 20‑year‑old Johnson looks to be another piece of the Mavericks’ rebuild in hopes of returning to title contention in the near future.
10. Milwaukee Bucks – Brayden Burries (Arizona)
Following a historic trade that ended Giannis Antetokounmpo’s 13‑year tenure in Milwaukee, the Bucks wasted no time preparing for their bright future, selecting Brayden Burries with the 10th overall pick.
Known for his defensive versatility, the 6‑foot‑5 guard averaged 16.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 3.3 assists for the Wildcats in his final season, ushering Arizona to a Final Four appearance.
With the Bucks looking to move forward in a new era, Burries is poised to make an immediate impact for Milwaukee, as they still remain in the hunt for a playoff appearance in 2027.
The Rest of the First Round
11. Golden State Warriors draft Yexel Lendeborg (Michigan).
12. Oklahoma City Thunder draft Aday Mara (Michigan).
13. Miami Heat draft Nate Ament (Tennessee). [Traded to Milwaukee]
14. Charlotte Hornets draft Hannes Steinbach (Washington).
15. Chicago Bulls draft Dailyn Swain (Texas).
16. Memphis Grizzlies from Bennett Stirtz (Iowa). [Traded to Oklahoma City]
17. Oklahoma City Thunder draft Ebuka Okorie (Stanford). [Traded to Detroit via Memphis]
18. Charlotte Hornets draft Christian Anderson (Texas Tech).
19. Toronto Raptors draft Allen Graves (Santa Clara).
20. San Antonio Spurs draft Jayden Quaintance (Arizona State / Kentucky).
21. Detroit Pistons draft Karim López (New Zealand Breakers). [Traded to Memphis]
22. Philadelphia 76ers draft Labaron Philon Jr. (Alabama).
23. Atlanta Hawks draft Zuby Ejiofor (St. John’s).
24. New York Knicks draft Cameron Carr (Baylor). [Traded to Los Angeles Lakers]
25. Los Angeles Lakers draft Sergio De Larrea (Valencia). [Traded to Dallas via New York]
26. Denver Nuggets draft Tarris Reed Jr. (Connecticut). [Traded to San Antonio]
27. Boston Celtics draft Chris Cenac Jr. (Houston).
28. Minnesota Timberwolves draft Joshua Jefferson (Iowa State). [Traded to Brooklyn]
29. Cleveland Cavaliers draft Alex Karaban (Connecticut). [Traded to Sacramento]
30. Dallas Mavericks draft Koa Peat (Arizona). [Traded to Phoenix via New York].
Second Round of 2026 NBA Draft Beckons
The 2026 NBA Draft’s second round will take place on Thursday, June 25. THe order is as follows:
- New York Knicks (from Washington via Oklahoma City and Houston)
- Memphis Grizzlies (from Indiana via Milwaukee)
- Brooklyn Nets (Reportedly traded to Minnesota)
- Sacramento Kings (Reportedly traded to Cleveland)
- San Antonio Spurs (from Utah via Minnesota) (Reportedly traded to Denver)
- LA Clippers (from Memphis via Atlanta and Utah)
- Oklahoma City Thunder (from Dallas)
- Chicago Bulls (from New Orleans via Boston, Detroit, and Portland)
- Houston Rockets (from Chicago via Washington)
- Boston Celtics (from Milwaukee via Orlando)
- Miami Heat (from Golden State via Charlotte, New York, Oklahoma City, and Atlanta)
- San Antonio Spurs (from Portland via New Orleans)
- Brooklyn Nets (from LA Clippers via Houston)
- San Antonio Spurs (from Miami via Indiana)
- Sacramento Kings (from Charlotte via San Antonio, Atlanta, and New York)
- Orlando Magic
- Phoenix Suns (from Philadelphia via Houston and Oklahoma City) (Reportedly traded to New York)
- Dallas Mavericks (from Phoenix via Washington)
- Denver Nuggets (from Atlanta via Brooklyn and Golden State)
- Toronto Raptors
- Washington Wizards (from Minnesota via Detroit and New York)
- LA Clippers (from Cleveland)
- Houston Rockets
- Golden State Warriors (from Los Angeles Lakers via Toronto, Miami, and Cleveland)
- New York Knicks
- Chicago Bulls (from Denver via Minnesota, Phoenix, Charlotte, and Phoenix)
- Atlanta Hawks (from Boston)
- New Orleans Pelicans (from Detroit via New York, Brooklyn, Phoenix, Orlando, and LA Clippers)
- Minnesota Timberwolves (from San Antonio via Indiana)
- Washington Wizards (from Oklahoma City via San Antonio and Miami)
