AJ Dybantsa goes first overall to the Washington Wizards in the 2026 NBA draft

Peat is the final pick of the first round, with the Phoenix Suns reportedly trading into the 30th slot to select the Arizona freshman.

Peat gives the Suns some size and strength on the inside. Phoenix lacked a traditional power forward last season, and Peat should give the team some lineup flexibility and a more rugged presence in the paint.

Koa Peat, Arizona

Karaban was projected to go late in the first round, and that’s where he lands.

The Kings are getting a big man who can shoot, which is seemingly always useful in today’s game. This is Sacramento’s second first-round pick of the night after it took Darius Acuff Jr. sixth overall.

Alex Karaban, UConn

Jefferson is reportedly headed to Brooklyn as part of the not-yet-official Julius Randle trade. He becomes the sixth first rounder to join the Nets between the last two drafts. Brooklyn is in the midst of a large rebuild, and is hoping at least one of these picks can develop into a star.

Joshua Jefferson, Iowa State

The Celtics add size with Cenac Jr., who ESPN’s Jeremy Woo says has “excellent length, moves fluidly for his size and has made strides as a rebounder.”

Cenac can shoot a little but, but may not be an efficient option at the next level. Boston was in need for help in the frontcourt, however, struggling with the 76ers’ size in their first-round playoff matchup.

Chris Cenac, Houston

The Spurs trade back into the first round to take Reed Jr., the center from UConn.

San Antonio is clearly prioritizing size after already selecting Jayden Quaintance tonight. Reed Jr. could provide a better backup option for Victor Wembanyama, as the Spurs struggled during Luke Kornet’s minutes during the postseason.

For Denver, who sent the pick away, this screams cost-cutting measure for a team running into second apron issues.

Tarris Reed Jr., UConn

De Larrea is a shooting guard prospect from Spain with a score-first mentality.

It will be interesting to see if New York tries to stash him as the front office tries to execute some cap gymnastics this summer to keep as much of the title team together as possible.

Sergio De Larrea, Valencia

The Knicks have reportedly traded the 24th pick to the Lakers, who selected Baylor guard Cameron Carr.

Carr projects to be a 3-and-D wing on the next level, as he has the size and shooting ability to be a two-way player on the wing. This selection makes perfect sense for Los Angeles, which is trying to surround Luka Doncic with as many 3-and-D players as possible.

Cameron Carr, Baylor

Atlanta goes with a forward/center with the 23rd pick.

Ejiofor was the 2025-26 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award winner, given to the nation’s top center. The Hawks are actually quite deep in the frontcourt, so it will be interesting to see how much run Ejiofor actually gets during his rookie season.

Zuby Ejiofor, St. John's

The Sixers may have one of the steals of the night, as Philon Jr. was ranked 12th on Yahoo Sports’ big board and 18th on ESPN’s. Philadelphia just scooped him with the 22nd pick.

Philon Jr. isn’t a great athlete, draft experts say, but he makes up for those issues with his ball-handling skills and ability to create his own shot.

The Sixers were in desperate need of some more on-ball players after the playoffs exposed a lack of depth behind guard Tyrese Maxey. Philon Jr. may not have a huge role immediately, but he should have a chance to provide relief for both Maxey and V.J. Edgecombe as a spark off the bench.

Labaron Philon Jr., Alabama

López just became the first Mexican-born player to be selected in the first round of the NBA Draft.

ESPN’s Jeremy Woo describes López as a “perimeter-oriented forward with good feel who competes on both ends,” adding that he is “tough, physical and active.”

After trading away Jaren Jackson Jr. midseason, the Grizzlies have now added two frontcourt players in the draft between López and Cameron Boozer.

Karim Lopez, New Zealand Breakers

The defending Western Conference champs pick up Quaintance, a defensive-minded bruiser with size and athleticism who projects to be a center or power forward on the next level.

Quaintance tore his ACL in February 2025, affecting his final collegiate season and his draft stock.

This makes sense for the Spurs, though. San Antonio has legitimate shooting at the center position thanks to Victor Wembanyama, which could allow Quaintance could survive as the lone non-shooter on the floor. He also won’t be expected to contribute right away, so he can take his time getting healthy.

One issue for the Spurs during their playoff run was a lack of size outside Wemby, which Quaintance should be able to help with.

Jayden Quaintance, Kentucky

Graves began his career as a point guard before a growth spurt turned him into a forward. Multiple draft experts say Graves is favored by analytic models.

What Graves lacks in top-flight athleticism, he makes up for in outside shooting. Toronto was in desperate need of more shooting in its first-round playoff loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers, so Graves should immediately fill a need for the Raptors.

Allen Graves, Santa Clara

ESPN’s Jeremy Woo says Anderson is “an outstanding 3-point shooter and savvy pick-and-roll navigator,” while Yahoo Sports’ Kevin O’Connor adds that he possesses “dynamic pick-and-roll creation and knockdown perimeter shooting.”

Anderson is a talented offensive player, though his small stature will lead to questions about his defensive capabilities. He is projected to back up LaMelo Ball in Charlotte, and he will join his former German U19 teammate Hannes Steinbach on the Hornets.

Christian Anderson Jr., Texas Tech

Follow along with us here.

The Grizzlies traded the 16th pick to the Thunder, who took Bennett Stirtz.

Memphis moved back to 17 in that trade, and is now trading the 17th pick to the Pistons in exchange for the 21st pick and three seconds. (The Grizz also got two seconds in the OKC deal.)

That means guard Ebuka Okorie, selected 17th, will be headed to a Detroit team that desperately needs some more scoring punch in the backcourt after a disappointing playoff exit.

Ebuka Okorie, Stanford

The Grizzlies selected Bennett Stirtz at 16 and are promptly trading him to the Oklahoma City Thunder, according to multiple reports.

Stirtz is an older rookie, but his outside shot should translate well to the next level. Memphis will move back to 17 as a result of the move.

Bennett Stirtz, Iowa

Swain is “relentless getting to the rim, creative as a finisher, and active enough defensively to project as a switchable wing,” Yahoo Sports’ Kevin O’Connor says.

Swain’s biggest question mark headed to the next level is his jump shot, as he shot under 30% from deep in his college career. ESPN’s Jeremy Woo ranked him as the 23rd-best prospect in this draft.

This is Chicago’s second pick of the first round. The Bulls also picked Caleb Wilson fourth overall, and now they have an inside-out combo with Swain and Wilson.

Dailyn Swain, Texas

Steinbach was a glass eater in college, leading the nation with 11.8 rebounds a game last season.

ESPN’s Jeremy Woo says Steinbach is “productive, physical, has good touch and hands around the basket and competes defensively. His dependability is a strong sell for NBA teams.”

Steinbach should bring a nice physical presence to a Charlotte team that already has budding stars on the perimeter.

Hannes Steinbach, Washington

Ament is wearing a Heat hat tonight, but he is headed to Milwaukee as part of the not-yet-official Giannis Antetokounmpo trade.

Ament is a tantalizing prospect. As Yahoo Sports’s Kevin O’Connor notes, “players who can handle, shoot off the dribble, and stand at 6-foot-10 don’t grow on trees.” Ament didn’t quite reach his offensive potential at Tennessee, but this is not dissimilar to the gamble the Bucks once took on a young Antetokounmpo.

Ament could potentially form a nice one-two punch with the recently selected Brayden Burries.

Nate Ament, Tennessee.

This pick is reportedly headed to the Milwaukee Bucks as part of the Antetokounmpo trade.

The Thunder’s draft pick tonight was made courtesy of the Los Angeles Clippers, who traded the selection to OKC as part of the Paul George trade all the way back in 2019.

That trade, of course, also sent two-time MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to the Thunder. Tonight, the gift gave one last time.

The Thunder went with size at the 12th pick, taking the 7'3" Aday Mara.

OKC is picking up a center with great touch on the offensive end who can also be a rim protector defensively. There’s an obvious subtext to this pick, as the Thunder are coming off a tough loss to Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference finals. Mara is the kind of player who could be somewhat of a defensive counter to Wemby’s size.

The Thunder are also facing a salary cap crunch, so they could use Mara’s cheap labor as they make some tough roster decisions this summer. Mara will have to avoid OKC’s first-round curse, as each of the Thunder’s last two lottery picks have torn an ACL before their rookie seasons.

Aday Mara, Michigan

A bit of a surprise here, as the Warriors were reportedly shopping the 11th pick in an effort to bolster their roster with a win-now player.

It’s possible Lendeborg is still moved, but for now, Golden State picks up a versatile forward with an NBA-ready body who should mesh well with the Warriors’ free-flowing offensive system. He could also learn from worse players than Draymond Green.

Lendeborg will be relatively old for a rookie, as he will turn 24 in September. That may be considered a plus for a Golden State team that needs immediate contributors.

Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan

Burries is a well-regarded prospect who is viewed as a two-way combo guard who can score and compete defensively. There are some questions about his shooting ability, though he improved his efficiency over the course of his freshman season.

This is a massive pick for the Bucks, as they are beginning their rebuild in the wake of trading Giannis Antetokounmpo. Burries should get plenty of opportunities with the ball in his hands next season, though Milwaukee should also have enough veterans around for Burries to develop methodically.

Brayden Burries, Arizona

Morez Johnson Jr. played for newly hired Mavericks head coach Dusty May at Michigan, making his NBA landing spot a familiar one. He will join last year’s No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg in Dallas’s frontcourt.

ESPN’s Jeremy Woo says Johnson Jr. is “a tough big man with length and the agility to switch onto the perimeter on defense,” but Woo also had him ranked 15th on his big board. This feels a little bit like the first slight reach of the night, though Yahoo Sports had Johnson Jr. as the 11th-best prospect in the draft.

Morez Johnson Jr., Michigan

With the Hawks’ selection of Kingston Flemings, this year’s draft has tied a record with eight straight freshmen selected to start the first round.

Draft analysts view Flemings as one of the better athletes in this year’s class, though his slight frame and outside shot are areas for him to work on as he enters the NBA.

The Hawks had this pick because of their trade with the New Orleans Pelicans during last year’s draft. Flemings likely won’t be called on to start in Atlanta, as he joins a team coming off a playoff berth that’s filled with veteran talent. It’s an advantageous situation for Flemings, who can work on his game under less pressure than most lottery picks, while also learning under the tutelage of C.J. McCollum.

Kingston Flemings, Houston

Acuff Jr. is viewed as a three-level scorer who will likely have the ball in his hands a lot on the next level, though he needs to improve his defense to compensate for his lack of size.

Acuff Jr. joins a Kings team that really needs help everywhere. Sacramento was a veteran-laden mess of a roster last season, and the franchise desperately needs an infusion of young talent. Expect the Kings to try to sell off some of their vets (Russell Westbrook, DeMar DeRozan, Domantas Sabonis) as they make a more youthful pivot.

Darius Acuff Jr., Arkansas

Brown “has an unstoppable pull-up jumper” when he’s got it going, adding that he also possesses “an ambidextrous finishing ability, and the quick reads to rifle passes before the defense has time to react," Yahoo Sports’ Kevin O’Connor says.

ESPN’s Jeremy Woo adds that Brown “has a well-rounded offensive tool kit for a lead guard, with good size and vision in transition and the half court.”

Brown was hampered by a back injury in college, but that wasn’t enough to scare away the Nets. Brooklyn made four first-round picks in last year’s draft, and Brown will join them, as well as the newly acquired Julius Randle, as the Nets look to be more competitive next season.

Prospective draftees before the first round of the NBA basketball draft. Yuki Iwamura / AP

Here are some fun facts on the first five picks so far, courtesy of the NBA:

• The Wizards became the first team since the flattened odds were introduced in 2019 to finish with the NBA’s worst record and receive the No. 1 pick.
• The Utah Jazz made the second pick in the NBA draft for the second time, selecting Kansas guard Darryn Peterson. The Jazz selected Darrell Griffith with the No. 2 pick in 1980.
• The Memphis Grizzlies made the third pick for the second time, selecting Duke forward Cameron Boozer. The Grizzlies selected Shareef Abdur‑Rahim with the No. 3 pick in 1996 ahead of their second season.
• Caleb Wilson became North Carolina’s highest draft pick since Marvin Williams was selected with the No. 2 pick in 2005.
• Keaton Wagler was rated as the No. 261 overall prospect in 247Sports’ composite rankings in the 2025 recruiting class.

Mikel Brown Jr., Louisville

Wagler “plays with pace and poise beyond his years, relying on his craft and playmaking vision to create shots for himself and teammates," ESPN’s Jeremy Woo says.

Yahoo Sports’ Kevin O’Connor, however, adds that Wagler “needs to overcome a lack of traditional athleticism” to become a star in the league.

Wagler joins a Clippers team in the midst of a youth movement. Los Angeles acquired guard Darius Garland in a trade last season, and there are rumors that Kawhi Leonard is on the trade block.

Keaton Wagler, Illinois

The Los Angeles Clippers will pick fifth tonight as a result of a mid-season trade with the Indiana Pacers.

The Pacers traded top-four protected pick (among other stuff) in exchange for center Ivica Zubac. During the draft lottery, there was a tense moment in the room when the fourth pick was being drawn, as Indiana’s fate was about to be revealed.

The Pacers ended up losing what was essentially a coin flip of odds, and relinquished their draft selection to the Clippers.

Wilson “plays hard, dunks everything and has untapped offensive upside if he can improve his ball skills and jumper," ESPN’s Jeremy Woo says.

Yahoo Sports’ Kevin O’Connor describes Wilson as “the most gifted athlete in the draft class.”

Wilson joins a Bulls team that has signaled a full rebuild this summer, installing a new head coach and front office before the draft. He will join the newly acquired Nic Claxton in the frontcourt.

Caleb Wilson. Yuki Iwamura / AP

Caleb Wilson, North Carolina

Boozer “dominates games not only with great strength and skill, but also with an extremely quick basketball mind," ESPN’s Jeremy Woo says.

Yahoo Sports’ Kevin O’Connor describes Boozer as “the most polished player in the class.”

The Grizzlies needed plenty of help after trading away Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr. in the last year. Boozer is expected to be the cornerstone of Memphis’s next era, as guard Ja Morant is reportedly on the trade block as well.

Boozer, by the way, is the son of two-time NBA All-Star Carlos Boozer.

Cameron Boozer, Duke

In addition to being selected by the Utah Jazz, Peterson is also signing an endorsement deal with Adidas, according to sneaker reporter Nick DePaula.

ESPN’s Jeremy Woo describes him as “the most gifted scorer in this draft.”

Yahoo Sports’ Kevin O’Connor says Peterson is “a buttery smooth scorer with a blend of fluid body control and positional size that gives him the ingredients to become an elite NBA player.”

Peterson was considered by many the top prospect in this year’s class, but his stock was hampered by injury issues during his lone season at Kansas. He joins a team that has talented players in the frontcourt, as the Jazz will be pairing Peterson with accomplished forwards Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr.

Darryn Peterson, Kansas

“It just means a lot,” Dybantsa told ESPN’s Lisa Salters while seated next to his sisters, who lauded his work ethic.

Dybantsa added, though: “I have a lot more work to do.”

One note: Dybantsa was called to the stage under his full name, Anicet Dybantsa Jr., which he said was a tribute to his father.

ESPN’s Jeremy Woo says Dybantsa “has elite positional size, strength and movement skills, and he thrives attacking downhill and in the midrange.”

Yahoo Sports’ Kevin O’Connor adds that Dybantsa “has a tremendously high floor with his scoring skill alone.”

Dybantsa should be entering a favorable situation with the Wizards, as he won’t be expected to be the top option right away. After trading for veterans Trae Young and Anthony Davis last season, Dybantsa will be able to ease into a secondary role as opposed to being heralded as a savior from his first game. 

AJ Dybantsa. Arturo Holmes / Getty Images

AJ Dybantsa, BYU

As is custom in these situations, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver was booed as he took the stage for the first time tonight. Frankly, it would have been more alarming if he hadn’t been jeered.

The NBA draft is finally underway, with the Wizards prepared to make the night’s first selection. The last time the Wizards had the number one overall pick, it was in 2010 and they selected John Wall.

This is one of the most anticipated draft classes in years. How will the top four play out? Which teams will make trades? All will be revealed soon!

Kenny Beecham dives into this year's NBA draft lottery, where he runs through his predictions for the first 15 picks.

Prospective draftees before the first round of the NBA basketball draft. Yuki Iwamura / AP

The first four picks are determined by a lottery involving the 14 teams that missed the NBA playoffs.

The three teams with the worst regular-season records each have a 14% chance of getting the No. 1 pick. The odds decrease for the remaining teams (in propotion to their records).

After the top four picks, the remaining 10 lottery teams are slotted in according to their records (meaning that the worst team is guaranteed at least the fifth pick). The remaining 15 picks of the first round are ordered in reverse of the teams’ regular-season records.

The 30 picks in the second round are ordered entirely by regular-season records, with the worst team picking 31st and the best picking 60th.

Duke forward Cameron Boozer isn’t seen as a likely option to go first overall to the Wizards. He thinks that’s a mistake.

Cameron Boozer. Adam Hunger / AP

“For me, not being in that conversation, I don’t really understand it,” Boozer said on ESPN during the pre-draft broadcast. “And I think many years down the line, people are gonna look back and say that I should’ve been.”

We will find out!

“Who does he remind you of?”

It’s a common refrain when talking about NBA draft prospects. A player comparison is an easy way for someone unfamiliar with a player to get an idea of his style or potential. It’s also tricky because it’s hard to do accurately.

When talking to scouts or front office personnel, they are hesitant to make player comparisons (at least publicly) for two reasons. First, every player is unique and there is no perfect match; it’s always a little flawed. Second, the established player brings baggage to the comparison. In this year’s mix below, Darius Acuff Jr. gets compared in style to Kyrie Irving, but Irving is a Hall of Fame player, which is an unfair burden to put on any player.

Kenny Beecham evaluates several prospect fits for the NBA draft beyond the top names, including Brayden Burries and his enticing potential if drafted by the Dallas Mavericks to join Cooper Flagg and more.

Pelicans forward Trey Murphy is a hot name on the trade market at the moment. According to multiple reports, several teams have considered moving a first-round pick for him, including the Golden State Warriors and the Los Angeles Clippers.

It was the blockbuster deal of the NBA offseason: After years of will-he/won’t-he, two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo has been traded to Miami.

It also feels like the first domino of what will be some other big moves — including possibly a Jaylen Brown bidding war and trade. At NBC, we’ve explained the Antetokounmpo trade, named its winners and losers, and broken down how it will impact fantasy teams. Still, the fallout from this trade just keeps coming. Here are some other notes and analysis surrounding Antetokounmpo’s move to Miami.

Just one sleep remains before the first round of the 2026 NBA draft in Brooklyn. The 2026 class has been considered one of the deepest and most talented in recent memory, headlined by a quartet of generational one-and-dones as well as explosive guards and elite veteran forwards.

With the draft almost here, here are John Fanta’s picks for all 30 first-round selections.

Ament, 19, is a 6'10" forward who can handle the ball and is expected to go in the back half of the lottery tonight.

He is also one of the more unique prospects in this year’s draft. Growing up, Ament was more of a soccer player until he took up basketball as a teenager, eventually becoming a five-star recruit before playing for Tennessee in college.

Ament is also the son of a survivor of the Rwandan genocide. He spoke with NBC News last summer about his unique journey on and off the court.

Relive the best moments from Darryn Peterson’s 2025-26 season, where he proved to be an elite scorer for the Kansas Jayhawks, averaging 20.2 points and becoming a highly desired prospect for NBA teams.

After a lengthy, wide-ranging search for their next coach, the Portland Trail Blazers have chosen one of the guys already at the front of the line.

Portland has hired longtime Minnesota assistant coach Micah Nori, the Trail Blazers announced.

“After an extensive search process, it became clear that Micah embodies the qualities we are looking for in the leader of this franchise,” Portland general manager Joe Cronin said in a statement.

The Celtics reportedly offered Brown to the Milwaukee Bucks during their failed pursuit of Giannis Antetokounmpo, who is instead headed to the Miami Heat.

If Boston has a disgruntled star on its hands, it’s possible Brown is traded as early as tonight, especially with how loaded this draft class is. Perhaps the Celtics use Brown to move into the lottery.

Fresh off his historic NBA championship, New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson exclusively announces his children’s book “Jalen Plays it All” on "TODAY." The picture book explores the MVP’s journey to stardom and his drive to never give up.

NBA champion Jalen Brunson announces children’s book

00:38

From the blockbuster Giannis Antetokounmpo trade to the New York Knicks’ first title in 53 years and ongoing conversations surrounding flopping and tanking, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver explored several of the association’s top storylines on this morning’s episode of the "Dan Patrick Show."

With Anteokounmpo on the move to Miami, Silver reflected on the important ripple effects of blockbuster trades involving superstars.

“A certain amount of player movement is good. It creates renewed energy and hope in markets. Even in Milwaukee, there was a sense there it was time to rebuild, and a lot of excitement about Giannis going to Miami.”

Peterson is widely considered one of the two best prospects in tonight’s draft, and many experts have him on the top of their draft board.

He had a strange season at Kansas, however, missing significant time and playing limited minutes due to injuries, including a once-mysterious cramping issue. Peterson has since said an increase in his creatine intake was to blame for his cramping problems. But the availability issue may follow him into the league until Peterson can prove he’s found the answer to his problems.

Kenny Beecham lays out ideal fits for several top prospects in this year's NBA draft, including Cameron Boozer to the Jazz and Darius Acuff Jr., who may have the draft's most natural potential fit with the Kings.

This has been a relatively strong decade for No. 1 picks in the NBA Draft.

In 2020, the Timberwolves selected Anthony Edwards first, and he’s since led the team to multiple conference finals appearances.

In 2021, the Pistons selected Cade Cunningham, who was an All-NBA First Team selection in 2026.

In 2022, the Magic selected Paolo Banchero, who earned an All-Star bid in 2024.

In 2023, the Spurs selected Victor Wembanyama, who just made the Finals in his third season.

In 2025, the Mavericks selected Cooper Flagg, who won Rookie of the Year honors this past season.

The only pick lacking in accomplishments so far is Zaccharie Risacher, whom the Hawks took first in 2024.

"The Dan Le Batard Show" discusses what realistic postseason expectations are for the Miami Heat now that Giannis Antetokounmpo has joined the team's ranks, and whether his age may make him more injury prone.

Dusty May in April. Abbie Parr / AP file

The Dallas Mavericks officially announced Dusty May as their new coach just a few hours before entering the NBA draft with the ninth pick on Tuesday night.

May is making the jump to the NBA less than three months after leading Michigan to its first NCAA championship since 1989. He had a 64-13 record in two years with the Wolverines, including a 34-3 season that ended with a 69-63 victory over UConn in the national title game.

The Mavericks made their choice to replace Jason Kidd official on the same day they could select the next young player who would be part of building around 2025 No. 1 pick and reigning Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg, who turns 20 in December.

The Miami Heat got their man. Again.

Miami was the frontrunner to land Giannis Antetokounmpo going back to the February trade deadline — it was the most persistent suitor then, and it was one of the two teams standing in the end.

Milwaukee is trading Antetokounmpo to Miami for four players and three draft picks, but which team won this trade? And who were the losers?

Check out the incredible highlights from AJ Dybantsa’s freshman season that have the BYU star poised to compete for the top pick in the 2026 NBA draft.

Vaughn Dalzell and Drew Dinsick discuss their best bets for Arkansas star Darius Acuff Jr.'s draft position at the 2026 NBA draft, and whether it's more likely he'll go at or after No. 6 overall to the Brooklyn Nets.

1. Washington

2. Utah

3. Memphis

4. Chicago

5. LA Clippers (from Indiana)

6. Brooklyn

Dan Patrick and Jay Bilas dive into this year's buzzy NBA draft prospects, with Bilas highlighting the impressive depth of quality talent available before reminiscing on favorite draft night memories.

Kingston Flemings joins "Numbers on the Board" to share how he's preparing for being drafted into the NBA, watching this year's NBA Finals and more.