NBA · 7 hours ago

USA Today 2026 NBA Mock Draft: Breaking Down All 30 Opening Round Picks

Joe Cervenka

Host · Writer

You Tell Us? What Does Your Mock Draft Look Like?
What Do You Think? Join the Draft Debate!

The draft board is locked, and front offices are working overtime. Now it's your turn to play GM.
- The Battle at the Top: Is AJ Dybantsa a lock at No. 1 for the Wizards, or is Darryn Peterson's pure scoring talent too loud to pass up if he drops?
- The Medical Gambles: Would you take the risk on Jayden Quaintance's high-ceiling defensive potential in the first round?
- Late-First sleepers: Who is the ultimate sleeper in the back half of the first round?
Drop your mock draft grades and thoughts in the comments section! Give us your top 10 picks!
USA Today NBA Mock Draft
USA Today 2026 NBA Mock Draft: Auditing the 1st-Round Predictions

After the New York Knicks put on an absolute clinic to defeat the San Antonio Spurs and lift the 2026 NBA championship trophy, the entire league has officially pivoted to the offseason. And you know what that means: it is draft season. This year, we’ve got an incredibly deep pool of talent, and an exciting collegiate postseason gave front offices plenty of film on who actually steps up when the lights are brightest.

To help sift through the noise, we are looking at the latest 2026 NBA Mock Draft from USA Today's draft guru Bryan Kalbrosky. Incorporating exclusive pre-draft workout notes, scout whispers, and elite athletic testing data, this is the ultimate blueprint for how draft night at Barclays Center will shake out.

Let's jump into the No. 1 pick.
1. Washington Wizards: AJ Dybantsa
College Team: BYU

The Wizards have a massive decision to make at the top of the board, but Dybantsa’s pure, unadulterated scoring engine is just too loud to pass up. Putting his game-breaking talent next to Trae Young and Anthony Davis gives Washington an instantly thrilling young nucleus to build around.

"The former five-star recruit emphasized his case for No. 1 overall during his one game for BYU in March Madness, putting up 35 points and 10 rebounds. The Big 12 Rookie of the Year led the nation in unassisted points scored (680) by a wide margin this season, per CBB Analytics."
2. Utah Jazz: Cameron Boozer
College Team: Duke

While nearly every mainstream mock draft has the Jazz selecting Darryn Peterson, don't write this one in ink just yet. Boozer doesn't play a flashy game, but his bulletproof winning pedigree and physical consistency are exactly what Danny Ainge loves. Plus, the family ties are deep here with his dad, Carlos, scouting for the team.

"Duke freshman Cameron Boozer, meanwhile, was dominant during his sole NCAA season and earned national collegiate player of the year honors. He offers consistency and a diverse, impactful skill set, and he can bring a culture of winning after multiple championships in high school."
3. Memphis Grizzlies: Darryn Peterson
College Team: Kansas

Peterson’s draft stock might have taken a slight hit due to a clunky, injury-riddled year at Kansas, but purely on raw basketball talent, he’s still the biggest prize in this class. If he slips past the top two, Memphis should sprint to the podium, draft their new franchise floor general, and finally look at moving Ja Morant.

"While he is certainly no longer perceived as the near-certain No. 1 overall pick that he once was due to relative inconsistency and injury issues, many scouts and evaluators still feel that Darryn Peterson is the most talented player in this class. It is incredibly rare to find a prospect who is able to score as efficiently as Peterson did while holding a usage rate as high as his was this season."
4. Chicago Bulls: Caleb Wilson
College Team: North Carolina

Newly minted executive Bryson Graham has a very simple mission: grab whichever of the elite tier-one prospects slips to four. Wilson is a spectacular prize here, offering a terrifying blend of size, length, and violent vertical athleticism that perfectly fits Graham's vision of physical dominance.

"According to Bart Torvik, before the injury, the All-ACC big man led the nation with 67 dunks recorded and was one of the best vertical athletes who tested at the combine in Chicago. He was also the only player under 20 years old to reach specific thresholds for both block, steal and defensive rebound percentage."
5. Los Angeles Clippers: Keaton Wagler
College Team: Illinois

The Clippers landed this choice in the Zubac package, and while rival front offices are whispering about a potential trade, Wagler represents a dream spacing fit next to Darius Garland. He is a cold-blooded, big-game hunter who absolutely shot the lights out during the Fighting Illini's Final Four run.

"The 19-year-old guard played a crucial role in helping the Fighting Illini reach the Final Four, finishing with 20 points and eight rebounds against UConn in the national semifinals after scoring 25 points in the Elite Eight. He projects as one of the best 3-point shooters in this class, hitting 39.7% from beyond the arc as a freshman."
6. Brooklyn Nets: Mikel Brown Jr.
College Team: Louisville

Brooklyn is in the early stages of a massive rebuild, and securing an absolute sniper like Brown makes the future look very bright. Even though they drafted three point guards last year, his elite shooting range and playmaking flair are impossible to overlook.

"The All-ACC guard has deep shooting range and ranked among the freshman leaders in 3-pointers made from beyond 25 feet (27) this year, per CBB Analytics. Brown Jr. was averaging 29.2 points per game over his last five appearances, including a 45-point outing against NC State."
7. Sacramento Kings: Darius Acuff Jr.
College Team: Arkansas

Sacramento is hunting for a high-octane offensive spark plug, and league circles widely believe they have their eyes set on Acuff. He has some defensive holes to patch up, but his start-stop tools are elite and his connection to the Kings' front office makes him a lock here.

"Acuff Jr. led the nation for points created (1,394) either by himself or through an assist, per CBB Analytics. The speedy guard led freshmen for field goals made in transition (72) and field goals made from both the left and right side of the court."
8. Atlanta Hawks: Brayden Burries
College Team: Arizona

Securing New Orleans' pick gives Atlanta the perfect opportunity to lock down a highly productive, defensive-minded guard. Burries is a certified big-game player who proved his mettle during Arizona's Final Four run, and he can defend multiple spots while spacing the floor.

"He was an exciting prospect to watch during the Big Dance, making it all the way to the Final Four and dropping 23 points against Arkansas. He has proven productivity, and he is able to defend, relocate, move the ball and make 3-pointers off the dribble."
9. Dallas Mavericks: Kingston Flemings
College Team: Houston

The newly reformed Mavs front office lands an absolute speed demon here to grow alongside Cooper Flagg. Flemings might have a smaller wingspan, but his blistering speed and unselfish playmaking make him an elite backcourt target.

"Flemings' smaller wingspan did him no favors at the combine but he measured with a 40.5-inch max vertical and elite speed across all his agility testing, projecting as one of the fastest guards since De'Aaron Fox."
10. Milwaukee Bucks: Aday Mara
College Team: Michigan

Mara saved his draft stock in spectacular fashion during Michigan’s title run, turning into an elite rim protector. With front offices desperately looking for massive bodies to throw at Victor Wembanyama, the 7-foot-3 giant is a perfect fit for a Bucks team needing interior size. Once they move on from Giannis Antetokounmpo, the paint will be Mara's in Milwaukee.

"Opponents only attempted 20.4 percent of their field goals at the rim when the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year was on the court, per CBB Analytics, which ranks near the lowest among all NCAA players. He could potentially hear his name called even higher than this, too, as teams look for large defenders like Mara."
11. Golden State Warriors: Karim López
Team: New Zealand (International)

López operated in a scaled-down role playing against grown men in Australia, but scouts are absolutely salivating over his physical profile. The Mexican forward is a highly athletic, elite switch-defender who already caught the eye of Warriors executive Mike Dunleavy.

"The Mexican-born forward is physically gifted, athletic, and universally seen as the top prospect from this class currently playing overseas. He exploded for 32 points (11-of-13 FG) with eight rebounds, two blocks and one steal against Melbourne on Jan. 30 earlier this year."
12. Oklahoma City Thunder: Nate Ament
College Team: Tennessee

OKC has a mountain of draft assets, which allows Sam Presti to take a high-upside gamble on Ament. He is a smooth 6-foot-10 scoring wing who can space the floor and rise above defenders with ease, boasting a standing reach exceeding 9-foot-1.

"The freshman averaged 21.6 points per game, while shooting 38.9 percent on 3-pointers, during a 13-game stretch before an injury against Alabama on Feb. 28. The All-SEC forward then had 27 points (4-of-6 on 3-pointers) with eight rebounds, four assists, three blocks and a steal against Auburn on March 12."
13. Miami Heat: Hannes Steinbach
College Team: Washington

Steinbach reportedly turned down big money to turn pro, and he is a perfect match for the Heat culture. He is an absolute blue-collar rebounding machine with great hands who dominates the pick-and-roll with extreme physicality.

"The center reportedly turned down NIL opportunities “worth up to $10 million” rather than return to college. While his Washington team missed the tournament, the All-Big Ten center is an instinctive rebounder with great hands, including an absurd 24 rebounds against USC on March 4."
14. Charlotte Hornets: Morez Johnson Jr.
College Team: Michigan

The Hornets land an elite two-way workhorse here who was the physical anchor of Michigan’s title-winning identity. Johnson showed off elite athletic testing at the combine, proving he is a highly trustworthy, low-maintenance defensive playmaker.

"Johnson's shooting form at the free-throw line looks good, and he scores well near the rim, especially when cutting to the basket. The former FIBA U-19 Team USA standout and All-Big Ten big man is a trustworthy defensive playmaker, too, and should carve out minutes at the next level."
15. Chicago Bulls: Cameron Carr
College Team: Baylor

Chicago scores an unbelievable athletic outlier with their second first-round pick. Carr completely shattered the combine with his physical testing, presenting a highly unique blend of explosive athleticism and incredibly fluid movement mechanics.

"He scored 30 points in a five-on-five scrimmage, recorded a 42.5-inch max vertical and had great physical measurements. This should grab the attention of teams that tend to like athletic prospects, which new Bulls executive Bryson Graham indicated."
16. Memphis Grizzlies: Yaxel Lendeborg
College Team: Michigan

Memphis has a long history of coveting experienced, battle-tested winners, and the national champion Lendeborg fits their blueprint to a T. He is an incredibly NBA-ready forward who can dribble, pass, shoot, and defend multiple spots with extreme physical discipline.

"Yaxel Lendeborg showed on his way to winning the national championship that he is perhaps the most NBA-ready player in this draft class. For the second year in a row, the Big Ten Player of the Year was an impactful dribble-pass-shoot forward who met many of the qualifications."
17. Oklahoma City Thunder: Chris Cenac Jr.
College Team: Houston

Cenac played into his role and caught fire at the absolute perfect time during Houston's tournament run. He has a massive wingspan and an impressive physical profile, presenting a rare "bigs plus" archetype that pairs traditional size with wing-like mobility.

"In his first NCAA tournament game, the big man recorded a season-high 18 rebounds while also knocking down a 3-pointer and grabbing a steal. He followed that up in the Round of 32 by showcasing more scoring touch, finishing cuts to the basket for 17 points against Texas A&M."
18. Charlotte Hornets: Labaron Philon Jr.
College Team: Alabama

The Hornets get spectacular value here with Philon, a creative playmaker who took a massive sophomore leap at Alabama. He averaged a cool 22.0 points per game while dramatically improving his outside shot, proving he can carry a scoring load even when banged up.

"Even though the All-SEC guard was not playing at 100 percent during March Madness due to injury issues, he played well in the tournament, recording 35 points during a loss against Michigan. He also notched 29 points in his first-round game and 12 assists in his second."
19. Toronto Raptors: Bennett Stirtz
College Team: Iowa

The Raptors need a smart, steady ball-handler to help direct their offense, and Stirtz is an intelligent pick-and-roll master. He took an incredible journey from D-II to Iowa, proving he has the slow-tempo patience and shooting touch to thrive in Toronto's system.

"Stirtz is at the top of the class in creating his own shot off the dribble in isolation or the pick-and-roll. The All-Big Ten guard can also finish plays from dribble handoffs. His play during March Madness, which included 24 points against Illinois and 20 points against Nebraska, earned him a spot in the Elite Eight."
20. San Antonio Spurs: Ebuka Okorie
College Team: Stanford

Okorie is an incredibly intriguing early entry candidate who averaged a massive 23.2 points per game at Stanford. His high-octane scoring and stellar assist-to-turnover ratio make him a highly enticing backcourt option for the Spurs' system.

"The first-team All-ACC guard was a day-one starter in the NCAA who is potentially capable of earning rotation minutes for a team like the 76ers. Okorie has earned serious first-round buzz and should intrigue the Spurs, who often fall in love with players who boast a high assist-to-turnover ratio like he did (2.3) last season."
21. Detroit Pistons: Dailyn Swain
College Team: Texas

Swain emerged as one of the most compelling breakout players in the country after transferring to Texas. He is a highly fluid, athletic wing who can finish inside, make smart decisions, and play high-level isolation basketball.

"The All-SEC forward is versatile and contributed across the board on both ends, scoring efficiently in the paint and in transition. Another appealing element is his effectiveness in isolation, where he can create for himself against defenders."
22. Philadelphia 76ers: Joshua Jefferson
College Team: Iowa State

Philadelphia's new front office lands a highly versatile "dribble-pass-shoot" forward in Jefferson. He was the hub of a high-efficiency Iowa State offense before an unfortunate injury slowed his momentum, but his unique passing and size are perfect for the Sixers.

"The All-Big 12 standout was an impactful dribble-pass-shoot forward who got hurt during March Madness and otherwise could have come into the pre-draft process with even more hype and momentum due to his unique skill set."
23. Atlanta Hawks: Jayden Quaintance
College Team: Kentucky

While medical concerns regarding his knee have caused him to slide on boards, Quaintance is still one of the youngest and most dominant defensive prospects in this class. When healthy, his raw power and perimeter shot-blocking ability are unmatched.

"During his freshman year when he was just 17 years old, per CBB Analytics, he led all D-I players in blocks per 40 minutes (0.7) on 3-pointers, regularly swatting shots on the perimeter. While his draft stock is not what it once was due to health concerns, his youth and frame give him an opportunity to become a special player."
24. New York Knicks: Allen Graves
College Team: Santa Clara

The Knicks love high-motor players who win the possession battle, and Graves fits their exact identity. He is a relentless, scrappy rebounder and defensive disruptor who put up monster numbers at Santa Clara.

"One of the most under-the-radar prospects in college basketball this season was Santa Clara freshman Allen Graves, who came close to becoming a March Madness hero. The WCC Rookie of the Year and Sixth Man of the Year turned heads after posting 30 points, 13 rebounds, four assists and two steals on Feb. 7 against Washington State."
25. Los Angeles Lakers: Koa Peat
College Team: Arizona

Peat is a highly physical, agile forward who can rebound, pass, and put the ball on the deck with ease. He has an imposing frame and great wingspan, making him a highly intriguing developmental wing for Los Angeles.

"He is naturally bouncy and athletic with good positional size, a strong frame and a near 7-foot wingspan. Peat is also a solid rebounder and passer for his position. The All-Big 12 forward will need to improve his jumper to carve out consistent, high-impact minutes at the next level."
26. Denver Nuggets: Christian Anderson
College Team: Texas Tech

The Nuggets rely heavily on passing efficiency and off-ball movement, making Anderson a dream fit for their system. He is an outstanding offensive creator who took a massive sophomore leap at Texas Tech, proving he can run the point with elite touch.

"After moving from the two-guard to point guard, the All-Big 12 Most Improved Player recorded more than twice as many assists per 100 possessions as a sophomore compared to when he was a freshman. Anderson managed to do that while also scoring well on spot-up possessions and handoffs."
27. Boston Celtics: Isaiah Evans
College Team: Duke

Evans is a highly efficient movement shooter who makes quick decisions, fitting perfectly into Boston's preferred high-efficiency spacing model. He is an elite catch-and-shoot threat who knows how to exploit corner threes.

"Boston tends to favor players with a high effective field goal percentage, low turnover percentage and low usage rate. They also like players who make quick decisions on catch-and-shoot opportunities and on corner 3-pointers. Evans scored 218 points when shooting off the catch, per Synergy, which ranked third-best among ACC."
28. Minnesota Timberwolves: Meleek Thomas
College Team: Arkansas

Thomas is an incredibly efficient off-ball scorer who can light it up out of screens and handoffs. He led the SEC in corner threes, providing Minnesota with some much-needed shooting length.

"Arkansas freshman Meleek Thomas averaged 16.0 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.5 steals per game while shooting 43.2 percent on 3-pointers during his 21 games as a starter last season. He was efficient using off-ball screens and handoffs."
29. Cleveland Cavaliers: Henri Veesaar
College Team: North Carolina

Veesaar has shown remarkable improvement as a spacing big, proving he can score efficiently at the rim while remaining a legitimate threat from beyond the arc.

"The 7-foot big man from Estonia has an excellent shot diet on offense. The All-ACC big man is scoring efficiently at the rim (especially when cutting or rolling) and on 3-pointers, while also holding his own as a rebounder and passer."
30. Dallas Mavericks: Tarris Reed Jr.
College Team: Connecticut

Reed Jr. completely dominated the paint during UConn's run to the national title game, proving he is a highly physical, low-maintenance big. He showed off elite agility and defensive grit at the combine, making him a lock to find immediate minutes in the NBA.

"Reed Jr. helped himself quite a bit during the NCAA tournament en route to an appearance in the national championship game. He recorded four double-doubles during March Madness, notching 31 points and 27 rebounds against Furman."
You Tell Us? What Does Your Mock Draft Look Like?
What Do You Think? Join the Draft Debate!

The draft board is locked, and front offices are working overtime. Now it's your turn to play GM.
- The Battle at the Top: Is AJ Dybantsa a lock at No. 1 for the Wizards, or is Darryn Peterson's pure scoring talent too loud to pass up if he drops?
- The Medical Gambles: Would you take the risk on Jayden Quaintance's high-ceiling defensive potential in the first round?
- Late-First sleepers: Who is the ultimate sleeper in the back half of the first round?
Drop your mock draft grades and thoughts in the comments section! Give us your top 10 picks!
USA Today NBA Mock Draft
USA Today 2026 NBA Mock Draft: Auditing the 1st-Round Predictions

After the New York Knicks put on an absolute clinic to defeat the San Antonio Spurs and lift the 2026 NBA championship trophy, the entire league has officially pivoted to the offseason. And you know what that means: it is draft season. This year, we’ve got an incredibly deep pool of talent, and an exciting collegiate postseason gave front offices plenty of film on who actually steps up when the lights are brightest.

To help sift through the noise, we are looking at the latest 2026 NBA Mock Draft from USA Today's draft guru Bryan Kalbrosky. Incorporating exclusive pre-draft workout notes, scout whispers, and elite athletic testing data, this is the ultimate blueprint for how draft night at Barclays Center will shake out.

Let's jump into the No. 1 pick.