2026 NBA mock draft: Final projections

The 2026 NBA Draft kicks off with the first round Tuesday, June 23, at 8 p.m. ET (on ESPN/ABC in the U.S. and TSN in Canada) at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

The NBA draft is just a day away, and teams are finalizing their decisions ahead of a first round that's expected to be one of the most loaded in recent memory.

With player talent, team fit, and public intel in mind, our final mock draft breaks down what Round 1 could look like come Tuesday. We aren't projecting any trades in this exercise.

See more:
Draft superlatives | Player comps | Hidden gems

All statistics include both regular-season and tournament competitions.

AJ Dybantsa, BYU 🇺🇸

Position: SF
Height: 6-foot-9
Weight: 210 lbs
Year: Freshman

Dybantsa going first to the Wizards seems increasingly likely as the draft inches closer. Washington has quietly assembled a competitive roster that includes the veteran duo of Trae Young (should he re-sign) and Anthony Davis in addition to young talent such as Alex Sarr, Kyshawn George, and Tre Johnson. This team is missing a true wing, though, and Dybantsa's makeup should help him fit like a glove.

One of the draft's best play-finishers with true on-ball scoring ability, Dybantsa could immediately average 20 points while shaping Washington into a rising team. The real question is what his game will look like when he isn't the clear No. 1 option.

Cameron Boozer, Duke 🇺🇸

Position: PF
Height: 6-foot-9
Weight: 250 lbs
Year: Freshman

Darryn Peterson remains the slight favorite to be selected second, but Boozer could very well end up in this spot. Fresh off one of the greatest freshman seasons in college basketball history, Boozer has an ultra-skilled game and a burly frame that should fit on any roster, including one with a plethora of frontcourt options, such as Utah's. His downhill driving should complement the shooting of fellow big men Jaren Jackson Jr. and Lauri Markkanen.

Plus, let's not forget that Boozer's father, Carlos, is a scout for the organization. Additionally, prior to the 2017 draft, Jazz CEO and then-Boston Celtics executive Danny Ainge famously spurned his team's projected pick (Markelle Fultz) and traded down to take a polished Duke alum (Jayson Tatum), which certainly worked out in his favor.

Darryn Peterson, Kansas 🇺🇸

Position: PG/SG
Height: 6-foot-6
Weight: 205 lbs
Year: Freshman

If Boozer goes second, the draft's most gifted scorer would land in Memphis' lap. Peterson was heavily scrutinized during his lone collegiate season due to his inconsistent availability. However, there's no doubting that his ability to hit shots on and off the ball is typically seen in All-Star-caliber players.

With a Ja Morant trade seeming likely, the Grizzlies appear set to officially enter a new phase. Peterson may not be their point guard of the future, but he could surely serve as the franchise's leading scorer for years to come. If the Kansas product flashes more playmaking than he showed last season, he could become even more than that.

Caleb Wilson, North Carolina 🇺🇸

Position: PF
Height: 6-foot-10
Weight: 215 lbs
Year: Freshman

While Wilson may not be quite in the same tier as the draft's top three, he's clearly a cut above the rest of the pack. Wilson, who has tremendous fluidity and footwork for someone his size, may be the best overall athlete in the class and has superstar potential if his jumper improves.

The Bulls are set on the wing and on the ball as they begin their rebuild. Wilson gives Chicago's core a high-ceiling frontcourt option to grow alongside and a protege for new head coach Tiago Splitter to mentor.

Mikel Brown Jr., Louisville 🇺🇸

Position: PG
Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 190 lbs
Year: Freshman

This is where the draft gets fun, and far more unpredictable. Arguably the four best players on the board at this pick will be on-ball point guards, which puts the Clippers in an interesting spot given they just recently traded for 6-foot-1 guard Darius Garland and have his max contract on the books for two more years.

Stuck in a weird phase between competing and rebuilding, Brown represents perhaps the highest upside of any guard option available with his sizable 6-foot-4 frame, and a modern shot diet consisting of tons of deep threes. He can fit alongside the smaller Garland from the get-go, and could become the franchise's lead guard in time. That said, his occasional inefficiency as a passer and a scorer suggests a more volatile floor than the other options.

Keaton Wagler, Illinois 🇺🇸

Position: PG
Height: 6-foot-6
Weight: 190 lbs
Year: Freshman

It's long been known that this Nets organization values positional size heavily, and Wagler is the biggest point guard on the board. The Nets don't currently have a guard on the roster that averaged more than 10.3 points per game last year, and Wagler's status as one of the draft's best off-the-dribble shooters is a seamless fit.

Wagler doesn't have the athleticism or the true on-ball creation of a prototypical starting point guard, but his ability to play both on and off the ball at his size allows him to be very versatile for his position. On a roster still searching for its identity, the Illinois product would be an immediate impact piece.

Darius Acuff Jr., Arkansas 🇺🇸

Position: PG/SG
Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 185 lbs
Year: Freshman

Rumors have been swirling that the Kings are enamored with Acuff, to the point where they may trade up to snag him if necessary. The Nets haven't traditionally valued someone with Acuff's potential weaknesses as the lottery's shortest player and worst defender, so if the Clippers don't take him at 5 we could see him fall to Sacramento.

It is no secret that Acuff's defensive tape at Arkansas is extremely poor, but he also has the upside of being the NBA's next generational point guard. Only Jalen Brunson matched Acuff's 2-point, 3-point, and passing efficiency on similar volume as a non-senior in modern college basketball. Given what Brunson just did for the title-winning New York Knicks, Acuff is too tantalizing a prospect to pass up on.

Kingston Flemings, Houston 🇺🇸

Position: PG
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 190 lbs
Year: Freshman

Flemings would make it four straight point guards drafted, and would also represent the most athletic option of the four. The Hawks played point guard by committee last season after Trae Young was shipped to Washington, and Flemings would give them a permanent fix at the position.

Flemings' very modest 6-foot-4 wingspan is perhaps his biggest red flag at the moment, but he would be aided by an Atlanta roster filled with long wings with defensive versatility. Flemings' blow-by speed and pull-up jumper adds a new dynamic to a team that gave the Knicks their toughest test in this year's playoffs.

Brayden Burries, Arizona 🇺🇸

Position: PG/SG
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 205 lbs
Year: Freshman

Burries' talent level is on par with Brown, Wagler, Acuff, and Flemings, but he is the only player in that group that doesn't project as a long-term point guard after playing off the ball at Arizona. Slightly small for a 2-guard, Burries growing as a playmaker would allow him to hit a higher ceiling than projected.

In the meantime, Burries is a gifted three-level scorer with positive defensive contributions, and makes sense next to an on-ball wing like Cooper Flagg. With multiple big men projected to flank Flagg in the frontcourt, it should be expected for Dallas to take a guard here.

Karim Lopez, New Zealand Breakers 🇲🇽

Position: SF
Height: 6-foot-9
Weight: 220 lbs

With a Giannis Antetokounmpo departure seeming inevitable, the Bucks are clear candidates to tear things down and start from scratch. With many of the options in this range older prospects with safer floors, don't be surprised to see Milwaukee take a bit of a gamble here.

The 19-year-old Mexico native has a very wide range in the draft as one of the few prospects that didn't play college basketball but possesses great positional size, functional athleticism, and flashes of real skill. Tennessee's Nate Ament also fits the bill of what the Bucks might be looking for here, but they may prefer the first round's biggest wild card in Lopez.

Aday Mara, Michigan 🇪🇸

Position: C
Height: 7-foot-3
Weight: 255 lbs
Year: Junior

The Warriors may have one final chance to try to compete with 38-year-old Stephen Curry, 37-year-old Jimmy Butler, and 36-year-old Draymond Green, as all three are set for unrestricted free agency next offseason.

The gigantic Mara can immediately help a defense that slipped all the way to 17th last season, and also possesses the passing skill that the Warriors have always valued next to Curry. If the franchise ends up rebuilding in the very near future, Mara could be the anchor of a young squad with his growing touch around the rim and potential to fill a Zach Edey post hub role offensively.

Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan 🇵🇷

Position: PF
Height: 6-foot-10
Weight: 235 lbs
Year: Senior

Because the Thunder have 75% of their cap tied up in their three superstars, it means there is an added need for their inexpensive rookie scale players to provide a real impact in their rotation right off the bat.

Lendeborg is the first round's most polished and oldest player at 23 years old, and the national champion Wolverines' leading scorer arguably could have already been playing rotation minutes in the NBA last season. Lendeborg's game checks every box with his elite versatility, and he is exactly what a team that already rosters so many useful players could add with the luxury of yet another lottery pick.

Morez Johnson Jr., Michigan 🇺🇸

Position: PF
Height: 6-foot-9
Weight: 250 lbs
Year: Sophomore

Why not make it three straight Michigan players drafted at the tail end of the lottery? Pat Riley and Co. have always prioritized winners who are projected to make an immediate impact in the NBA, and that describes Johnson perfectly.

Johnson is young for a sophomore at 20 years old, and has some untapped potential as a shooter and facilitator. Learning under the mentorship of star Bam Adebayo could see Johnson also reach similar heights in the future.

Nate Ament, Tennessee 🇺🇸

Position: SF/PF
Height: 6-foot-10
Weight: 207 lbs
Year: Freshman

Ament has one of the draft's widest ranges of outcomes, being seen by some as an option as early as No. 6 to the Nets. He'll also surely be considered by the Bucks at 10. But even Ament's giant frame as a true wing can't make up for his extreme inefficiency during his lone college season at Tennessee.

The Hornets could use Ament's length alongside a handful of proven scoring options, and hope that his unique frame can become more efficient in a lower-usage role than the one he played for the Volunteers. This would be a strong value pick to close out the lottery.

Cameron Carr, Baylor 🇺🇸

Position: SG/SF
Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 175 lbs
Year: Junior

Carr was arguably the biggest winner of the draft combine scrimmages, where he showcased his elite scoring ability with a ridiculous 7-foot-1 wingspan against his peers. How he fits on a winning team and if he has any playmaking pop are his main concerns, but there's no doubt that he's a capable shotmaker. With Wilson and Carr, the Bulls would be doubling down on length and athleticism to fit around their current pieces.

Dailyn Swain, Texas 🇺🇸

Position: SG/SF
Height: 6-foot-8
Weight: 211 lbs
Year: Junior

Swain is a walking paint touch, and the Grizzlies are low on players that can create for themselves while getting downhill. If they do end up adding Peterson at No. 3, Swain brings on-ball physicality that should pair well on the wing with last year's first-rounder Cedric Coward. This could be a home run if Swain improves on his defense and 3-pointer.

Christian Anderson, Texas Tech 🇺🇸

Position: PG
Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 180 lbs
Year: Sophomore

This pick is probably the least likely to remain with its current owner, given the Thunder already made a pick at No. 12, they have a second-round pick with a more flexible contract structure, and they would enter free agency with 14 to 15 standard contracts on the books if they add a player here. Anderson is possibly the best player available on the board, and his blend of shooting and playmaking also makes him valuable to virtually any NBA team.

Labaron Philon, Alabama 🇺🇸

Position: PG
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 175 lbs
Year: Sophomore

The Hornets led the NBA in pick-and-roll usage last season, and Philon is arguably the best pick-and-roll guard in the entire draft class. Considering LaMelo Ball has played more than 51 games in just two of his six NBA seasons, it isn't the worst idea for the Hornets to get some insurance behind their franchise point guard with the team's second pick in the first round.

Bennett Stirtz, Iowa 🇺🇸

Position: PG
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 190 lbs
Year: Senior

Here's one of the craziest stats for any player in this draft class: in his two years at the Division I level, Stirtz played in 2,534 of a possible 2,590 minutes in games that finished within 25 points (non-blowouts). He played 98% of available minutes in those games and yet still combined to shoot 57% from 2 and 37% from 3 over that stretch. While his minutes will surely go down in the NBA, his ability to run a team, hit off-ball threes, and contribute to a winning franchise would be valuable assets for a surging Raptors squad.

Jayden Quaintance, Kentucky 🇺🇸

Position: PF/C
Height: 6-foot-10
Weight: 255 lbs
Year: Sophomore

Reportedly slipping due to injury concerns following a lengthy rehab from a torn ACL, Quaintance genuinely has a chance to be the best overall defender in the draft. He used his elite 7-foot-5 wingspan and solid mobility to put forth a spectacular defensive campaign at just 17 years old for Arizona State two years ago. Quaintance's defensive versatility next to Victor Wembanyama would be downright filthy, and his rim finishing could allow him to thrive as a backup big or eventual starting pairing next to the towering Frenchman.

Allen Graves, Santa Clara 🇺🇸

Position: PF
Height: 6-foot-9
Weight: 225 lbs
Year: Freshman

On the plus side, Graves contributed in nearly every area for a Santa Clara team that made the NCAA Tournament as an at-large team. On the downside, Graves did so off the bench in a mid-major league. His measurements and athletic profile aren't standouts, but there's no denying the stats he produced in his muted minutes. If he can realize his potential on the biggest stage, he'll be a fun Swiss Army knife to trot out next to Cade Cunningham.

Chris Cenac Jr., Houston 🇺🇸

Position: PF/C
Height: 6-foot-11
Weight: 240 lbs
Year: Freshman

Cenac's extremely low rim rate, poor shooting numbers, and underwhelming defensive counting stats at Houston are all working against him, and have him falling out of the lottery after being a potential top-5 pick heading into this cycle. But you cannot teach his athletic gifts, including a monstrous 7-foot-5 wingspan. If he can be more impactful in an NBA-style system, he'd be a major defensive and rebounding help to a smaller 76ers squad.

Hannes Steinbach, Washington 🇩🇪

Position: PF
Height: 6-foot-11
Weight: 248 lbs
Year: Freshman

Steinbach has the chance to be selected higher than this, but questions about his position remain present. He doesn't have the elite vertical pop, defensive dominance, or proven 3-point stroke of most bigs around his size, but he doesn't project to slide down to the 4, either. Even fellow German Isaiah Hartenstein's bully-ball game doesn't fully apply, as Steinbach is a couple of inches shorter. If a team like the Hawks could find use for his best-in-class rebounding skill, this spot will seem too low in retrospect.

Tarris Reed Jr., UConn 🇺🇸

Position: C
Height: 6-foot-10
Weight: 260 lbs
Year: Senior

Reed was a very good player throughout his college career, but turned into a dominant one in the NCAA Tournament, willing UConn to the national title game while averaging 21 points and 11.5 rebounds across six contests. There are few NBA big men as physical as Reed is, and he possesses spectacular touch around the rim. He'd become a great Mitchell Robinson replacement if the Knicks can't retain him in free agency.

Henri Veesaar, North Carolina 🇪🇪

Position: C
Height: 7-feet
Weight: 225 lbs
Year: Junior

Veesaar's 43% clip from deep, paired with his true big man size, makes him the draft's best bet as a stretch 5. Whether his passing can continue to improve and he can handle his own defensively will determine his upside. The Lakers currently don't have a big on the roster who's a threat from beyond the arc, so Veesaar could give them a different element off the bench. He also played in Real Madrid's youth system growing up, just like star Luka Doncic.

Koa Peat, Arizona 🇺🇸

Position: PF
Height: 6-foot-8
Weight: 235 lbs
Year: Freshman

Peat is a physical freak with a rare combo of size, strength, and vertical, but that's his only signature NBA skill right now. The jumper is seemingly broken, he's just an OK interior finisher, and neither his passing or defensive numbers are noteworthy. His frame and prospect archetype is eerily similar to Aaron Gordon, down to the fact that they were both one-and-done players for Arizona. Considering the Nuggets figured out how to truly unlock Gordon, this feels like the perfect spot for Peat to succeed.

Zuby Ejiofor, St. John's 🇺🇸

Position: F
Height: 6-foot-9
Weight: 240 lbs
Year: Senior

Combining a tireless motor on the glass and the boards with an impressive four-year college development arc that culminated in real shooting and passing skill at St. John's, Ejiofor is the perfect role-playing big man for a team looking for frontcourt depth. Ejiofor's skill and strength combo at the 5 is something the Celtics haven't seen since Al Horford, and that type of big clearly works with this nucleus.

Ebuka Okorie, Stanford 🇺🇸

Position: G
Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 185 lbs
Year: Freshman

Watching Okorie's Stanford highlights almost makes it seem like he's playing a video game with his absurd stop-start burst and flashy finishing. The reality is he could go much higher in this draft if a team truly believes he could be a starting NBA point guard one day. But without proven off-ball spacing, merely average passing numbers, and a relatively small frame, it may be hard for Okorie to show his value as a role player. For Minnesota, a team without a surefire future point guard, he's more than worth the gamble at this spot.

Joshua Jefferson, Iowa State 🇺🇸

Position: PF
Height: 6-foot-9
Weight: 240 lbs
Year: Senior

Jefferson is the best passing forward in this draft, and he makes sense on an already proven roster given he's one of the older prospects without tons of upside in his development. The Cavaliers couldn't find a dependable big to play minutes behind Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen last year, and Jefferson could fill that void while bringing a signature skill to the table.

Isaiah Evans, Duke 🇺🇸

Position: SG
Height: 6-foot-6
Weight: 180 lbs
Year: Sophomore

The Mavericks were only 26th in 3-point percentage last year, and their first draft pick in Burries isn't blowing anyone away from long range. On the other hand, Evans made 38% of his 429 attempts from deep in college and has good length for the wing spot - though he does need to add significant strength. He was also a teammate of franchise cornerstone Flagg at Duke two years ago.

Matthew Winick is a college basketball analyst and consultant. You can find his work on X at @matthewwinick.