With the first round of the 2026 NBA draft set to take place on Tuesday night, June 23 at 8 pm in Brooklyn, the class is headlined by star freshmen everywhere.
The record for freshmen taken in a single first round is 16, set in the 2017 draft, which was led by no. 3 overall pick and Boston Celtics superstar Jayson Tatum. This draft is primed to come close, if not break that record.
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Every organization enters draft night with different priorities, whether it’s finding the new face of the franchise or addressing team needs.
This first round mock draft projects how Tuesday night could unfold. While trades, surprises and draft-night chaos are inevitable, here’s how we see the first round shaping up.
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Washington Wizards – AJ Dybantsa
Dybantsa, the consensus top player in this class, possesses superstar upside that will make the young, exciting Washington core even better.
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Utah Jazz – Darryn Peterson
Peterson gives the Jazz a franchise-caliber centerpiece who combines elite shot creation, playmaking, and versatility.
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Memphis Grizzlies – Cameron Boozer
Boozer is a gritty, polished forward who thrives inside, giving the Grizzlies’ an ideal running mate for Ja Morant.
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Chicago Bulls – Caleb Wilson
Wilson is a versatile, high-upside forward who gives Chicago a two-way player with the talent and potential to be a cornerstone of the franchise.
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Los Angeles Clippers – Keaton Wagler
Wagler fills the need for perimeter shooting and can be a long-term running mate alongside Garland.
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Brooklyn Nets – Darius Acuff Jr.
Acuff Jr. is the ideal long-term pick for Brooklyn, who is back in the rebuild phase. One of the best pure scorers in this draft, Acuff Jr. can be the guy for years to come.
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Sacramento Kings – Kingston Flemings
Flemings is a combination of scoring ability, playmaking and defensive upside that will fit in alongside Sacramento’s aging core and young talent.
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Atlanta Hawks – Aday Mara
Mara gives the Hawks exactly what they’ve been lacking for years, a true presence inside. His size and skill will play well into what Atlanta started to establish last year, a team that can hang around with the best.
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Dallas Mavericks – Mikel Brown Jr
Brown Jr. is a perfect pairing for Cooper Flagg; a dynamic PnR playmaker who possesses shot creation and shooting ability, and could be the future beyond Kyrie.
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Milwaukee Bucks – Yaxel Lendeborg
Lendeborg gives the Bucks a versatile forward to plug into their young core with all of the uncertainty around Giannis Antetokounmpo. His NBA-ready skillset will provide immediate impact in Milwaukee.
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Golden State Warriors – Brayden Burries
Burries is a tough two-way guard who can be a running mate for Steph Curry and can contribute immediately with his off-ball ability.
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Oklahoma City Thunder – Karim Lopez
Lopez gives OKC another high-upside, high-intensity wing who will fit into their system, bringing professional experience and a high ceiling.
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Miami Heat – Labaron Philon
Philon is an elite scorer and a lead guard that the Heat don’t have, making him a natural fit for the Miami roster.
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Charlotte Hornets – Nate Ament
Ament is yet another high-upside player to go along with what Charlotte is building, bringing size, athleticism and shot-creation to the LaMelo Ball led offense.
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Chicago Bulls – Christian Anderson
Anderson is an ideal complement to Wilson; a high-IQ guard who can space the floor and run the offense, bringing stability to Chicago’s backcourt.
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Memphis Grizzlies – Morez Johnson
Doubling up on forwards, Johnson brings a high motor and above-the-rim finishing to a Grizzlies team looking to compete again.
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Oklahoma City Thunder – Bennett Stirtz
Stirtz has an innate feel for the game and his decision-making, passing and shooting will work well with the Thunder’s second unit.
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Charlotte Hornets – Isaiah Evans
Evans will fit in with the Hornets culture: young, flashy and fun. He is one of the draft’s best shooters and has the potential to elevate the already must-watch Charlotte offense.
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Toronto Raptors – Hannes Steinbach
Steinbach’s size, offensive versatility and passing ability make him an intriguing addition to Toronto’s roster.
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San Antonio Spurs – Jayden Quaintance
Quaintance has elite defensive upside and athleticism, adding to a young, hungry core that just lost in the NBA Finals.
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Detroit Pistons – Chris Cenac Jr.
Cenac Jr. will allow Detroit to relieve some of the burden off of Jalen Duren, giving them a raw defensive prospect who will fit in with what the Pistons have built with Cade Cunningham, Ausar Thompson and Duren.
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Philadelphia 76ers – Allen Graves
Graves gives Philadelphia a versatile two-way forward who can provide immediate impact with his defense, shooting and high-IQ alongside Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey.
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Atlanta Hawks – Dailyn Swain
Swain gives the Hawks another scoring option to pick up the slack from the bench unit lacking a go-to guy. Like we saw in the playoffs, when Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Jalen Johnson are cold, a top team cannot rely on CJ McCollum to get the job done.
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New York Knicks – Koa Peat
Peat is a tough, physical forward who fits perfectly with the champion’s identity. His rebounding and defensive versatility only add to a Knicks team that thrives on the fastbreak.
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Los Angeles Lakers – Cameron Carr
Carr is a long, athletic wing who will bring another level of scoring to a Lakers offense that we saw struggle to score when Luka Doncic went down with a hamstring strain and did not play in the playoffs.
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Denver Nuggets – Meleek Thomas
Thomas is a rangy scorer who will provide shot-creation ability and another outlet for Nikola Jokic’s elite playmaking.
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Boston Celtics – Henri Veesaar
Boston needs a big with the expected departure of Nikola Vucevic, and Veesaar is the best remaining. He possesses the combination of size, shooting touch and passing ability to thrive in the Celtic’s system.
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Minnesota Timberwolves – Zuby Ejiofor
Ejiofor is a physical, high-motor forward who will provide rebounding, interior scoring and toughness off the bench for a Timberwolves team lacking depth.
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Cleveland Cavaliers – Ebuka Okorie
Okorie will give Cleveland a high-upside point guard who can bring playmaking and defensive potential to their second unit.
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Dallas Mavericks – Sergio de Larrea
de Larrea gives Dallas another developmental wing who projects as a high-IQ playmaker. He’s spent the last four years playing for Valencia Basket Club in Spain, and has put up solid numbers while getting invaluable professional experience.
Whether it’s potential franchise pieces or developmental prospects, every team has a guy for them in this draft.
As always, the draft could look much different by the time Adam Silver steps to the podium. Teams will make surprise trades, move off of picks or salary dump, and unexpected picks are always a possibility.
No matter what happens, this draft will have a lasting impact on the league for years to come. Until draft night arrives, the speculation continues.
