Bright lights lit up the Barclays Center in Brooklyn as the league’s top prospects waited for their moment. This was billed as one of the deepest talent pools in years. As a result, opening night delivered drama from the very first pick.
2026 NBA Draft Top Picks Set the Tone
The Washington Wizards wasted no time, grabbing versatile forward AJ Dybantsa with the No. 1 overall selection. Meanwhile, the Utah Jazz landed combo guard Darryn Peterson at No. 2. Memphis then took Cameron Boozer, son of former NBA big man Carlos Boozer, at No. 3.
The Chicago Bulls closed out the top four by selecting Caleb Wilson at No. 4. Together, these four headline a class many scouts compare to the loaded 2003 draft.
Trades and Steals Shake Up the 2026 NBA Draft
Further down the board, the Milwaukee Bucks added two-way guard Brayden Burries at No. 10. Golden State then bet on experience, taking older forward Yaxel Lendeborg at No. 11. The Warriors clearly wanted frontcourt production right away.
The Oklahoma City Thunder swung for upside at No. 12, drafting towering 7-foot-3 center Aday Mara. Moreover, the Los Angeles Lakers got busy on the phones. They struck a deal with the New York Knicks for the 24th pick, then selected wing Cameron Carr.
So the first round closed with the usual mix of joy and heartbreak. Some teams nabbed clear steals to patch obvious weaknesses. Others stockpiled cheap young talent with the long game in mind.
Still, every front office walked away with a story. Now attention shifts to Summer League, where these rookies must prove the hype was real. The 2026 NBA Draft set the stage, yet the real test starts now.
