⚡ Quick Answer
The 2026 NBA Draft is set for June 23–24, 2026 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY. The Washington Wizards won the May 10 lottery and hold the No. 1 overall pick — their first since John Wall in 2010. Wizards are projected to select BYU forward AJ Dybantsa, who led the nation in scoring at 25.5 PPG. The post-lottery top five is Wizards, Jazz, Grizzlies, Bulls, and Clippers (via Indiana).
2026 NBA Draft Lottery Results
Wizards Win the Lottery — Final Order Set
The 2026 NBA Draft Lottery was held on Sunday, May 10, 2026 at McCormick Place in Chicago. The Washington Wizards, who finished the 2025-26 season with the league's worst record at 17-65, won the No. 1 pick despite sharing the highest 14% lottery odds with the Indiana Pacers and Brooklyn Nets. It marks the Wizards' first top overall pick since selecting John Wall in 2010.
The biggest winners outside Washington were the Chicago Bulls and Memphis Grizzlies, both of whom defied the odds to jump into the top four. The LA Clippers landed at No. 5 via a uniquely protected pick from Indiana acquired in the February Ivica Zubac trade. The biggest losers were the Pacers, who lost their pick entirely, and the Brooklyn Nets and Sacramento Kings, who fell out of the top four.
Final Lottery Order — Top 14 Picks (Pre-Lottery Odds)
| Final Order | Pre-Lottery Record | Pre-Lottery #1 Odds |
|---|
| 1. Washington WizardsWon lottery | 17–65 | 14.0% |
| 2. Utah JazzMoved up | 17–65 (T) | 11.5% |
| 3. Memphis GrizzliesJumped up | 29–53 | 9.0% |
| 4. Chicago BullsBig winner | 39–43 | 3.0% |
| 5. LA Clippers (via IND) | — | — |
| 6. Brooklyn Nets | 17–65 (T) | 14.0% |
| 7. Sacramento Kings | 22–60 | 11.5% |
| 8. Atlanta Hawks (via NO) | — | — |
| 9. Dallas Mavericks | 39–43 | 3.8% |
| 10. Milwaukee Bucks | 42–40 | 2.0% |
| 11. Golden State Warriors | 43–39 | 1.5% |
| 12. Oklahoma City Thunder | — | — |
| 13. Miami Heat | — | — |
| 14. Charlotte Hornets | 19–63 | 12.5% |
Pre-lottery odds reflect ties broken by random drawing on April 20, 2026. Lottery held May 10 at McCormick Place, Chicago.
Top Prospects 2026
Prospect Deep Dives — The Big Three
The 2026 NBA Draft is headlined by a generational trio of freshmen: AJ Dybantsa (BYU), Darryn Peterson (Kansas), and Cameron Boozer (Duke). All three are projected as top-three picks, and several scouts argue any of them could be the long-term best player from this class. Behind them, North Carolina forward Caleb Wilson is the strongest contender for the fourth pick, with the rest of the top 10 stocked with elite international and college talent.
Dybantsa led the nation in scoring at 25.5 points per game in his lone season at BYU, totaling 894 points — the third-most ever by a Division I freshman. He set BYU's freshman scoring record with 43 points against Utah in January and broke Kevin Durant's record for most points by a freshman in a conference tournament game with 40 against Kansas State. The 6'9" wing with a 6'11" wingspan was named Big 12 Freshman of the Year, consensus All-American First Team, and the Julius Erving Award winner. He is the first player to average 25/6/3 as a consensus All-American since Larry Bird in 1978-79.
Strengths
Elite scoring at all three levels
Positional size (6'9" wing with 6'11" wingspan)
NBA-ready offensive package
Top USA Basketball pedigree (U19 MVP)
Concerns
3-point shooting (33.1%)
Has trended toward ball-stopping
Decision-making under pressure
Frame still developing
Peterson entered the season as ESPN's top-ranked prospect after sweeping the 2025 Naismith Player of the Year and McDonald's All-American MVP honors. His freshman year at Kansas was disrupted by a severe full-body cramping issue that led to hospitalization and 11 missed games. When healthy, the 6'6" combo guard with a 6'10.5" wingspan was electric — averaging 20 PPG, 4.2 RPG and 38.2% from three. He earned All-Big 12 Second Team honors and scored 28 points in Kansas' NCAA Tournament opener against Cal Baptist. His closest comp from scouts is Devin Booker — strong-bodied scoring guard who plays bigger than his height.
Strengths
Elite three-level scorer
Strong frame and physicality
Quick first step + dunk threat
High basketball IQ
Concerns
Health/availability questions
Missed 11 games freshman year
Still developing as a true PG
Assist numbers modest (1.6 APG)
Boozer became only the fifth freshman in college basketball history to be named AP National Player of the Year. He swept every major award — Naismith Trophy, Wooden Award, AP/USBWA/NABC/Sporting News National Player of the Year, plus ACC Player of the Year, ACC Rookie of the Year, and ACC Tournament MVP. The 6'9", 250-pound forward led Duke in scoring, rebounding, and assists — the first underclassman to average 20/10/4 since Larry Bird in 1976-77. He started all 38 games and tied for the national lead with 22 double-doubles. Son of NBA veteran Carlos Boozer.
Strengths
Historic statistical season
Elite passing for size (4.1 APG)
Best floor of the top three
NBA pedigree, NBA-ready body
Concerns
Less explosive than Dybantsa
Limited 3-point volume
Defensive switchability at NBA level
Lower ceiling than top peers
Post-Lottery Mock Draft
2026 NBA Mock Draft — First Round
Following the May 10 lottery, the projected first-round order locks AJ Dybantsa as Washington's projected pick, with Utah, Memphis, and Chicago facing critical decisions in the early lottery. Indiana's protected pick fell at No. 5, where it transferred to the LA Clippers from the Ivica Zubac trade. The list below combines projections from ESPN, CBS Sports, and Yahoo Sports analysts as of May 11, 2026.
2026 NBA Mock Draft — Top 16 Projection
| Pick | Player | Pos | School / Origin | Team |
|---|
| 1 | AJ Dybantsa | SF | BYU | Washington Wizards |
| 2 | Darryn Peterson | SG | Kansas | Utah Jazz |
| 3 | Cameron Boozer | PF | Duke | Memphis Grizzlies |
| 4 | Caleb Wilson | PF | North Carolina | Chicago Bulls |
| 5 | Nate Ament | SF | Tennessee | LA Clippers (via IND) |
| 6 | Mikel Brown Jr. | PG | Louisville | Brooklyn Nets |
| 7 | Jayden Quaintance | C | Kentucky | Sacramento Kings |
| 8 | Karim Lopez | SF | Mexico / NZ Breakers | Atlanta Hawks (via NO) |
| 9 | Dame Sarr | SG | Duke | Dallas Mavericks |
| 10 | Dash Daniels | PG | Australia (NBL Next Stars) | Milwaukee Bucks |
| 11 | Yaxel Lendeborg | PF | Michigan | Golden State Warriors |
| 12 | Boogie Fland | PG | Florida | Oklahoma City Thunder |
| 13 | Chris Cenac Jr. | C | Houston | Miami Heat |
| 14 | Tahaad Pettiford | PG | Auburn | Charlotte Hornets |
| 15 | Hannes Steinbach | C | Washington | Chicago Bulls (via POR) |
| 16 | Acaden Lewis | PG | Villanova | Memphis Grizzlies (via PHX) |
Mock draft projections compiled from ESPN, CBS Sports, and Yahoo Sports analysts. Subject to change as combine and workouts progress through May–June.
Draft Storylines to Watch
What to Watch Between Now and June 23
The No. 1 Pick Debate
Even with Dybantsa as consensus favorite, the Wizards are expected to conduct a thorough process. Darryn Peterson, Cameron Boozer, and Caleb Wilson will all get serious looks. Several Eastern Conference scouts have called Peterson the highest-floor prospect and best long-term player despite his injury-shortened freshman year.
The Boozer Family Wrinkle at No. 2
Utah holds the No. 2 pick — and former NBA All-Star Carlos Boozer is a Jazz scout. His son Cameron Boozer is one of the top three prospects. Utah's decision tree includes Peterson, Boozer, and Wilson, and the family connection adds intrigue to a pick that could shape Utah's future.
The NBA Combine — May 10–17 in Chicago
The combine runs through May 17 at Wintrust Arena. Strength, agility, and shooting drills could shake the top 10 — particularly for prospects in the 5–14 range where stock can move significantly. The NCAA withdrawal deadline is May 27, giving college players until then to make final pro decisions.
Final Format Before Reform?
This is expected to be the final NBA Draft Lottery in its current format. Commissioner Adam Silver wants to curb the widespread tanking that defined the 2025-26 race, and a new lottery system is likely to be in place for next season.
Money Matters
NBA Rookie Salary Scale 2026
2026 NBA Rookie Scale — First Round (Projected)
| Pick | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 (Option) | Year 4 (Option) |
|---|
| 1 | $11.2M | $11.7M | $12.2M | $12.8M |
| 2 | $10.1M | $10.6M | $11.0M | $11.6M |
| 3 | $9.2M | $9.6M | $10.0M | $10.5M |
| 5 | $7.8M | $8.2M | $8.5M | $8.9M |
| 10 | $5.6M | $5.9M | $6.2M | $6.5M |
| 14 | $4.4M | $4.7M | $4.9M | $5.1M |
| 20 | $3.2M | $3.4M | $3.6M | $3.7M |
| 30 | $2.1M | $2.2M | $2.3M | $2.5M |
All first-round picks receive 4-year rookie scale contracts. Teams hold options on Years 3 and 4. Second-round picks negotiate freely and are not slotted. Final cap-based numbers will be confirmed by the NBA in July.