The 2026 NBA Draft is almost here, and it may be one of the most exciting in years. Before everything happens on June 23 and 24 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, here’s what you need to know, Yankee Scores reports.
Washington Won the Lottery
The Washington Wizards, who had the worst record in the NBA last season at 17-65, won the draft lottery and will pick first overall for the first time since 2010, when they chose John Wall. The Jazz, Grizzlies, Bulls, and Clippers complete the top five. Chicago and Memphis made the biggest moves, both jumping into the top four with combined odds below 15%.
AJ DYBANTSA vs West Virginia | Big 12 Tournament
27 PTS | 7 REB | 3 AST | 2 STL pic.twitter.com/nUwbil4KEC
— BYU Men’s Basketball (@BYUMBB) March 12, 2026
The Top Four Are Genuinely Elite
This isn’t a class with just one standout player. AJ Dybantsa (BYU), Darryn Peterson (Kansas), Cameron Boozer (Duke), and Caleb Wilson (North Carolina) all have strong cases for being franchise players. Dybantsa led the country in scoring, averaging 25.5 points per game.
Boozer, the son of former NBA star Carlos Boozer, averaged 22.5 points and 10.2 rebounds at Duke. He tied for the national lead with 22 double-doubles and won AP National Player of the Year. Peterson averaged 20.2 points as a freshman at Kansas and is often compared to Devin Booker.
No. 1 Isn’t Locked In
Don’t assume Dybantsa is the guaranteed pick at No. 1. Dybantsa has never been the clear top choice, with Peterson and Boozer also getting strong support across the league. Washington has reportedly reached out to Peterson’s camp, suggesting they are keeping their options open, Per ESPN’s Jeremy Woo
It’s a Guard-Heavy Class
This draft is loaded with guards. Teams that need help in the backcourt, like Minnesota and Dallas, could find great value in the middle of the first round. The depth at guard makes this one of the more balanced drafts in recent memory.
History Is Being Made
This will be the first draft since 2021 to include all 60 picks, as no teams forfeited second-round selections due to free agency violations. Every pick is important.
Draft night kicks off on June 23 and this might genuinely be one of the best in recent years
