AJ Dybantsa stepped into NBA royalty territory Tuesday night, going No. 1 overall to the Washington Wizards and headlining a talent-rich first round of the 2026 NBA Draft.
Widely projected as a franchise cornerstone, Dybantsa became the latest top pick expected to reshape a rebuilding Wizards squad. His selection set the tone for a draft defined by elite young talent and significant movement across the league.
At No. 2, Darryn Peterson was selected by the Utah Jazz, giving Utah a dynamic guard to anchor its future. The Memphis Grizzlies followed by taking Cameron Boozer third overall, adding a highly touted forward with strong pedigree.
The Chicago Bulls chose Caleb Wilson at No. 4, while the Los Angeles Clippers selected Keaton Wagler with the fifth pick. At No. 6, the Brooklyn Nets added Mikel Brown Jr., continuing their youth movement.
The Sacramento Kings picked Darius Acuff Jr. seventh, followed by Kingston Flemings to the Atlanta Hawks at No. 8. The Dallas Mavericks took Morez Johnson Jr. ninth, and Brayden Burries rounded out the top 10.
The lottery concluded with Yaxel Lendeborg going 11th to the Golden State Warriors, Aday Mara 12th to the Oklahoma City Thunder, Nate Ament 13th to the Miami Heat, and Hannes Steinbach 14th to the Charlotte Hornets.
The remainder of the first round featured a mix of international prospects and collegiate standouts, including Dailyn Swain, Bennett Stirtz, Ebuka Okorie, Christian Anderson Jr. and Allen Graves in the mid-first round.
Also selected were Jayden Quaintance, Karim Lopez, Labaron Philon Jr., Zuby Ejiofor and Cameron Carr, followed by Sergio De Larrea, Tarris Reed Jr., Chris Cenac Jr., Joshua Jefferson, Alex Karaban and Koa Peat to close out the round.
Meanwhile, the draft unfolded against the backdrop of a blockbuster development elsewhere in the league. Reports said the Miami Heat acquired two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo from the Milwaukee Bucks late Monday in a deal that included a package of young players and multiple draft picks.
Forward Bobby Portis was also reportedly part of the agreement, heading to Miami.
With Dybantsa now atop the class and a wave of new talent entering the league, the NBA’s next generation officially began its climb.
