2026 NBA Draft: Complete Guide to Every Pick, Top Prospects, and Live Updates

The 2026 NBA Draft arrives Tuesday night with a generational top-four that has scouts, executives, and fans debating order rather than quality. Round 1 tips off June 23 at 8 p.m. ET from Barclays Center in Brooklyn — a fitting backdrop, given the Nets hold the sixth pick — with Round 2 continuing Wednesday, June 24 at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN. ABC and ESPN split broadcast duties for Round 1. All 60 picks are in play for the first time since 2021, as no teams forfeited second-round selections for free agency violations.

Washington won the lottery on May 10 and holds the most coveted real estate in basketball, facing a decision between two teenagers who could each anchor a franchise for the next decade. Behind them, the Utah Jazz at No. 2 and Memphis Grizzlies at No. 3 face similarly consequential choices. The consensus is that any order among AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, and Cameron Boozer is defensible — which makes Tuesday night appointment television for anyone who follows the sport.

The No. 1 Debate: Dybantsa vs. Peterson

Washington has kept its decision close to the vest, but the prevailing read heading into draft night is that AJ Dybantsa edges Darryn Peterson for the top spot. Dybantsa, a 6-foot-9, 217-pound wing out of BYU, led all of Division I in scoring this season, averaging 25.5 points per game while shooting 51 percent from the field. His combination of size, downhill burst, and midrange creativity draws comparisons to Kawhi Leonard and Jaylen Brown — players who became cornerstones of championship teams. At 19, he still projects to add 10 to 15 pounds of muscle, and his trajectory as a shot creator, finisher, and developing passer has multiple Western Conference front offices calling him the safest high-ceiling bet in the class.

Peterson, the 6-foot-6 Kansas freshman from Louisville, Kentucky, is the counter-argument. ESPN’s Jonathan Givony has him ranked No. 1 on his final big board, calling Peterson “the most gifted scorer in this draft” — a long-range shooter capable of prolonged hot streaks with the size and lateral athleticism to defend on the perimeter. Peterson’s camp has made clear they believe he goes No. 1, reportedly taking a meeting only with Washington in the pre-draft process. The concern is durability: cramping issues limited him to 24 of Kansas’s games this season, raising questions that rival front offices will weigh heavily regardless of the talent on display when healthy. Multiple Eastern Conference executives told ESPN they believe Peterson’s medicals have cleared without major red flags, removing the last significant barrier to a top-two selection.

The Rest of the Top Four

Cameron Boozer brings the most polished and immediately-translatable skill set in the entire class. The 6-foot-9, 253-pound Duke freshman — son of former NBA forward Carlos Boozer, whose father serves on the Utah Jazz staff — posted 22.5 points and 10.2 rebounds per game in one of the most dominant freshman seasons in ACC history, finishing in the top 12 nationally in both categories. Analytics models love him; scouts compare him favorably to Al Horford, Kevin Love, and Domantas Sabonis as a floor-spacer and playmaker at the four. The knock is athleticism — he lacks elite foot speed and verticality — which fuels debate over whether he can be the first option on a contender or is better built as a second star. Either way, a projected lottery floor and immediate starter upside makes him a slam dunk at No. 3 for Memphis if Dybantsa and Peterson go 1-2.

Caleb Wilson, a 6-foot-10 freshman wing from North Carolina, rounds out the consensus top four with arguably the highest upside of the group despite being the least polished. At 19, Wilson is a raw, explosive athlete with 7-foot wingspan and Kevin Garnett comparisons floating around pre-draft circles. His developmental leap from fall to spring was dramatic enough that multiple scouts told ESPN they could envision him slipping to No. 3 over Boozer if a team falls in love with his ceiling. Chicago at No. 4 is widely projected to land him.

Picks 5 Through 15: Where the Draft Gets Interesting

After the consensus top four, the lottery dissolves into a fascinating cluster of guards and wings with varying skill sets, each serving a different team need. Here is how the first 15 picks shape up heading into Tuesday night:

• Pick 5 — LA Clippers (via Indiana): Keaton Wagler, PG/SG, Illinois (6-6). A mysterious riser who emerged from relative obscurity into a projected lottery pick on the strength of his two-way versatility and combo-guard upside. Clippers are also listening to trade offers, according to reports.
• Pick 6 — Brooklyn Nets: Darius Acuff Jr., PG, Arkansas (6-3). One of the most dynamic on-ball guards in the class, with Damian Lillard comparisons and a narrow draft range — the Nets and Kings appear to be his primary suitors.
• Pick 7 — Sacramento Kings: Mikel Brown Jr., PG, Louisville (6-5). A nuclear scorer coming off back issues that limited him during the season. Stock trending up sharply as medicals cleared pre-draft.
• Pick 8 — Atlanta Hawks (via New Orleans): Kingston Flemings, PG, Houston (6-4). Among the most athletically gifted guards in the class — a De’Aaron Fox comp with size. Combine measurements didn’t meet projections, which could nudge him down a spot or two.
• Pick 9 — Dallas Mavericks: Kingston Flemings or Aday Mara. Dallas is in full rebuild mode and needs playmakers at every level.
• Pick 10 — Milwaukee Bucks: Nate Ament, SF/PF, Tennessee (6-10). A skilled, outside-shooting wing who doesn’t pressure the rim but provides immediate shooting floor spacing around Giannis Antetokounmpo.
• Pick 11 — Golden State Warriors: Brayden Burries, SG, Arizona (6-5). A two-way combo guard in the Jared McCain mold. Warriors are looking for a guard who can contribute right away in a compressed championship window.
• Pick 12 — Oklahoma City Thunder: Labaron Philon, PG, Alabama (6-3). The Thunder’s extra pick, acquired via the Clippers trade chain. Philon is a Tyrese Maxey-lite prospect who would add another piece to OKC’s deep, young core.
• Pick 13 — Miami Heat: Karim Lopez, SF, NZ Breakers/Mexico (6-9). An international prospect with do-it-all forward ability. One of the more underrated names heading into draft night.
• Pick 14 — Charlotte Hornets: TBD — Charlotte has two first-round picks (14, 18) and multiple needs.
• Pick 15 — Chicago Bulls (via Portland): Chicago’s second pick gives them flexibility to trade up or collect depth.

Complete 2026 NBA Draft Order — Round 1

Here is the full first-round order heading into draft night. Picks marked with “via” indicate the original team that owned the selection before it was traded:

• 1. Washington Wizards
• 2. Utah Jazz
• 3. Memphis Grizzlies
• 4. Chicago Bulls
• 5. LA Clippers (via Indiana)
• 6. Brooklyn Nets
• 7. Sacramento Kings
• 8. Atlanta Hawks (via New Orleans)
• 9. Dallas Mavericks
• 10. Milwaukee Bucks
• 11. Golden State Warriors
• 12. Oklahoma City Thunder
• 13. Miami Heat
• 14. Charlotte Hornets
• 15. Chicago Bulls (via Portland)
• 16. Memphis Grizzlies (via Phoenix)
• 17. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Philadelphia)
• 18. Charlotte Hornets (via Orlando)
• 19. Toronto Raptors
• 20. San Antonio Spurs (via Atlanta)
• 21. Detroit Pistons (via Minnesota)
• 22. Philadelphia 76ers (via Houston)
• 23. Atlanta Hawks (via Cleveland)
• 24. New York Knicks
• 25. Los Angeles Lakers
• 26. Denver Nuggets
• 27. Boston Celtics
• 28. Minnesota Timberwolves (via Detroit)
• 29. Cleveland Cavaliers (via San Antonio)
• 30. Dallas Mavericks (via Oklahoma City)

Second Round: Key Picks to Watch

The second round kicks off Wednesday, June 24 at 8 p.m. ET. San Antonio leads all teams with four second-round picks (35, 42, 44, and one more via trades), making the Spurs the most active team across both days. The New York Knicks open the second round at No. 31 with the pick acquired from Washington in the Wizards lottery trade chain. Other notable picks include Brooklyn at 33, Oklahoma City at 37 via Dallas, and Golden State at 54 via the Lakers. The full 30-pick second round gives every franchise at least one opportunity to add depth or swing on a project.

Three Storylines to Track Tuesday Night

Beyond the No. 1 pick drama, three storylines will shape how draft night is remembered:

• Does Cameron Boozer fall? Multiple scouts believe there’s a scenario where Peterson goes No. 1 and Dybantsa slides to No. 2, pushing Boozer down to No. 3 — or, in one fringe scenario, all the way to No. 4 if Utah falls in love with Wilson’s upside. The Jazz have a unique wrinkle: Boozer’s father works for the organization, adding a personal dimension to a basketball decision that will define Utah’s competitive window alongside Walker Kessler and Keyonte George.
• The Pick 5 trade market. The Clippers have quietly been shopping the fifth pick, a prime spot where teams without lottery luck could jump in for one of the top prospects. If a team like the Knicks, Lakers, or a playoff contender moves up here, it reshuffles the entire board.
• International wildcards. Aday Mara (7-3, Michigan/Spain) is expected to be the first center taken and is projected anywhere from picks 8 through 12. Karim Lopez (NZ Breakers/Mexico) is another international forward with a wide range. How quickly teams go big in the lottery could signal league-wide priorities around size and spacing.

How to Watch the 2026 NBA Draft

Round 1 airs Tuesday, June 23 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and ESPN from Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. Round 2 continues Wednesday, June 24 at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN only. Both rounds are available to stream on the ESPN app with an authenticated cable subscription or eligible live TV streaming service. If you’re looking to make the draft interesting, DraftKings has draft-night props and FanDuel’s draft props let you bet on individual pick slots, position runs, and which team lands each top prospect. Our BetMGM promo code is worth grabbing before you sit down for night one.

How to Follow Along

We will be updating this article throughout both rounds of the 2026 NBA Draft with live pick-by-pick results, analysis, and reaction. Bookmark this page and check back as names are called Tuesday and Wednesday night from Barclays Center.

Round 1 Update: Pick 1 — 8:08 PM ET

The moment draft fans have waited months for arrived quickly: the Washington Wizards selected AJ Dybantsa with the first overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, ending the longest-running debate of the pre-draft season. The 6-foot-9 forward from BYU — who averaged 19.3 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game in a dominant freshman campaign — edged out Kansas guard Darryn Peterson in Washington’s eyes, with the Wizards betting on Dybantsa’s two-way upside over Peterson’s floor. It was the expected call, but hearing Adam Silver announce the name made it official.

Dybantsa becomes the first BYU product ever drafted first overall and Washington’s top selection since John Wall in 2010. For a Wizards rebuild that has been patient and deliberate, landing the consensus best player in arguably the deepest draft class in a decade is a franchise-defining moment. Attention now turns immediately to Utah at No. 2 — whether Darryn Peterson slides to the Jazz or they pivot to Duke’s Cameron Boozer is the next major story of the night.

Round 1 Update: Pick 3 — 8:40 PM ET

Picks two and three are in, and both went chalk: the Utah Jazz selected Darryn Peterson at No. 2, and the Memphis Grizzlies landed Cameron Boozer at No. 3. Peterson — the 6-foot-6 Kansas freshman guard who made a legitimate case for the No. 1 spot all spring — slides just one position and lands alongside Keyonte George in Salt Lake City, giving Utah one of the most intriguing young backcourts in the league. The Jazz had been publicly torn between Peterson and Boozer for weeks, but chose the do-everything guard whose scoring package and two-way size give them a different kind of creator than anything currently on the roster.

Cameron Boozer — son of former NBA All-Star Carlos Boozer — went to Memphis exactly where the vast majority of mocks had him, and the Grizzlies have to be thrilled. The 6-foot-9 Duke freshman put together one of the more dominant single seasons in recent ACC history, blending frontcourt size with a polished face-up game that drew Domantas Sabonis and Kevin Love comparisons throughout the pre-draft process. Memphis, holding both No. 3 and No. 16 tonight, looks like a franchise hitting the accelerator. Chicago at No. 4 — widely projected for North Carolina wing Caleb Wilson — is up next.

Round 1 Update: Pick 8 — 9:00 PM ET

The consensus top four is official. Chicago Bulls took Caleb Wilson at No. 4, completing the most anticipated quartet of picks in years — and it all went chalk. The 6-foot-10 North Carolina freshman, who drew Kevin Garnett comparisons all spring for his explosive two-way ceiling, gives the Bulls a legitimate cornerstone alongside Josh Giddey. Wilson was the most raw of the top four entering the night, but also arguably the highest-ceiling player in the class — a 19-year-old with a 7-foot wingspan who looked like a top-three pick in the right draft. Chicago didn’t hesitate.

Picks 5 through 8 followed in rapid succession after a brief commercial break. Illinois guard Keaton Wagler went to the Clippers at No. 5 — a 6-foot-6 playmaker with a pure stroke who quietly became one of the most well-rounded prospects in the lottery. Mikel Brown Jr. landed with Brooklyn at No. 6; the Louisville guard missed time with a back injury as a freshman but his talent was undeniable, and the Nets were rewarded for trusting the medicals. At No. 7, Sacramento took Darius Acuff Jr. out of Arkansas — a nuclear-scoring point guard the Kings fanbase will embrace quickly given his Damian Lillard-level shot creation off the dribble. Atlanta wrapped up the group at No. 8 with Kingston Flemings, the Houston guard acquired via the Pelicans’ pick, giving the Hawks a high-upside athletic guard to build around as their rebuild gains momentum.

Round 1 Update: Pick 9 — 9:05 PM ET

The Dallas Mavericks stepped to the podium at No. 9 and selected Morez Johnson Jr., the Michigan forward who becomes the first Wolverine taken in this draft. A surging prospect who climbed boards all spring thanks to elite rebounding instincts and rim-protecting length, Johnson Jr. gives Dallas a long, switchable big with untapped offensive upside. The Mavericks passed on Nate Ament — long projected to Dallas in mocks — and landed what many scouts consider a higher-ceiling player in the process.

Milwaukee is now on the clock at No. 10, making their first true selection in the post-Giannis era after trading the Greek Freak to Miami for Tyler Herro and a bundle of picks — including the 13th pick tonight. Brayden Burries and Aday Mara are among the names floating around the Bucks’ war room as the lottery section of the draft rolls into its second hour.

Round 1 Update: Pick 11 — 9:20 PM ET

Milwaukee answered the question definitively at No. 10, selecting Arizona guard Brayden Burries — the Bucks’ first true franchise pick in the post-Giannis era. Burries arrived at Arizona as a top-10 recruit, found his footing in conference play, and helped lead the Wildcats to the Final Four as a physical, versatile scorer capable of beating defenders from all three levels. The addition gives Milwaukee a high-upside wing to pair with their No. 13 pick later tonight, signals the front office is building for the long haul.

Golden State then added depth at No. 11 with Yaxel Lendeborg out of Michigan — one of the more compelling stories in the entire class. Lendeborg spent years grinding through junior college and UAB before landing in Ann Arbor and playing a key role on the Wolverines’ national championship squad. A 7-foot-3 wingspan with surprising ball-handling for his size, he fills the stat sheet and can guard multiple positions. At 24, he won’t be the youngest rookie on the floor, but few prospects enter the league with as much lived experience — or as proven a winner’s mentality.

Round 1 Update: Pick 14 — 9:40 PM ET

Oklahoma City continued its roster construction at pick No. 12, selecting 7-foot Spanish center Aday Mara out of the Spanish ACB league. The Thunder — who also hold pick No. 17 tonight — are adding another long-term international piece alongside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s core, a sign that OKC isn’t slowing down even as the reigning conference power. Mara projects as a rim-protecting, lob-catching big who won’t need immediate minutes but fits the Thunder’s patient development model perfectly.

Milwaukee then doubled up at No. 13 with Nate Ament — a pick that arrived directly from the blockbuster Giannis Antetokounmpo trade to Miami earlier today. The Bucks now hold two first-round selections in the same night they shipped out their franchise cornerstone, and Ament gives them a skilled wing prospect to anchor a true rebuild. Charlotte rounded out this stretch by taking German forward Hannes Steinbach at No. 14, the latest in what’s shaping up to be an unusually international first round at Barclays Center.

Round 1 Update: Pick 16 — 9:53 PM ET

The biggest trade of the night hit at pick No. 16. Bennett Stirtz, a sharpshooting guard out of Drake who starred in the Missouri Valley Conference, was selected by the Memphis Grizzlies — but he never actually became a Grizzly. Memphis immediately flipped Stirtz to the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for two second-round picks, a move that gives OKC yet another piece to stack onto an already-loaded young core. The Thunder have been ruthlessly efficient in this draft, landing Aday Mara at No. 12 and now adding Stirtz at 16 via trade. As part of the deal, the Grizzlies slide down to No. 17 — OKC’s original pick — to grab their own guy.

Before the trade drama, Chicago used pick No. 15 (acquired from Portland) to take Dailyn Swain, a versatile wing from Kansas who brings length and athleticism to a Bulls squad that also drafted Caleb Wilson fourth overall. The Bulls now have two first-round picks in the same class, giving head coach Billy Donovan real depth to work with heading into next season.

Round 1 Update: Pick 19 — 10:05 PM ET

The trade drama from picks 16 and 17 dominated the room as the night pushed past 10 p.m. Memphis landed Ebuka Okorie from Stanford at No. 17 via the Oklahoma City trade — and then immediately dealt him again, shipping Okorie to the Detroit Pistons in exchange for three second-round picks. The 6-foot-1 guard was one of the most captivating scorers in the class, an ACC scoring leader with eight 30-point games and an improbable climb from a New Hampshire native who originally committed to Harvard before Stanford came calling. Now he heads to Detroit, joining a Pistons squad looking to add playmaking around their young core.

Charlotte used pick No. 18 (via Orlando) to take Christian Anderson Jr., giving the Hornets their second first-round selection of the night after Hannes Steinbach at No. 14 — a productive evening for a franchise working through a deliberate rebuild. Toronto then closed out this stretch at No. 19 with Allen Graves, adding a versatile wing prospect to a Raptors roster that continues to reshape itself with youth and length. Picks 20 through 30 are still to come, with the San Antonio Spurs, Detroit Pistons, Philadelphia 76ers, Atlanta Hawks, New York Knicks, Los Angeles Lakers, Denver Nuggets, Boston Celtics, Brooklyn Nets, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Dallas Mavericks all still on the clock before Round 1 wraps up in Brooklyn.

Round 1 Update: Pick 20 — 10:22 PM ET

The Spurs made one of the most intriguing bets of the night, selecting Kentucky big man Jayden Quaintance at No. 20 overall via the Atlanta Hawks pick. San Antonio — a team that appeared in the NBA Finals just weeks ago — is doubling down on upside, adding a prospect whose ceiling is enormous even if the floor remains uncertain. Quaintance, who turns 19 next month, missed most of this season after suffering an ACL injury at Arizona State before transferring to Kentucky, where he appeared in only four games before shutting it down to protect his draft stock. When healthy as a freshman at ASU, he averaged 9.4 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks per game, moving with the fluidity of a smaller guard despite standing 6’10” with a 7’5″ wingspan at 253 pounds.

The offensive limitations are real — sub-50% free-throw shooting and zero three-point attempts this season make him a raw prospect in every sense — but the Spurs are not drafting him to create offense. The ceiling here is rim protection, lob-catching, and high-motor rebounding alongside San Antonio’s young nucleus. Picks 21 through 30 remain to come, with Detroit, Philadelphia, Atlanta, New York, Los Angeles, Denver, Boston, Brooklyn, Cleveland, and Dallas still to make their selections before Round 1 closes out in Brooklyn.

Round 1 Update: Pick 22 — 10:35 PM ET

History was made at No. 21 when the Detroit Pistons selected Karim Lopez and immediately traded him to the Memphis Grizzlies — the 19-year-old forward from Hermosillo, Sonora becomes the first Mexican-born player ever drafted in the first round of the NBA Draft. Lopez skipped the college route entirely, developing his game with the New Zealand Breakers in Australia’s NBL while suiting up for Mexico’s national team, and earned enough recognition from international scouts to crack the lottery range. The Grizzlies, who have been wheeling and dealing all night, add yet another high-ceiling young piece to one of the league’s most intriguing rosters.

Philadelphia followed at No. 22 with Alabama guard Labaron Philon Jr. — the fifth first-round pick of the Nate Oats era in Tuscaloosa. Philon had initially declared for last year’s draft before returning to school, and the detour paid off: he shot 39.9% from three and averaged five assists per game, backed by a 6-foot-6.25 wingspan built for two-way play. The 76ers land a poised, shot-capable playmaker who earned his way back onto boards the hard way. Picks 23 through 30 remain, with Atlanta, New York, Los Angeles, Denver, Boston, Brooklyn, Cleveland, and Dallas still to come before Round 1 wraps at Barclays Center.

Round 1 Update: Pick 24 — 10:50 PM ET

Atlanta used pick No. 23 — their second first-round selection of the night, acquired via Cleveland — to take Zuby Ejiofor, the St. John’s senior who put together one of the most statistically complete seasons in the Big East. The 6-foot-9 forward and center averaged 16.4 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks per game while shooting 58% from the field, earning First Team All-Big East honors and giving the Red Storm one of the best big men in program history. Ejiofor is not a project — he is a ready-to-contribute defender and interior presence who can anchor a paint rotation from day one, and the Hawks get him at a steep value relative to where many boards had him projected. Atlanta now owns the most intriguing two-pick haul in the draft, adding a premium athlete in Kingston Flemings at No. 8 and an immediately useful big in Ejiofor at No. 23.

The reigning NBA champion New York Knicks followed at No. 24 with Cameron Carr out of Baylor — a junior guard with the kind of measured, court-savvy game that fits seamlessly into head coach Tom Thibodeau’s defensive-minded system. Carr measured in at 6-foot-5 with a 6-foot-8.5 wingspan at the combine and posted 16.2 points and 4.7 assists per game in the Big 12, shooting 36.4% from three in year two of the starting lineup. The Knicks don’t need him to score 25 a night — they need a competent, switchable two-way wing who won’t hurt them in the playoffs, and Carr checks every box for a team that just won a championship and is adding depth rather than rebuilding. Picks 25 through 30 remain, with Los Angeles, Denver, Boston, Minnesota, Cleveland, and Dallas still to come before Round 1 officially closes.

Round 1 Update: Pick 26 — 11:05 PM ET

A draft-night trade between the Knicks and Lakers reshuffled the final stretch of Round 1 when picks 24 and 25 were announced. The Lakers held No. 25 and selected Spanish forward Sergio de Larrea — then immediately dealt him to New York, while Cameron Carr (the Knicks’ No. 24 pick) went to Los Angeles in return. De Larrea, a 6-foot-6 wing from Valencia Basketball who plays in Spain’s Liga ACB, brings elite ball-handling, advanced court sense, and defensive versatility to a Knicks roster that won a championship and is now scouting international upside at the margins of the first round. Carr heads to LA, adding the Baylor guard’s polished two-way game to a Lakers team that needed exactly the kind of measured, switchable wing he provides.

Denver followed at No. 26 with Connecticut center Tarris Reed Jr. — a physical, high-motor big who made a compelling late-season case for himself by scoring 20-plus points in three NCAA Tournament games. The pick didn’t stay in Denver’s hands long: the Nuggets immediately shipped Reed to the San Antonio Spurs, giving San Antonio a second frontcourt piece from this draft alongside Jayden Quaintance (No. 20 tonight). Reed is a 6-foot-9, 240-pound interior force with a developing face-up game and an insatiable second-chance motor — exactly the type of project San Antonio has turned into productive players before. Picks 27 through 30 — Boston, Brooklyn, Cleveland, and Dallas — remain before Round 1 officially wraps.

Round 1 Update: Pick 30 — 11:45 PM ET

The final four picks of Round 1 arrived in rapid succession as Tuesday night ticked past midnight, capping a first round full of trades and surprises at Barclays Center. Boston tapped Houston freshman Chris Cenac Jr. at No. 27 — a 6-foot-11 power forward with the length, rebounding instincts, and developing touch that Brad Stevens typically covets at the back end of the draft. Cenac measured among the most intriguing raw bigs in the class, and landing him gives the Celtics, fresh off another deep playoff run, a legitimate developmental piece who could grow into a rotation contributor. Minnesota then selected Iowa State senior Joshua Jefferson at No. 28 and immediately flipped the pick to Brooklyn — a familiar draft-night move for a Wolves front office that continues to use selections as draft-and-trade currency.

Alex Karaban, the 6-foot-7 UConn wing who helped the Huskies win back-to-back national titles, went to Cleveland at No. 29 via the San Antonio pick and was shipped to Sacramento — adding a four-year program cornerstone with elite court IQ to a Kings roster that needed reliable wing depth. Koa Peat closed out the first round at No. 30, selected by Dallas and immediately traded to Phoenix — giving the Suns one of the highest-upside young power forwards available at the back end of Round 1. All 30 picks are officially in the books. Round 2 tips tonight at 8 PM ET on ESPN from Barclays Center, with the New York Knicks on the clock at No. 31.

Round 2 Update: Pick 31 — 8:00 PM ET

The second round of the 2026 NBA Draft is officially underway at Barclays Center, with the New York Knicks on the clock at No. 31 — a pick acquired from Washington in the Wizards lottery trade chain. Round 2 begins just under 21 hours after Adam Silver opened the festivities Tuesday night, with 30 picks still to come and several of the draft class’s most intriguing names still on the board. Duke guard Isaiah Evans, Arkansas wing Meleek Thomas, and North Carolina big Henri Veesaar — three prospects who would have cracked the first round in a thinner year — headline the second-round talent board heading into Wednesday evening at Barclays.

San Antonio enters Round 2 as the most active team, holding multiple second-round selections after a first night that already netted Jayden Quaintance at No. 20 and Tarris Reed Jr. at No. 26. The Spurs’ front office has quietly assembled one of the deeper draft hauls in the league, and two more quality picks tonight would make this among the most productive two-day stretches in franchise history. Every pick from 31 through 60 is live — we’ll be updating this article throughout the round.

Round 2 Update: Pick 31 — 8:20 PM ET

The New York Knicks didn’t end up making that pick after all. In a deal reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania, New York traded the 31st selection — along with No. 55 — to the Houston Rockets in exchange for picks 39 and 53 plus a 2029 second-round pick. Houston used it on Bruce Thornton, a four-year guard out of Ohio State who racked up more than 2,100 career points for the Buckeyes. Thornton is undersized at 6-foot-1 but built like a tank, an elite rim-finisher who also knocks down spot-up threes and can operate in pick-and-roll off the ball alongside Amen Thompson in Houston’s backcourt.

For the Knicks, the move is a volume play — swapping two late second-rounders for better-positioned slots later in the night and adding a future asset. It’s classic New York draft-night maneuvering, prioritizing flexibility over taking a swing at one of the intriguing names still available. Prospects like Henri Veesaar, Isaiah Evans, and Meleek Thomas — all of whom bypassed bigger NIL packages to stay in this draft — remain on the board and will almost certainly be gone within the first dozen picks of Round 2.

Round 2 Update: Pick 33 — 8:40 PM ET

Two more names are off the board in Round 2 as the draft continues to clip along at Barclays Center. Memphis used pick No. 32 — acquired from Indiana via Milwaukee — on Richie Saunders, the BYU shooting guard who spent four years in Provo developing into one of college basketball’s most reliable two-way wings. At 6-foot-7 with a 7-foot wingspan, Saunders gives the Grizzlies exactly the kind of switchable, unselfish complementary piece head coach Taylor Jenkins covets; he shot 41% from three on high volume in his final season and is widely considered one of the best defensive value picks in this class.

Brooklyn then capitalized on one of the most anticipated names still on the board, taking Isaiah Evans at No. 33 — a Duke sophomore forward who drew first-round grades from nearly every major analyst. Evans, a fluid 6-foot-6 wing with advanced shot creation and a 7-foot-1 wingspan, was projected in this article to go within the first dozen picks of Round 2, and the Nets didn’t let him slip any further. The pick gives Brooklyn a high-upside two-way prospect to develop at the top of their rebuild, adding exactly the kind of long-term foundation piece the franchise has been searching for since the Kyrie-Durant era ended.

Round 2 Update: Pick 38 — 9:00 PM ET

The most-anticipated slide in this draft finally ended at pick No. 34, when the Cleveland Cavaliers stepped up to take Arkansas guard Meleek Thomas. Thomas was widely projected as a late first-round talent who turned down significant NIL money to keep his name in the draft — and watched 34 teams pass before Cleveland ended the wait. At 6-foot-3 with NBA-ready shooting touch and the confidence John Calipari famously noted could “run for president,” Thomas lands in a Cavaliers backcourt that can use his instant-offense skill off the bench alongside Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland.

From there, Round 2 kept rolling: Denver nabbed Trevon Brazile at 35 — a rangy, 6-foot-9 forward who has been viewed as a potential pro for years and finally put it all together at Arkansas — while the Clippers snagged Baba Miller at 36, a 6-foot-11 Cincinnati product with intriguing versatility on both ends. Miami traded with Oklahoma City to land Louisville sharpshooter Ryan Conwell at 37, adding a knockdown lefty perimeter shooter to their rotation. The run closed with Purdue point guard Braden Smith going home at 38 to the Indiana Pacers — the best pass-first guard in college basketball this season, a pick-and-roll maestro who will thrive setting up Tyrese Haliburton in Indianapolis.

Round 2 Update: Pick 43 — 9:20 PM ET

The stretch from picks 39 through 42 brought a pair of standouts for two of the draft’s most active franchises. New York opened the run at No. 39 with Jack Kayil — a 6-foot-5 German guard from ALBA Berlin, a former Gonzaga commit who brings point guard versatility the Knicks picked up via their earlier trade with Houston. Boston followed at No. 40 with Dillon Mitchell, a 6-foot-8 wing the Celtics love for his elite cutting, relentless motor, and defensive versatility even if the three-ball may never arrive. Oklahoma City then grabbed Otega Oweh at No. 41 — a rugged, physically imposing perimeter defender whose unorthodox jumper kept him out of Round 1 but whose NBA-ready frame and downhill aggression can contribute to the Thunder’s contending core immediately. Tennessee’s Ja’Kobi Gillespie capped that run at No. 42, landing with the San Antonio Spurs after one of the more decorated college careers of recent memory: a pull-up specialist who was a standout at Belmont, then Maryland, then Tennessee, connecting on 34% of his 305 three-point attempts last season with genuine defensive toughness as a former football player.

Brooklyn closed the five-pick stretch at No. 43 by landing one of the best pure shooters in the draft — UCLA’s Tyler Bilodeau, a stretch forward who connected on a jaw-dropping 46.4% of his three-point attempts in his senior season. Analysts flagged Bilodeau as a sharp-shooting secondary asset all spring, and the Nets weren’t letting him slip any further after already adding Isaiah Evans at No. 33 earlier in the round. Brooklyn walks away from two nights in Brooklyn with two of the more intriguing developmental pieces in the class. The draft rolls on at Barclays Center, with picks 44 through 60 still ahead.

Round 2 Update: Pick 48 — 9:40 PM ET

San Antonio kicked off the latest stretch at No. 44 by adding Duke’s Maliq Brown — the 2025-26 ACC Defensive Player of the Year — to a frontcourt that now has three new pieces after two nights of work. Brown is a switchable, high-motor defender who can guard multiple positions and brings a snarl that fits a Spurs team building a winning culture in San Antonio. Sacramento followed at No. 45 with Emanuel Sharp, one of the top five or six marksmen in the class out of Houston — a trigger-happy shooter with genuine toughness and strong defensive habits. Washington then grabbed 7-footer Felix Okpara from Tennessee at No. 46 after trading for the pick from Orlando — a conditioning standout with a 7-foot-2 wingspan and a 9-4 standing reach who profiles as a legitimate defensive anchor alongside AJ Dybantsa.

The biggest story of the evening isn’t who’s being drafted — it’s who isn’t. UNC big man Henri Veesaar, once projected as a late first-round pick after averaging 17.1 points and 8.7 rebounds for the Tar Heels, has fallen past pick 48 despite turning down an estimated $3.5-4.5 million NIL deal to return to school. The 7-footer remains on the board with 12 picks remaining, a stunning tumble for a player who bet big on himself. Meanwhile, the Knicks grabbed shooter Tyler Nickel at No. 47 — a 6-foot-7 stretch forward with an ultra-quick trigger and unlimited range — and Dallas closed this run at No. 48 by snagging Virginia Tech’s Tobi Lawal, who posted the best vertical at the NBA Draft Combine at 45 inches and gives the Mavericks a high-upside, pogo-stick athlete with real defensive potential.

Round 2 Update: Pick 49 — 9:43 PM ET

Denver continued building around Nikola Jokić’s system at No. 49, selecting St. John’s forward Bryce Hopkins — a versatile, multi-skilled wing who brings exactly the kind of positionless utility the Nuggets prize. Hopkins averaged 13.6 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 1.1 steals per game for the Red Storm last season, his one year at St. John’s after stops at Kentucky and Providence. He’s a reliable three-point shooter who also impacts the game as a defender and rebounder — the sort of do-everything secondary piece that tends to thrive in Mike Malone’s system. A torn ACL earlier in his career raised durability flags, but Denver’s medical staff clearly cleared those concerns.

Meanwhile, Henri Veesaar’s fall from grace has become the defining subplot of Day 2 in Brooklyn. The 7-foot UNC center who turned down a $3.5–4.5 million NIL deal remains on the board at pick 50 — an extraordinary slide for a player who was cracking late first-round boards just two months ago. Eleven picks remain after Denver’s selection. Expect the Raptors on the clock at No. 50 to address the elephant in the room.

Round 2 Update: Pick 50 — 9:50 PM ET

Toronto answered the Veesaar question — just not the way anyone expected. The Raptors passed on the 7-foot UNC center and instead selected Arizona guard Jaden Bradley at No. 50, a defense-first competitor who will slot comfortably alongside Jamal Shead in a Toronto backcourt already built on toughness and winning culture. Bradley led Arizona to the Final Four, was named Big 12 Player of the Year, and made a career of delivering in late-game situations — pulling up off the dribble, pressuring the ball defensively, and guarding with a physical edge that translates at every level. It’s an excellent fit for a Raptors team that prizes effort and identity over upside alone.

Henri Veesaar, meanwhile, continues his extraordinary fall. The 7-foot UNC big — who turned down an estimated $3.5 to $4.5 million NIL offer to stay in Chapel Hill — has now watched 50 teams pass on him. He averaged 17.1 points and 8.7 rebounds for the Tar Heels this past season and was a legitimate late first-round projection entering draft week. Now he sits waiting with 10 picks remaining, one of the most shocking slides Day 2 has produced in years. The clock is running out.

Round 2 Update: Pick 53 — 10:05 PM ET

The 2026 NBA Draft’s most stunning subplot finally reached its conclusion at No. 52. Atlanta — who had bypassed big men all night — ended Henri Veesaar’s record fall, drafting the 7-foot UNC center after watching him slide past 51 teams. Veesaar passed on an estimated $3.5–4.5 million NIL deal to return to Chapel Hill, shot better than 40% from three last season while averaging 17.1 points and 8.7 rebounds for the Tar Heels. The Hawks, who already snagged Kingston Flemings and Zuby Ejiofor earlier in the draft, now have three of the most recognizable college names in this class — and a legitimate stretch 5 to anchor their frontcourt alongside them.

Washington opened this run at No. 51 by selecting Izaiyah Nelson — a hyper-athletic rebounding machine with rim protection instincts and lob-catching ability — as the Wizards pile up raw frontcourt talent in their rebuild. New York then closed it at No. 53, using the pick they acquired from Houston to take Virginia center Ugonna Onyenso, one of the draft’s premier rim deterrents. Onyenso made his name at the ACC Tournament with a standout performance against No. 3 overall pick Cameron Boozer, and he gives the Knicks immediate paint protection and shot-blocking off the bench. Seven picks remain — and the draft pushes toward its conclusion.

Round 2 Update: Pick 57 — 10:20 PM ET

The endgame of the 2026 NBA Draft belongs to the Los Angeles Clippers, who doubled up in the late second round with a pair of international additions. At No. 55 (via trade with Houston), they grabbed Nick Martinelli — Northwestern’s two-time Big Ten scoring champion who shot 41.7% from three as a senior and brings a polished, multi-faceted offensive game at 6-foot-7. At No. 57, they turned around and selected French seven-footer Narcisse N’Goy, an elite rim protector and rebounder who projects as a physical interior enforcer in the mold the Clippers have been searching for. N’Goy had committed to Auburn before opting for the professional route; his outside shot remains a work in progress, but his paint presence is NBA-ready.

Sandwiched between the Clippers’ two picks, Golden State landed FSU wing Lajae Jones at No. 54 — a 6-foot-7 two-way threat who can pass, dribble, shoot, and defend, described as exactly the Golden State special. Jones’s journey from Tarleton State to the Warriors is one of the feel-good stories of draft night. Dallas followed at No. 56 by taking Vsevolod Ishchenko, a toolsy 6-foot-7 Russian wing who could slot in as a draft-and-stash project for new Mavericks GM Mike Schmitz. Three picks remain — New Orleans (58), Minnesota (59), and Milwaukee (60) — as the 2026 draft pushes toward its close.

Round 2 Update: Pick 60 — 10:40 PM ET

The 2026 NBA Draft is officially in the books. The final three picks wrapped up Round 2 with a flourish — starting with a feel-good homecoming at No. 58, where the New Orleans Pelicans selected SMU guard Jaron Pierre Jr., a native of New Orleans who put up 17+ points per game last season. The 6-foot-6 jumbo guard is a true three-level scorer — pull-up threes, midrange jumpers, slashing to the rim — and he gets to do it in his hometown. The crowd reaction when his name was called said everything.

Minnesota closed its draft board at No. 59 by taking Purdue big man Trey Kaufman-Renn, the heir to Zach Edey in the Boilermakers’s frontcourt and one of college basketball’s most polished post scorers over the past two seasons. He’s a heady passer with high hoops IQ, though rim protection and shooting range are the development boxes to watch. Milwaukee then ended the entire 2026 NBA Draft at No. 60, selecting Malique Lewis — a 6-foot-7 international wing who played for the South East Melbourne Phoenix in Australia’s NBL and brings versatility and draw-foul ability off the bench. That’s a wrap: 60 picks, two nights, and a class that will shape the NBA for years to come.