The Knicks have something special brewing as road to NBA Finals looks wide open
The Knicks are on a six-game winning streak and lead the 76ers 3-0, eyeing the NBA Finals!
The 2026 NBA Draft is expected to be highly competitive, with AJ Dybantsa now favored to go No. 1 overall after a standout season at BYU. Darryn Peterson, previously the top contender, faces uncertainty following an inconsistent year at Kansas.
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We've known that the 2026 NBA Draft would be loaded for several years now thanks to a freshman class filled with stars. For a while, most believed Darryn Peterson would go No. 1 overall -- and he still might. But, for whatever it's worth, the betting markets have swung heavily in the direction of AJ Dybantsa.
He's the favorite now.
The 6-foot-9 wing was spectacular at BYU this season while averaging a national-best 25.5 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists while shooting 51% from the field. Combine that with the questions that emerged about Peterson during his uneven season at Kansas, and Dybantsa is now -450 to be selected first.
Peterson is +450.
After that, it's Duke's Cameron Boozer at +1000.
As you likely know, the NBA Draft Lottery is scheduled for Sunday, at which point we'll know exactly who is picking first, second, third, so on and so forth. The Wizards, Pacers and Nets have the best chances to secure the first pick -- but it could also go to the Jazz, Grizzlies, Hawks, Mavericks, Bulls, Bucks, Warriors, Heat, or ... . Yes, Oklahoma City really could get the No. 1 pick, crazy as that sounds. If it happens, Monday will make for an incredible day of sports talk.
AJ Dybantsa is currently favored to be the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
AJ Dybantsa averaged 25.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 3.7 assists while shooting 51% from the field.
Darryn Peterson had an uneven season at Kansas, which has raised questions about his draft position.
The betting markets have shifted heavily in favor of AJ Dybantsa, who is now -450 to be selected first overall.
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But let's not get ahead of ourselves.
For now, let's focus on the projected order, based on lottery odds and final records, and give Dybantsa to the Wizards at No. 1. But make sure to circle back after the lottery on Sunday because that's when this mock draft will be updated with the proper order that'll be set by a bunch of bouncing ping pong balls in Chicago.
Mock Draft
Round 1
| Round 1 - Pick 1 team logo team logo player headshot AJ Dybantsa SF BYU • Fr • 6'9" / 215 lbs | --- | --- | --- | ||||
| Round 1 - Pick 2 team logo team logo player headshot Darryn Peterson PG Kansas • Fr • 6'6" / 205 lbs | --- | --- | --- | ||||
| Round 1 - Pick 3 team logo team logo player headshot Caleb Wilson PF North Carolina • Fr • 6'10" / 215 lbs | --- | --- | --- | ||||
| Round 1 - Pick 4 team logo team logo player headshot Cameron Boozer PF Duke • Fr • 6'9" / 250 lbs | --- | --- | --- | ||||
| Round 1 - Pick 5 team logo team logo player headshot Darius Acuff Jr. PG Arkansas • Fr • 6'3" / 190 lbs | --- | --- | --- | ||||
| Round 1 - Pick 6 team logo team logo player headshot Keaton Wagler PG Illinois • Fr • 6'6" / 185 lbs | --- | --- | --- | ||||
| From New Orleans Pelicans Round 1 - Pick 7 team logo team logo player headshot Kingston Flemings PG Houston • Fr • 6'4" / 190 lbs | --- | --- | --- | ||||
| Round 1 - Pick 8 team logo team logo player headshot Mikel Brown Jr. PG Louisville • Fr • 6'5" / 190 lbs | --- | --- | --- | ||||
| Round 1 - Pick 9 team logo team logo player headshot Brayden Burries SG Arizona • Fr • 6'4" / 205 lbs | --- | --- | --- | ||||
| Round 1 - Pick 10 team logo team logo player headshot Yaxel Lendeborg PF Michigan • Sr • 6'9" / 235 lbs | --- | --- | --- | ||||
| Round 1 - Pick 11 team logo team logo player headshot Morez Johnson Jr. C Michigan • Soph • 6'9" / 250 lbs | --- | --- | --- | ||||
| From Los Angeles Clippers Round 1 - Pick 12 team logo team logo player headshot Aday Mara C Michigan • Jr • 7'3" / 255 lbs | --- | --- | --- | ||||
| Round 1 - Pick 13 team logo team logo player headshot Labaron Philon PG Alabama • Fr • 6'3" / 175 lbs | --- | --- | --- | ||||
| Round 1 - Pick 14 team logo team logo player headshot Jayden Quaintance C Kentucky • Soph • 6'10" / 255 lbs | --- | --- | --- | ||||
| From Portland Trail Blazers Round 1 - Pick 15 team logo team logo player headshot Nate Ament PF Tennessee • Fr • 6'10" / 207 lbs | --- | --- | --- | ||||
| From Phoenix Suns Round 1 - Pick 16 team logo team logo player headshot Hannes Steinbach PF Washington • Fr • 6'11" / 229 lbs | --- | --- | --- | ||||
| From Philadelphia 76ers Round 1 - Pick 17 team logo team logo player headshot Cameron Carr SG Baylor • Soph • 6'5" / 190 lbs | --- | --- | --- | ||||
| From Orlando Magic Round 1 - Pick 18 team logo team logo player headshot Karim Lopez PF Mexico • 6'8" / 224 lbs | --- | --- | --- | ||||
| Round 1 - Pick 19 team logo team logo player headshot Bennett Stirtz PG Iowa • Sr • 6'4" / 190 lbs | --- | --- | --- | ||||
| From Atlanta Hawks Round 1 - Pick 20 team logo team logo player headshot Chris Cenac Jr. PF Houston • Fr • 6'11" / 240 lbs | --- | --- | --- | ||||
| From Minnesota Timberwolves Round 1 - Pick 21 team logo team logo player headshot Christian Anderson PG Texas Tech • Soph • 6'3" / 178 lbs | --- | --- | --- | ||||
| From Houston Rockets Round 1 - Pick 22 team logo team logo player headshot Koa Peat PF Arizona • Fr • 6'8" / 235 lbs | --- | --- | --- | ||||
| From Cleveland Cavaliers Round 1 - Pick 23 team logo team logo player headshot Tarris Reed Jr. C Connecticut • Sr • 6'11" / 265 lbs | --- | --- | --- | ||||
| Round 1 - Pick 24 team logo team logo player headshot Allen Graves PF Santa Clara • Fr • 6'9" / 225 lbs | --- | --- | --- | ||||
| Round 1 - Pick 25 team logo team logo player headshot Isaiah Evans SG Duke • Soph • 6'6" / 180 lbs | --- | --- | --- | ||||
| Round 1 - Pick 26 team logo team logo player headshot Joshua Jefferson PF Iowa State • Sr • 6'9" / 240 lbs | --- | --- | --- | ||||
| Round 1 - Pick 27 team logo team logo player headshot Henri Veesaar C North Carolina • Jr • 7'0" / 225 lbs | --- | --- | --- | ||||
| From Detroit Pistons Round 1 - Pick 28 team logo team logo player headshot Dailyn Swain SF Texas • Jr • 6'8" / 225 lbs | --- | --- | --- | ||||
| From San Antonio Spurs Round 1 - Pick 29 team logo team logo player headshot Tounde Yessoufou SF Baylor • Fr • 6'5" / 215 lbs | --- | --- | --- | ||||
| From Oklahoma City Thunder Round 1 - Pick 30 team logo team logo player headshot Ebuka Okorie PG Stanford • Fr • 6'2" / 185 lbs | --- | --- | --- |