Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark claims league is second only to NBA

During the Big 12 Basketball Media Days at Kansas City’s T-Mobile Center, Commissioner Brett Yormark asserted that the Big 12 remains the second-best basketball league in the nation, trailing only the NBA.

Yormark cited recent professional success to support his claim, noting a conference-record nine first-round NBA draft selections. This included the top two overall picks from the 2026 NBA draft: AJ Dybantsa of BYU and Darryn Peterson of Kansas. He also highlighted the strength of the women’s programs, mentioning that five Big 12 players were selected in the 2026 WNBA draft, including TCU’s Olivia Miles, who was named the unanimous WNBA Rookie of the Year.

The media days featured athletes and coaches from 16 institutions. Yormark expressed optimism regarding the conference's future, noting that 11 of the top 40 national recruits have committed to Big 12 programs.