NBA Draft 2026 kicks off in Brooklyn with Wizards holding top pick

The 2026 NBA Draft will be held on June 23‑24 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. The Washington Wizards have secured the first overall selection after winning the lottery, followed by the Utah Jazz, Memphis Grizzlies and Chicago Bulls, who will pick the next three spots. The first round runs on June 23 and the second round on June 24; the event will be broadcast live on ESPN and streamed on Disney+.

Prospects generating buzz include Mexican forward Karim López, who could become the first player born in Mexico taken in the first round, and Trinidad‑born wing Malique Lewis, who is completing a final workout with the Los Angeles Lakers after a stint in the Australian NBL. Spanish players Aday Mara, Sergio De Larrea and Baba Miller are also highlighted as key candidates for the league’s future, with Mara projected to enter the “green room” and possibly land among the top fifteen picks. Other top‑ranked prospects mentioned are BYU forward AJ Dybantsa, Kansas guard Darryn Peterson, Duke’s Cameron Boozer and North Carolina’s Caleb Wilson.

In addition, trade rumors surrounding Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo have resurfaced, with the Boston Celtics and Miami Heat identified as potential destinations, a development that could influence draft strategies across the league.