The NBA held its 2026 draft in Brooklyn, marking the 13th consecutive year the event has been staged there, excluding 2020. The headline pick came at the very top, with BYU freshman AJ Dybantsa selected first overall by the Washington Wizards, capping his rise as one of the most talked about prospects in the class.
Dybantsa arrived for the night in a black suit and a rainbow watch. Before the draft, asked what he might do with his first professional paycheck, he kept his answer light, joking that if his younger sister got her driver's license on time, she might end up with a car. Moments later, his name was the first called.
For the host Brooklyn Nets, the night brought two selections. With the sixth overall pick, the team chose Mikel Brown Jr., a guard out of Louisville. The Nets later added Iowa State forward Joshua Jefferson with the 28th pick, a selection the franchise had acquired as part of the Julius Randle trade.
Several picks carried strong family storylines. With the third pick, the Memphis Grizzlies selected Cameron Boozer, the Wooden Award winner and son of former NBA All-Star Carlos Boozer. Father and son embraced immediately after the name was called, in one of the early highlights of the evening.
One of the most emotional moments came at number 11, when the Golden State Warriors selected Michigan forward Yaxel Lendeborg. He shared a long hug with his mother, Giselle, who has been battling stage four appendix cancer. He recalled her telling him in that moment that they had done it together, and that she was proud and excited for him.
History was made with the 21st pick, when the Detroit Pistons selected Kareem Lopez. With the choice, Lopez became the first Mexican-born player ever drafted in the first round. He wore a jacket lined with Mexican flags and needed a moment to collect himself after breaking new ground for his country, calling the night special and saying he felt blessed.
The first round produced a mix of celebrated prospects, family milestones and barrier-breaking moments. With the opening night complete, attention now turns to the second round, which is scheduled to take place tonight, giving another group of players their chance to hear their names called and begin their professional careers.