When and where is the 2026 NBA Draft, and how can fans watch it?
– Dates and location: The draft takes place at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, on June 23 and June 24, 2026.
– Draft schedule and viewing: The first round starts on Tuesday, June 23, at 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, with live coverage on ESPN. The second round follows on Wednesday, June 24, at 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, also broadcast on ESPN.
– Venue notes: Barclays Center has hosted the event since 2013, with rare exceptions, and remains the league’s consistent site for the draft, given its proximity to league operations and broadcasting partners.
Official 2026 NBA Draft order (first and second rounds)
– First Round:
1) Washington Wizards
2) Utah Jazz
3) Memphis Grizzlies
4) Chicago Bulls
5) Los Angeles Clippers (from Indiana Pacers)
6) Brooklyn Nets
7) Sacramento Kings
8) Atlanta Hawks (from New Orleans Pelicans)
9) Dallas Mavericks
10) Milwaukee Bucks
11) Golden State Warriors
12) Oklahoma City Thunder (from Los Angeles Clippers)
13) Miami Heat
14) Charlotte Hornets
15) Chicago Bulls (from Portland Trail Blazers)
16) Memphis (from Phoenix Suns via Orlando Magic)
17) Oklahoma City (from Philadelphia 76ers)
18) Charlotte (from Orlando via Phoenix)
19) Toronto Raptors
20) San Antonio Spurs (from Atlanta)
21) Detroit Pistons (from Minnesota Timberwolves)
22) Philadelphia (from Houston via Oklahoma City)
23) Atlanta (from Cleveland)
24) New York Knicks
25) Los Angeles Lakers
26) Denver Nuggets
27) Boston Celtics
28) Minnesota (from Detroit)
29) Cleveland (from San Antonio via Atlanta)
30) Dallas (from Oklahoma City via Washington and Philadelphia)
– Second Round:
31) New York (from Washington via Oklahoma City and Houston)
32) Memphis (from Indiana via Milwaukee)
33) Brooklyn
34) Sacramento
35) San Antonio (from Utah via Minnesota)
36) Los Angeles Clippers (from Memphis via Atlanta and Utah)
37) Oklahoma City (from Dallas)
38) Chicago (from New Orleans via Boston, Detroit, and Portland)
39) Houston (from Chicago via Washington)
40) Boston (from Milwaukee via Orlando)
41) Miami (from Golden State via Charlotte, New York, Oklahoma City, and Atlanta)
42) San Antonio (from Portland via New Orleans)
43) Brooklyn (from Los Angeles Clippers via Houston)
44) San Antonio (from Miami via Indiana)
45) Sacramento (from Charlotte via San Antonio, Atlanta, and New York)
46) Orlando
47) Phoenix (from Philadelphia via Houston and Oklahoma City)
48) Dallas (from Phoenix via Washington)
49) Denver (from Atlanta via Brooklyn and Golden State)
50) Toronto
51) Washington (from Minnesota via Detroit and New York)
52) Los Angeles Clippers (from Cleveland)
53) Houston
54) Golden State (from Los Angeles Lakers via Toronto, Miami, and Cleveland)
55) New York
56) Chicago (from Denver via Minnesota, Phoenix, and Charlotte)
57) Atlanta (from Boston)
58) New Orleans (from Detroit via New York, Brooklyn, Phoenix, Orlando, and Los Angeles)
59) Minnesota (from San Antonio via Indiana)
60) Washington (from Oklahoma City via San Antonio and Miami)
Note: This order is the official projection ahead of draft night and can change due to trades and last-minute adjustments.
Top prospects and the projected No. 1 overall pick
– The player widely projected to go first is A.J. Dybantsa from Brigham Young University (BYU). Industry observers and mock drafts have consistently placed Dybantsa at the top of the board, with other notable contenders rounding out the early picks.
– Second overall and beyond: Kept in consideration are players such as Darryn Peterson from Kansas, Cameron Boozer of Duke, and Caleb Wilson of North Carolina, each viewed as potential top-four selections in various projections. The top tier is often described as a quartet featuring Dybantsa, Peterson, Boozer, and Wilson, with teams evaluating fit, position, and long-term upside.
– Other early-depth prospects: Guards who are frequently mentioned among early candidates include Keaton Wagler, Mikel Brown Jr., Darius Acuff, and Kingston Flemings. Additionally, bigs like Aday Mara and Morez Johnson, along with wings such as Yaxel Lendeborg, Nate Ament, and Brayden Burries, are highlighted as players who could impact the league as rookies.
– Draft depth: The class is anticipated to be strong, following a 2025 cohort that included prospects like Cooper Flagg, Dylan Harper, VJ Edgecombe, and Kon Knueppel. The 2026 group is similarly viewed as having a high ceiling with several players expected to contribute immediately and many more with long-term development potential.
What to watch for on draft night
– Team needs vs. talent: Each franchise will weigh positional needs against the ceiling of the prospects available at their slot. The Wizards hold the top pick and will evaluate whether to select the best available player, or pursue a strategic fit that aligns with their rebuilding plan.
– Trade activity: Draft night trades can reshuffle the order and create value for teams in win-now modes or those looking to accumulate future assets. Expect a flurry of negotiations as teams seek to optimize their rosters.
– International and miscellaneous prospects: Beyond the headliners, many teams will consider players with international experience or those who have excelled in college or pre-draft showcases. Depth and versatility across positions can prove valuable in a league that emphasizes multi-position players and modern spacing.
Why Barclays Center remains the draft home
– The ongoing association with ESPN and the league’s centralized headquarters makes Barclays Center a natural home for the NBA Draft. Its location in New York and its proximity to major media partners help maximize exposure and engagement for fans watching around the world.
In summary, the 2026 NBA Draft promises to be a deep and dynamic event, featuring a top tier of highly touted prospects led by a likely No. 1 pick in A.J. Dybantsa, along with a broad slate of players expected to make immediate contributions or develop into cornerstone pieces for the league’s franchises. With trades and last-minute evaluations always possible, the final order could shift as teams finalize their targets ahead of the two-night event. Fans can look forward to two evenings of selections, analysis, and the emergence of the next wave of NBA stars.
