Welcome to the 2026 NBA Draft, with some big names that will find their teams on Tuesday night in the first round.
As we do every year here at For The Win, we’re giving you our thoughts and analysis as every first round pick gets made, with immediate grades from A to F and everything in between as we tell you who was a great pick, who was a reach and who was just OK.
So let’s dive in with our 2026 NBA Draft live grades with analysis for every pick. Keep this page bookmarked and refresh it as the draft goes:
A rare physical talent at a position of need, Dybantsa was the obvious pick here. He’ll slot in perfectly on the wing with Anthony Davis down low and Trae Young running the point. Dybantsa led the nation in scoring as a freshman and he’s only beginning to scratch the surface of what he can do on that end. He’s also a better playmaker than you’d expect. This is a franchise-changing pick for Washington.
Grade: A+
2. Utah Jazz: Darryn Peterson, Kansas G
Peterson is a dynamic scorer and the clear top guard in the class. With a smooth handle and jumper, Peterson averaged over 20 a game in his lone season in Lawrence. However, a mysterious cramping issue disrupted his season, and his pre-draft process raised some eyebrows about his commitment to the game. It’s still a home run pick for a Jazz team that needs some juice on the perimeter.
Grade: A
Boozer is as clean of a prospect as they come. The son of two-time All-Star Carlos Boozer, Cameron had a phenomenal freshman season at Duke, leading the Blue Devils to the Final Four. While he doesn’t have the upside of Dybantsa or Peterson, he already has an NBA frame physically and provides excellent rebounding for his position. His face-up game was nearly unstoppable in college.
Grade: A
4. Chicago Bulls: Caleb Wilson, UNC F
Even though Wilson’s lone college season was cut short due to injury, he’s every bit as elite of a prospect as the three players before him. Wilson helped change the culture in Chapel Hill through his steady leadership and quiet confidence. He’ll need to add some weight in the NBA as he plays an extremely physical brand of basketball, and when he does, he’ll be an All-Star for years to come.
Grade: A
5. Los Angeles Clippers: Keaton Wagler, Illinois G
Wagler had an unexpected rise to stardom at Illinois, where the lightly recruited guard led the Illini to the Final Four as a freshman. He has an impressive 3-point stroke with solid height at 6-foot-6. Wagler showed promise as a playmaker late in the season, and continued improvement there can truly take his game to the next level. He’ll certainly need to stronger, however.
Grade: B+
6. Brooklyn Nets: Mikel Brown, Louisville G
As much as Mikel Brown’s game impresses, there’s going to be a lot of conversation about the decision to take him here over Darius Acuff. This could become one of those spots that Nets fans debate for many years to come. Regardless, Brown’s game is well-rounded, and he should continue to improve after averaging 18.2 points and 4.7 assists per game. Brown was also named to the All-ACC third team, and if he comes into his own, it’ll make passing on Acuff a whole lot easier to deal with.
Grade: B
7. Sacramento Kings: Darius Acuff Jr., Arkansas G
It’s hard to argue with the upside of this pick for the Kings, as Darius Acuff has proven he’s capable of being an immediate game-changer and a player who can score at all levels. He averaged 23.5 points and 6.4 assists per game last season while being named the SEC Player of the Year. It wouldn’t be a surprise at all if Acuff emerges as one of the best players outside of the top three or four picks. However, it’ll be interesting to see how the Kings utilize him in his rookie season.
Grade: A
8. Atlanta Hawks: Kingston Flemings, Houston G
Flemings, who stands 6’3″, showcased his upside on both the offensive and defensive ends of the court last season with Houston. Along with averaging 16.1 points and 5.2 assists per game, he made significant noise with his defensive playmaking, racking up eight steals in one game alone. His size will be the biggest question mark in his transition to the NBA, but from a skill set standpoint, he’s already there.
Grade: B+
9. Dallas Mavericks: Morez Johnson Jr., Michigan F
Dusty May gets his Michigan man in Morez Johnson Jr., and it’s a pick that shouldn’t surprise anyone. May will put Johnson in a prime position to succeed at the next level, and he’s joining an interesting Mavericks team that hopes to expedite its rebuild behind Cooper Flagg and other young pieces. Johnson averaged 13.1 points and 7.3 rebounds per game while being named All-Big 12 third team last season.
Grade: B+
10. Milwaukee Bucks: Brayden Burries, Arizona G
Burries is fresh off a season in which he was named All-Big 12 first team while finishing up his lone collegiate season with averages of 16.1 points and 4.9 rebounds. He shot 49.1% from the field and 39.1% from three-point range, with 4.6 attempts per game from beyond the arc. He’ll be an interesting piece for the new-look Bucks, although he should be in a fight for minutes during his rookie season.
Grade: B
11. Golden State Warriors: Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan F
After two seasons at UAB, Lendeborg made the move to Michigan and put together a strong season with averages of 15.1 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.2 assists. After attempting fewer than two shots beyond the arc per game in his first two collegiate seasons, Lendeborg knocked down 37.2% from deep on 4.5 attempts per game with Michigan. He’s an older prospect (23) in comparison to the bulk of the other lottery picks, and it’s unlikely he’ll make an early impact for the Warriors.
Grade: B-
12. Oklahoma City Thunder: Aday Mara, Michigan C
The run on Michigan players continues, with three selected in a run of four picks here. Mara could be a great fit if the Thunder need to make a move with Isaiah Hartenstein, potentially, as he stands 7’3″ and weighs in at around 260 pounds. After two seasons with UCLA in which he played limited minutes, Mara flashed upside in his lone year with the Wolverines, averaging 12.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.6 blocks and 23.4 minutes per game.
Grade: B
13. Milwaukee Bucks14. Charlotte Hornets15. Charlotte Hornets16. Memphis Grizzlies17. Oklahoma City Thunder18. Charlotte Hornets19. Toronto Raptors20. San Antonio Spurs21. Detroit Pistons22. Philadelphia 76ers23. Atlanta Hawks24. New York Knicks25. Los Angeles Lakers26. Denver Nuggets27. Boston Celtics28. Brooklyn Nets29. Cleveland Cavaliers30. Dallas Mavericks
This article originally appeared on For The Win: 2026 NBA Draft grades for first round grades for each pick with updates