{"id":864538,"date":"2026-10-22T00:06:58","date_gmt":"2026-10-22T00:06:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/864538\/"},"modified":"2026-10-22T00:06:58","modified_gmt":"2026-10-22T00:06:58","slug":"kia-rookie-ladder-2026-draft-class-ready-to-make-nba-debut","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/864538\/","title":{"rendered":"Kia Rookie Ladder: 2026 Draft class ready to make NBA debut"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

No. 3 pick Cameron Boozer (right) will debut Wednesday vs. the Jazz, while No. 4 pick Caleb Wilson faces the Raptors.<\/p>\n

Opening week has arrived for the 2026 NBA Draft class.<\/p>\n

Their first regular-season games are finally here. 12 of the 14 lottery picks in the NBA Draft could make their regular-season debut Wednesday. Oklahoma City\u2019s Aday Mara made his debut Tuesday against San Antonio<\/a>, and No. 1 overall pick AJ Dybantsa will be sidelined with a sprained left ankle<\/a> for the Wizards season opener.<\/p>\n

This is a much-anticipated class. The lottery picks and beyond have shown why with their performances in Summer League and preseason games. We will be following the first-year players all season in the Kia Rookie Ladder.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a look at the lottery picks and their opening games.<\/p>\n

\"Washington AJ Dybantsa, Washington Wizards (No. 1 pick)<\/p>\n

Debut: TBD<\/p>\n

Dybantsa is in a solid situation where he doesn\u2019t need to do it all, but the Wizards know he\u2019s capable of doing a lot. He scored in double figures in all four preseason games, had seven rebounds in one game, four steals in another and three assists in another. Unfortunately, fans will have to wait for his debut as he\u2019s listed as day-to-day with a sprained left ankle and was ruled out<\/a> for Washington\u2019s season opener against Milwaukee.<\/p>\n

\"Utah Darryn Peterson | Utah Jazz (No. 2 pick)<\/p>\n

Debut: Wednesday at Memphis Grizzlies (8 ET, NBA League Pass<\/a>)<\/p>\n

Peterson scored 23 points in his second preseason game and had 13 points, six rebounds and six assists in his final preseason game. He\u2019s set to tip off his NBA career in Memphis against No. 3 overall pick Cameron Boozer.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Memphis Cameron Boozer | Memphis Grizzlies (No. 3 pick)<\/p>\n

Debut: Wednesday vs. Utah Jazz (8 ET, NBA League Pass<\/a>)<\/p>\n

Boozer enters the league as ready physically as any rookie and with an all-around skill set. He had at least 10 points, four rebounds and two assists in four preseason games. In the 2026-27 NBA GM Survey<\/a>, Boozer was picked to win Rookie of the Year.<\/p>\n

\"Chicago Caleb Wilson | Chicago Bulls (No. 4 pick)<\/p>\n

Debut: Wednesday at Toronto Raptors (7:30 ET, NBA League Pass<\/a>)<\/p>\n

Wilson posted impressive per-36-minute averages in the preseason: 21.4 points on 43.5% shooting, 6.2 rebounds and 3.8 assists. He looked comfortable attacking the basket.<\/p>\n

\"Los Keaton Wagler | LA Clippers (No. 5 pick)<\/p>\n

Debut: Wednesday vs. Sacramento Kings (10:30 ET, NBA League Pass<\/a>)<\/p>\n

The Clippers will give Wagler opportunities, and he is in a situation where he can grow without immediate pressure on him to produce victories.<\/p>\n

\"Brooklyn Mikel Brown Jr. | Brooklyn Nets (No. 6 pick)<\/p>\n

Debut: Wednesday vs. Charlotte Hornets (7:30 ET, NBA League Pass<\/a>)<\/p>\n

Brown had 15 points, three rebounds, three assists and two steals in his lone preseason game, and he is benefiting from the mentorship of Julius Randle.<\/p>\n

\"Sacramento Darius Acuff Jr. | Sacramento Kings (No. 7 pick)<\/p>\n

Debut: Wednesday at LA Clippers (10:30 ET, NBA League Pass<\/a>)<\/p>\n

Acuff\u2019s ability to score drew attention across the league \u2013 19 points against the Los Angeles Lakers and 25 points, eight assists and four rebounds against the Golden State Warriors. He was 8-for-19 on 3-pointers in the preseason.<\/p>\n

\"Atlanta Kingston Flemings | Atlanta Hawks (No. 8 pick)<\/p>\n

Debut: Wednesday at Orlando Magic (7 ET, NBA League Pass<\/a>)<\/p>\n

Flemings has drawn high praise for his work ethic and attention to detail and will get his opportunities in the rotation. He had at least five assists in three of Atlanta\u2019s five preseason games and had just two turnovers in the Hawks\u2019 final four preseason games.<\/p>\n

\"Dallas Morez Johnson Jr. | Dallas Mavericks (No. 9 pick)<\/p>\n

Debut: Wednesday at Houston Rockets (8:30 ET, NBA League Pass<\/a>)<\/p>\n

Johnson played limited minutes in two preseason games, and it will be interesting to see how Mavericks head coach Dusty May, who was Johnson\u2019s coach at Michigan, uses him early in the season.<\/p>\n

\"Milwaukee Brayden Burries | Milwaukee Bucks (No. 10 pick)<\/p>\n

Debut: Wednesday at Washington Wizards (7 ET, NBA League Pass<\/a>)<\/p>\n

In the 2026-27 NBA GM Survey<\/a>, Burries was voted the biggest steal at where he was selected in the draft. He displayed his ability to score, rebound, pass and generate steals in the preseason, including 19 points, five rebounds, five assists and four steals against Chicago.<\/p>\n

\"Golden Yaxel Lendeborg | Golden State Warriors (No. 11 pick)<\/p>\n

Debut: Wednesday at Los Angeles Lakers (10 ET, ESPN<\/a>)<\/p>\n

Warriors head coach Steve Kerr is on record saying Lendeborg will get minutes in the rotation, and Lendeborg did his part in the preseason, scoring at least 17 points in four of five games, including 23 points, 10 rebounds, six assists, two steals and one block in 24 minutes against Sacramento.<\/p>\n

\"Oklahoma Aday Mara | Oklahoma City Thunder (No. 12 pick)<\/p>\n

Debut: Tuesday at San Antonio Spurs (116-104 win<\/a>)<\/p>\n

Mara had seven points, two rebounds, one assist and one block in nearly 12 minutes as the Thunder defeated San Antonio in the season opener Tuesday. On Mara\u2019s block, he stuffed Victor Wembanyama, who was trying to complete a dunk on an alley-oop attempt. It led to Mara completing an alley-oop dunk on Oklahoma City\u2019s next possession.<\/p>\n

Aday Mara MAKING PLAYS in his first NBA game \ud83d\udd25<\/p>\n

Big-time swat at the rim.
Two-hand alley-oop slam.<\/p>\n

The Thunder lead in Q3! pic.twitter.com\/YJpmoBAm8J<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 NBA (@NBA) October 21, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Milwaukee Nate Ament | Milwaukee Bucks (No. 13 pick)<\/p>\n

Debut: Wednesday at Washington Wizards (7 ET, NBA League Pass<\/a>)<\/p>\n

Ament sprained his ankle in the preseason and was limited to just 23 minutes in two preseason games. He\u2019s listed as Probable to play in Wednesday\u2019s season opener.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Charlotte Hannes Steinbach | Charlotte Hornets (No. 14 pick)<\/p>\n

Debut: Wednesday at Brooklyn Nets (7:30 ET, NBA League Pass<\/a>)<\/p>\n

Steinbach had 19 points, 10 rebounds and three steals in Charlotte\u2019s final preseason game \u2013 and that leaves the franchise excited about his potential as a versatile big man in the rotation.<\/p>\n

* * *<\/p>\n

Jeff Zillgitt has covered the NBA since 2008. You can email him at\u00a0jzillgitt@nba.com<\/a>, find\u00a0his archive here<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0follow him on X<\/a>.<\/p>\n