The dust has barely settled on a historic NBA Finals series that saw the New York Knicks end a 53-year championship drought, defeating the San Antonio Spurs in five games.
Now, attention turns to the 2026 NBA Draft, where a talented class headlined by several potential franchise cornerstones is set to hear their names called.
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While there is no clear consensus on who will be selected first overall, a handful of elite prospects have divided scouts and experts in the lead-up to draft night.
There is also plenty of Australian interest, with several local prospects hoping to realise their NBA dreams, while one former NBL Next Star is poised to make history for his nation with a likely first-round selection.
Here, foxsports.com.au breaks down everything you need to know ahead of the draft, including the order, top prospects and the key storylines to watch.
WHO ARE THE EXPERTS PREDICTING TO GO NUMBER ONE?
The Ringer’s Kyle Mann: “We’re a day away from the NBA draft, and there’s still a good argument for any of the top three prospects at no. 1: Cam Boozer, AJ Dybantsa, and Darryn Peterson. These are playoff-level primary offensive options that three rudderless (to varying degrees) franchises could build around. (And it’s possible that Caleb Wilson or even Keaton Wagler will eventually get on that level, too.) The posturing between the Dybantsa and Peterson camps over the past few days has been amusing, reminding me of a dating show where the bachelor/bachelorette finds real chemistry with a contestant, only for another to turn up the flirty pressure and request a one-on-one to win the contest. Peterson’s talent is certainly distracting. He’s the most talented offensive player in this class — I think he could’ve averaged double figures in the NBA this past season.
But if I’m making the decision in Washington, and I’m considering the muddled history of the franchise, I’m feeling pretty queasy about the idea of taking a player with so much volatility around them.
After tracking these players on a daily basis for months, I’ve decided that Boozer would be my pick because he’s both a star talent and someone who can bolster the competitive integrity of my organisation. I think his versatility on both ends of the floor is wildly underrated, he’s incredibly malleable in the roles that he can play, and he brings a hyper-focused professionalism that impacts whatever setting he’s in.”
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Yahoo Sports’ Kevin O’Connor: “AJDybantsa could become one of the NBA’s most unstoppable shot-creators. At 6-9, he has a special blend of athletic tools with the way he bends, shifts, and explodes with the ball in his hands. He gets to the rim at will, cooks in the mid-range, draws fouls at a high rate, and displays point-forward potential. In Washington, the pressure will be alleviated on him early in his career, now that he’s teammates with Trae Young and Anthony Davis. In the longer term, Dybantsa fits: Alex Sarr already looks like an effective two-way big, while guards and wings like Kyshawn George, Tre Johnson, Will Riley, and Bilal Coulibaly have all shown flashes. But none of them project to be a superstar like Dybantsa, whose upside will be determined by whether he can become a knockdown 3-point shooter, as well as a more impactful defender to take full advantage of his physical tools. But even with those areas for improvement, Dybantsa has an MVP ceiling.”
The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie:I’m sticking with Dybantsa here for now, as we have since lottery night. The team has done a lot of research into Peterson to understand everything it needs to know about him. But Dybantsa remains the pick as the most likely option for the Wizards and the best fit for what the team needs, according to league-wide sources.
Washington’s lead executive Michael Winger said in an interview with the local NBC station in Washington that leadership is an attribute he looks for in a No. 1 pick. Peterson is considered an exceptionally hard worker by all sources connected to him, but his leadership ability has been questioned, as he’s regarded as a quiet introvert. Peterson is a stone-cold killer on the court in terms of competitiveness. But Dybantsa is viewed by NBA sources as a more dynamic personality with leadership tendencies, both in the locker room and in the community.
WHO ARE THE AUSSIES AND NEXT STARS THAT COULD BE DRAFTED?
While only one Australian is widely expected to hear their name called on draft night, several others will be watching closely with NBA opportunities still on the table following a busy week of pre-draft workouts.
Purdue big man Oscar Cluff remains the strongest local chance of being selected, despite not appearing in ESPN’s latest mock draft. The former Boilermaker capped off a strong college season and has done enough to stay in the conversation as teams look to fill frontcourt depth late in the draft.
There are a few others still in the mix. Melbourne-born guard Anthony Dell’Orso, who has spent the past two years at Arizona, has already completed workouts with multiple NBA teams, including the Washington Wizards, LA Clippers and Indiana Pacers, putting himself firmly on radars heading into draft night.
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Another name to watch is Brisbane guard Max Mackinnon. The 22-year-old, coming off a season at LSU, has strengthened his case in recent weeks after a standout showing at the Adidas EuroCamp, where he led his team with 18.8 points, along with 5.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game. Shooting 44.4 per cent from three, he also claimed Finals MVP honours with the NBL Next Stars program.
The biggest international storyline, however, sits with Karim López.
The Mexican-born forward is projected to be a first-round selection and is on track to become the first player from Mexico ever taken that high. He is coming off a breakout second season with the New Zealand Breakers in the NBL’s Next Stars program, averaging 11.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.0 blocks per game across 31 appearances, while shooting 50.2 per cent from the field.
While his landing spot remains uncertain, López is widely viewed as a long-term NBA prospect with significant upside as draft night approaches.
WHEN AND WHERE IS THE DRAFT?
The draft takes place on Wednesday (Round 1) and Thursday (Round 2) in Brooklyn New York.
WHAT TIME IS THE NBA DRAFT?
You can tune in live on ESPN via Kayo Sports for pre-draft coverage from 9am AEST on Wednesday, while the first round itself will get underway at 10am and wrap up at 1pm.
The second round also begins at 10am on Thursday and is one you won’t want to miss, with the potential to hear some Australian names being called out.
HOW TO WATCH THE NBA DRAFT IN AUSTRALIA
You can watch live coverage of the 2026 NBA Draft with ESPN on Kayo Sports. If you new to Kayo, you can get your first month for just $1. Limited time offer.
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FIRST ROUND ORDER
1. Washington Wizards
2. Utah Jazz
3. Memphis Grizzlies
4. Chicago Bulls
5. LA Clippers (via Indiana Pacers)
6. Brooklyn Nets
7. Sacramento Kings
8. Atlanta Hawks (via New Orleans Pelicans)
9. Dallas Mavericks
10. Milwaukee Bucks
11. Golden State Warriors
12. Oklahoma City Thunder (via LA Clippers)
13. Milwaukee Bucks (via Miami Heat)
14. Charlotte Hornets
15. Chicago Bulls (via Portland Trail Blazers)
16. Memphis Grizzlies (via Phoenix Suns)
17. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Philadelphia 76ers)
18. Charlotte Hornets (via Orlando Magic/Phoenix Suns)
19. Toronto Raptors
20. San Antonio Spurs (via Atlanta Hawks)
21. Detroit Pistons (via Minnesota Timberwolves)
22. Philadelphia 76ers (via Houston Rockets)
23. Atlanta Hawks (via Cleveland Cavaliers)
24. New York Knicks
25. Los Angeles Lakers
26. Denver Nuggets
27. Boston Celtics
28. Minnesota Timberwolves
29. Cleveland Cavaliers
30. Dallas Mavericks (via their second first-round selection)
SECOND ROUND ORDER
31. New York Knicks (via Washington Wizards)
32. Memphis Grizzlies (via Indiana Pacers)
33. Brooklyn Nets
34. Sacramento Kings
35. San Antonio Spurs (via Utah Jazz)
36. LA Clippers (via Memphis Grizzlies)
37. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Dallas Mavericks)
38. Chicago Bulls (via New Orleans Pelicans)
39. Houston Rockets (via Chicago Bulls)
40. Boston Celtics (via Milwaukee Bucks)
41. Miami Heat (via Golden State Warriors)
42. San Antonio Spurs (via Portland Trail Blazers)
43. Brooklyn Nets (via LA Clippers)
44. San Antonio Spurs (via Miami Heat)
45. Sacramento Kings (via Charlotte Hornets)
46. Orlando Magic
47. Phoenix Suns (via Philadelphia 76ers)
48. Dallas Mavericks (via Phoenix Suns)
49. Denver Nuggets (via Atlanta Hawks)
50. Toronto Raptors
51. Washington Wizards (via Minnesota Timberwolves)
52. LA Clippers (via Cleveland Cavaliers)
53. Houston Rockets
54. Golden State Warriors (via Los Angeles Lakers)
55. New York Knicks
56. Chicago Bulls (via Denver Nuggets)
57. Atlanta Hawks (via Boston Celtics)
58. New Orleans Pelicans (via Detroit Pistons)
59. Minnesota Timberwolves (via San Antonio Spurs)
60. Washington Wizards (via Oklahoma City Thunder)