The Washington Wizards officially selected BYU forward AJ Dybantsa with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Washington is deploying the 6-foot-9 forward as the foundational piece of a rebuild following an Eastern Conference-worst 17-65 record in the 2025-26 season. The first overall selection pairs Dybantsa with core veterans Trae Young and Anthony Davis after the franchise secured the top pick in the May 10 draft lottery.
Kansas guard Darryn Peterson dropped to the Utah Jazz at the No. 2 pick. Peterson entered the year as the presumptive top selection. His fall down the board was triggered by an injury-plagued college season where he missed 11 games with a hamstring strain and recurring cramping, according to the Times of India. Peterson brushed off the slide immediately. “I’m ready. I know all the guys there,” Peterson stated on ESPN Radio. “I’m excited to go be in that backcourt with Keyonte [George].”
The Memphis Grizzlies selected Duke forward Cameron Boozer at No. 3 overall. The Chicago Bulls followed by taking North Carolina forward Caleb Wilson at the No. 4 spot, rounding out the top four picks detailed in Associated Press coverage.
This is the first time the Wizards have held the No. 1 overall pick since drafting John Wall in 2010. Dybantsa dominated his lone college season, averaging 25.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game. He finished with 894 total points, the third-most by a Division I freshman in NCAA history.