The Washington Wizards officially won the 2026 NBA draft lottery with the Utah Jazz, Memphis Grizzlies and Chicago Bulls picking right after that.
USA TODAY’s instant reaction mock draft showed projections for where each player is predicted to land during the first round at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York on June 23. But outside of the biggest names like AJ Dybantsa as well as Cameron Boozer and Darryn Peterson, who are the other most important prospects to know?
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These rankings generally reflect how front offices may view these players, though the order is likely to change after the 2026 NBA Combine concludes in Chicago. After these events, scouts will have a better idea of athleticism and true measurements from each prospect while also watching key performances in five-on-five scrimmages.
Unlike a mock draft, these rankings also do not reflect team fit or need but rather just a general range for each player.
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Coolest kicks of the NBA playoffs as stars show their sneaker style
The NBA playoffs bring out more than high‑stakes basketball, as stars showcase their sneaker style on the league’s biggest stage.
See the coolest kicks worn during the 2026 NBA Playoffs, where footwear becomes part of the spotlight.
Above, The shoes of Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks are seen during the first half of Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round NBA Playoffs against the Atlanta Hawks at Madison Square Garden on April 18, 2026, in New York City.
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Coolest kicks of the NBA playoffs as stars show their sneaker style
The NBA playoffs bring out more than high‑stakes basketball, as stars showcase their sneaker style on the league’s biggest stage.
See the coolest kicks worn during the 2026 NBA Playoffs, where footwear becomes part of the spotlight.
Above, The shoes of Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks are seen during the first half of Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round NBA Playoffs against the Atlanta Hawks at Madison Square Garden on April 18, 2026, in New York City.
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Coolest kicks of the NBA playoffs as stars show their sneaker style
The shoes of Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks are seen before Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round NBA Playoffs against the Atlanta Hawks at Madison Square Garden on April 18, 2026, in New York City.
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Coolest kicks of the NBA playoffs as stars show their sneaker style
The shoes of Josh Hart #3 of the New York Knicks are seen during the third quarter of Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round NBA Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on April 18, 2026, in New York City.
4 / 9
Coolest kicks of the NBA playoffs as stars show their sneaker style
Shoes worn by Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first quarter during Game One of the First Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Ball Arena on April 18, 2026, in Denver, Colorado.
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Coolest kicks of the NBA playoffs as stars show their sneaker style
The Nike Lebron XXIII shoes worn by Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) against the Houston Rockets in the first half during game one of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs, at Crypto.com Arena.
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Coolest kicks of the NBA playoffs as stars show their sneaker style
Shoes worn by Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves against the Denver Nuggets in the first quarter during Game One of the First Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Ball Arena on April 18, 2026, in Denver, Colorado.
7 / 9
Coolest kicks of the NBA playoffs as stars show their sneaker style
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 18: The shoes of Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks are seen during the first half of Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round NBA Playoffs against the Atlanta Hawks at Madison Square Garden on April 18, 2026 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
8 / 9
Coolest kicks of the NBA playoffs as stars show their sneaker style
The shoes of Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks are seen during the third quarter of Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round NBA Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on April 18, 2026, in New York City.
9 / 9
Coolest kicks of the NBA playoffs as stars show their sneaker style
The shoes of Jonathan Kuminga #0 of the Atlanta Hawks are seen during the third quarter of Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round NBA Playoffs against the Atlanta Hawks at Madison Square Garden on April 18, 2026, in New York City.
2026 NBA Draft Big Board
The following rankings are based on a blend of consensus projections from trusted evaluators as well as impact metrics such as box plus-minus and publicly available analytic models.
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1. AJ Dybantsa
2. Cameron Boozer
3. Darryn Peterson
4. Caleb Wilson
5. Keaton Wagler
6. Kingston Flemings
7. Darius Acuff Jr.
8. Brayden Burries
9. Yaxel Lendeborg
10. Mikel Brown Jr.
11. Aday Mara
12. Labaron Philon
13. Nate Ament
14. Hannes Steinbach
15. Morez Johnson Jr.
16. Bennett Stirtz
17. Karim Lopez
TEAM: International (Australia)
18. Cameron Carr
19. Dailyn Swain
20. Allen Graves
21. Christian Anderson
22. Koa Peat
23. Ebuka Okorie
24. Chris Cenac Jr.
25. Jayden Quaintance
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NBA Draft 2026 ranking of top players, prospects. Who’s No. 1?
