2026 NBA draft highlights: AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, Cameron Boozer go 1-2-3

Michigan followed its first NCAA title run since 1989 by leading the country with three first-round selections, while the Big 12 led all conferences with nine first-round picks.

The Wolverines had forward Morez Johnson Jr. go to Dallas with the No. 9 pick, fellow forward Yaxel Lendeborg go to Golden State at No. 11 and big man Aday Mara go to Oklahoma City at No. 12.

As for the conferences, the Big 12 had its best first-round haul. The Big Ten had six, followed by the Southeastern Conference with five. The Atlantic Coast Conference ended up with four in a top-heavy showing, with three coming in the top six overall selections.

The Big East had three and the West Coast Conference had one.

And that’s it for Round 1.

Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum takes over for Commissioner Adam Silver as the one announcing the picks Wednesday night for Round 2, with the draft resuming at 8 p.m. on ESPN.

Michigan had three picks in Round 1, while Arizona, Houston and UConn each had two.

Sturdy-framed freshman who averaged 14.1 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists for Final Four team. Scored primarily in transition, on post-ups or as the roller in pick-and-rolls. Made seven 3s with a jumper rated as “Below Average” (27th percentile) by Synergy. Tied for fifth at the combine in standing vertical leap (34.5 inches).

The Charlotte Hornets two first-round draft picks come with built-in chemistry.

Hannes Steinbach from Washington, selected 14th overall, and Christian Anderson Jr. from Texas Tech, the 18th overall selection, were teammates on the German U19 national team and at the FIBA U19 World Cup.

“Playing three years together we have that connection on and off the court,” Anderson said. “We won so many games together — and I can’t wait to win some more.”

Tested and versatile redshirt senior with range (career 37.4% on 3s) and 6-11 wingspan. Held career averages of 12.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.0 blocks. UConn won two NCAA titles and played for a third with him as a full-time starter.

If you’re watching the draft and wondering if the agent congratulating a slew of players is Mike Miller, yes, it is Mike Miller. The former NBA sharpshooter who famously made the one-shoe 3-pointer in Game 6 of the 2013 NBA Finals for Miami against San Antonio is now an agent.

And he had a heck of a night.

The agency he co-founded, LIFT Sports Management, had five first-rounders Tuesday night: Tennessee’s Nate Ament, Stanford’s Ebuka Okorie, Alabama’s Labaron Philon Jr., Kentucky’s Jayden Quaintance and Iowa State’s Joshua Jefferson — who wasn’t even formally invited to the first round and came out of the stands when he was taken at No. 28.

Karim Lopez has become the first Mexican-born player selected in the first round of the NBA draft.

Lopez heard his name called at No. 21 by the Detroit Pistons. A draft night deal that won’t be official until July 6 is sending him to the Memphis Grizzlies.

Lopez was born in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico. He spent two seasons in Australia’s National Basketball League’s “Next Stars” developmental program that produced lottery picks LaMelo Ball, Josh Giddey and Alex Sarr in recent years.

Second-team AP All-American. Senior playmaker with a strong frame and size. Averaged 16.4 points and 7.4 rebounds. Passing is a standout skill (4.8 assists) with his ability to initiate offense. Had four games with at least 10 assists. Posted a nearly 2-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio.

San Antonio didn’t need a center. It has Victor Wembanyama. But it did need a bit more physicality, and addressed that on Tuesday night.

The Spurs landed Kentucky’s Jayden Quaintance at No. 20 and after a trade with Denver will be adding UConn’s Tarris Reed Jr. at No. 26. Quaintance was limited to four games for the Wildcats this past season because of a knee issue, and stayed in the first round anyway.

Freshman and McDonald’s All-American with rangy skills. Started 36 games and led top-10 team in rebounding (7.9). Hit 30 3-pointers. Settled into a complementary role (9.5 points) and had three or fewer baskets in 18 of 37 games. Didn’t get to the line often (58 attempts in 37 games) and shot poorly when he did (62.1%).

Giannis Antetokounmpo is courtside at the WNBA’s Las Vegas Aces game against the New York Liberty. (Heat center Bam Adebayo, the longtime partner of Aces star A’ja Wilson, is also at the game.)

Remember, Antetokounmpo can’t officially join the Heat until July 6.

But the WNBA tweeted out the news, calling Antetokounmpo “the newest member of the Miami Heat.” And the Aces did the same on their video screens, using that same wording over an image of the two-time NBA MVP and his children as they watched during a stoppage in play.

Interior force who powered UConn’s NCAA title-game run. Senior had career-high averages of 14.7 points, 9.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 2.0 blocks. Had 31 points and 27 rebounds in first-round NCAA win against Furman as first player since Houston’s Elvin Hayes (1968) with a 30/25 game in March Madness. Has a better than 7-4 wingspan.

No. 2 pick Darryn Peterson is hoping to wear 22 in Utah, but he might have to pay to get it as Kyle Filipowski already has it.

“I’m going to have to see what he’s willing to do to give that up,” Peterson said.

Peterson’s backup choice is No. 8 in honor of Kobe Bryant. Peterson said he just got a Kobe tattoo on his shoulder. However that number is also taken as Isaiah Collier wears it.

“So I’m out of luck. I’m going to have to figure it out,” he said. “I’m going to have to go to the drawing board and figure something out. Hopefully I can get 22. I’m probably going to text Flip right now, like what I gotta do?”

A 20-year-old playmaker with size and range. Posted modest numbers (4.2 points, 2.2 assists in 11.2 minutes) in 31 games of top-level EuroLeague competition, but shot 39.6% from 3-point range and had a 1.8 assist-to-turnover margin. Has a 6-9 wingspan and good passing touch.

Transferred from Tennessee and blossomed as a redshirt sophomore in a lead role with the Bears. Averaged 18.9 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.6 assists. Shot 49.4% overall and 37.4% on 3s. Ranked among combine leaders in standing vertical leap (second at 38 inches) and max vertical leap (third at 42.5 inches).

Fourth pick Caleb Wilson wasn’t intimidated by the comparison to another great North Carolina player who was drafted by the Chicago Bulls — Michael Jordan. He embraced it.

“I’m writing my own story, honestly. I want to be better than Mike,” he said. “I know it’s a lot to (do), but I’m writing my own story, for sure. I feel like it’s a great pipeline from UNC to the Bulls. I am just ready to keep it going.”

Senior offered a physical presence in St. John’s Sweet 16 run, averaging 16.3 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2.1 blocks. Made 18 of 59 3s (30.5%) for some inside-out range. Has defensive potential with high motor, strong frame and 7-2 wingspan allowing him to tussle in the paint and move his feet to handle switches.

Michigan turned a national title into a draft bonanza.

The Wolverines had three players taken in the top 12, marking just the seventh time three players from the same school went that high in the same draft.

Morez Johnson Jr. started the run when he was taken ninth by Dallas where he will reunited with Michigan coach Dusty May.

Yaxel Lendeborg then went 11th to Golden State followed by Aday Mara to Oklahoma City with the No. 12 pick.

This marked the second straight year one school had three players taken that early with Duke’s Cooper Flagg, Kon Knueppel and Khaman Maluach all going in the top 10.

The other schools to do it were Duke in 2019, Kentucky in 2015, Florida in 2007, UNLV in 1991 and Indiana in 1976.

Third-team AP All-American as a sophomore after averaging 22.0 points and 5.0 assists. Made a leap in shooting efficiency at 50.1% overall (up from 45.2% as a freshman) and 39.9% on 3s (up from 31.5%). Thrived as ballhandler in pick-and-rolls (94th percentile in Synergy) and repeatedly beat man defenses in the halfcourt (90th).

Versatile forward with athleticism and a nearly 7-foot wingspan. Native of Mexico. Spent two seasons in Australia’s National Basketball League’s “Next Stars” developmental program that produced lottery picks LaMelo Ball, Josh Giddey and Alex Sarr in recent years. Averaged 11.9 points and 6.1 rebounds last year. Turned 19 in April.

Physical tools stand out but sophomore’s health is a question. Suffered torn ACL in right knee in February 2025 while playing for Arizona State, then played just four games at Kentucky due to lingering swelling. Ranked fourth at the combine in wingspan (better than 7-5) and has big hands (tied for combine lead with 11-inch width, tied for second with 9.5-inch length).

On Wednesday, Scotland plays Brazil in Miami Gardens, Florida, as the World Cup continues. And that meant Scotland fans had nothing to do on Tuesday night. They got invited to join the Miami Heat draft party, and they became the party.

Did they know anything about the NBA?

“Nothing like this,” Ian Fyfe said. “Never been to anything like this before.”

Fyfe was on the Heat court, with a few dozen other Scotland fans. Some shot baskets for the first time, some touched a basketball for the first time.

It was very festive. That is, until M Dot, the Heat DJ, played “Sweet Caroline.” The mood changed fast. The Scots booed.

“That’s an England song,” Fyfe said.

The music changed, the cheering resumed and the Scots left the draft party happy. A little confused, perhaps, but happy. “Who won?” a lady asked as she departed the arena.

The top half of the first round featured no picks who didn’t play in college for a change.

This marked the first time since 2012 that the first 15 players picked all came from college. In 2012, the first non-college player taken was Evan Fournier at 20th.

There has been at least one player with no college experience taken in the first round in the last 31 drafts.

West Coast Conference’s freshman and sixth man of the year for program that reached first NCAA Tournament since 1996. Averaged 11.8 points and 6.5 rebounds in 22.6 minutes. Shot 51.2% overall. Showed range (41.3% on 3s) and defensive potential (0.9 blocks, 1.9 steals).

Third-team AP All-American as a sophomore. Averaged 18.5 points and ranked fifth nationally in assists (7.4). Projects as a scoring playmaker despite being undersized. Shot 40% on 3-pointers over two seasons. Thrived as the ballhandler in pick-and-roll scenarios (93rd percentile in Synergy) and as a spot-up shooter (90th).

Four-star prospect who became a surprise freshman star. Ranked seventh nationally in scoring (23.2). Posted eight 30-point games, including 40 points in a win against Georgia Tech and 36 in a win against North Carolina. Showed the burst to score in transition and the halfcourt despite being undersized.

Senior point guard who climbed from Division II to Drake, then led Iowa to its first Elite Eight since 1987. Averaged 19.8 points, 4.4 assists and 1.4 steals. Synergy rated him as “Excellent” as the ballhandler in pick-and-roll scenarios (91st percentile), working in isolation (84th) and finishing at the rim (90th).

After Hannes Steinbach was selected No. 14 overall by the Charlotte Hornets, ESPN surprised him in the interview room by piping in a videotaped message from former NBA star Dirk Nowitzki, who played with his father Burkhard Steinbach in the German Basketball Bundesliga.

Nice idea, only problem was the message was inaudible due to an apparent technical issues, leaving the television audience wondering what Nowitzki said.

Burkhard Steinbach and Nowitzki were teammates on the German team in their shared hometown of Würzburg in the 1990s.

Junior transfer from Xavier averaged 17.3 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.6 assists. Most of his work came as the ballhandler in pick-and-roll scenarios and in transition. Showed active hands by averaging 1.6 steals. Must improve 3-point shooting after shooting 34.4% last year and 29.3% through three seasons.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver announced that Nate Ament’s draft rights were traded to the Milwaukee Bucks by the Miami Heat.

And that’s all. The rest of the Giannis Antetokounmpo deal can’t be finished until July 6.

But at least Ament gets to start getting to know his new team. And, we hope, gets the right hat.

German freshman averaged 18.5 points and national-best 11.8 rebounds. Had a 24-rebound game against USC and five other games with at least 15 boards. Also had 10 games with at least six offensive rebounds. Shot 57.7% overall. Showed inside-out potential by hitting 18 3-pointers (34.5%). Averaged 1.2 blocks with better than 7-2 wingspan.

The last lottery pick in the 2026 NBA draft: Washington forward Hannes Steinbach, going No. 14 to the Charlotte Hornets.

The Hornets were on the cusp of the playoffs this past season, losing in the play-in finale to Orlando and missing out on the No. 8 seed.

Steinbach is a big-time rebounder, averaging 18.5 points and an NCAA-leading 11.8 boards this season. And his father has played with Dirk Nowitzki, so expect greatness.

Freshman offers intriguing versatility and athleticism as No. 2 scorer (16.7) for Elite Eight team. Illustrated long-term potential while averaging 22.8 points on 45.2% shooting from Jan. 10 to Feb. 20, including 39.1% on 3s. Must fill out his game with spot-up shots accounting for 18.7% of his possessions, according to Synergy. Needs strength to handle physical play.

Lisa Salters asked Nate Ament who he was on the phone with when Commissioner Adam Silver announced him as the No. 13 pick.

“Talking to Milwaukee staff,” Ament said.

Seriously, give the kid a Bucks hat already.

Let the record forever and ever show that Tennessee forward Nate Ament was taken No. 13 by the Miami Heat in Tuesday’s draft.

He will be a Heat player until July 6. And only on paper.

Ament will be going to the Milwaukee Bucks, as part of the trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Heat had to make the pick on Milwaukee’s behalf as part of the terms of the trade that the sides agreed to Monday night.

He went on stage with the Heat logos displayed and was given a Heat hat. It’s the annual dilemma for the NBA: What do you do with players who are traded, but aren’t really traded yet?

Anyway, he’ll have a Bucks hat soon enough.

Kansas coach Bill Self sees big things in store for his freshman guard Darryn Peterson after being picked No. 2 by Utah.

“His ceiling is, in 10 years, he’s an eight-time All-Star,” Self said. “It may take him a year or two to get his legs under him, but he’ll be one of the best guards in the league. He’ll be one of the most talked about. He’ll be a guy that averages 20, 25 a game, I think, over the course of his career.”

Peterson averaged 20.2 points and 4.2 rebounds for the Jayhawks but was hampered by ailments. He dealt with a preseason full-body cramping issue that required hospitalization and later missed 11 games for injury or illness.

“You hear all these accolades that everybody gives him and it’s deservedly so about his talent, and we didn’t get a chance to see it consistently. We saw it at times, but not consistently with health issues,” Self said. “So it makes me very happy for him but also kind of feeling of a what-if a little bit as well.”

Junior from Spain projects as a defensive force after helping Michigan win its first NCAA title since 1989. Averaged 12.1 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 23.4 minutes. Ranked sixth nationally in blocks (2.6). Shot 66.8% overall. Led all combine players in standing reach (9-9) while ranking second in wingspan (7-6). Must improve at the line (56.4%).

Aday Mara is the third Michigan player to go in the lottery portion, getting taken No. 12 by Oklahoma City.

And the Thunder have another rim defender to go alongside an elite one in Chet Holmgren.

In fact, Mara could be a nightmare on defense. At 7-foot-3 without shoes, he officially was the tallest player at the combine last month. His standing reach is 9-foot-9, meaning he can almost dunk by doing nothing other than reaching for the rim.

Yaxel Lendeborg had one of the best draft moments we’ve seen so far in this class, when he sat down on the ESPN couch right after getting selected and said, “I don’t deserve to be here right now.”

ESPN’s Lisa Salters quickly chimed in, telling Landeborg, “don’t say that.” And she’s right.

Lendeborg credits his mother for everything he’s been able to do in the game, and for making sure he eventually found the right path in life.

Mother knows best.

First-team AP All-American for NCAA champion. Has a strong frame (6-9, 241) and better than 7-3 wingspan. Shot 37.2% on 3s at career-high volume compared to 34.9% through two seasons at UAB. Showed toughness by gritting through ankle and knee injuries in the Final Four and title game. Older prospect (23) who spent three years in junior college.

Golden State got a national champion in Michigan forward Yaxel Lendeborg with the No. 11 pick.

Lendeborg thought about the draft last year, then returned to college and helped the Wolverines win the national title.

He’ll be 24 years old when training camp starts, and he’s got the maturity to fit right in alongside Stephen Curry and the Warriors.

With Jimmy Butler dealing with ACL recovery, expect the Warriors to need production from him right away. He’s more than capable.

Freshman combo guard offers potential to impact both ends of the court. Averaged 16.1 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.4 assists for 36-win Final Four team. Shot 49.1% overall, 39.1% on 3-pointers and 80.5% on free throws. Averaged 1.5 steals, including nine games with at least three. Ranked fourth at the combine in standing vertical leap (35 inches).

The run on guards is back on, with Milwaukee taking Arizona’s Brayden Burries with the No. 10 pick.

The Bucks traded Giannis Antetokounmpo to Miami on Monday night; it won’t be official until July 6, but Milwaukee got guards Tyler Herro and Kasparas Jakucionis as part of their haul of players from the Heat.

And now, another guard in Burries is headed to Milwaukee. The Bucks also have the No. 13 pick, which technically will be made by Miami.