Highlights from the 2026 NBA Draft
The first round of the 2026 NBA Draft is now complete. If you’re short on time or just looking for some interesting tidbits about each player selected, here’s one fun fact for each of the 30 draftees that might surprise you.
1. AJ Divanza (Washington Wizards)
Divanza had a close bond with former Kentucky standout Terrence Clark, who sadly lost his life in a car accident shortly before the 2021 NBA Draft. The two were from the same Boston community, and Clark acted as a mentor for Divanza, who was expected to be the top pick. On draft night, he wore a suit that included a blue heart-shaped pin that said “TC5,” honoring Clark, who wore number 5 at Kentucky.
2. Darrin Peterson (Utah Jazz)
At just 16, Peterson made history as the first high school athlete to ink a name, image, and likeness deal with Adidas. That’s not all; he also secured a trading card contract with Fanatics, making him the youngest athlete to do so.
3. Cameron Boozer (Memphis Grizzlies)
While Boozer fell short of a national title during his time at Duke, he still left college with an impressive list of accolades. His resume boasts achievements like being named the consensus National Player of the Year for 2025-26, along with multiple state championships and gold medals with Team USA. Quite a haul for someone so young!
4. Caleb Wilson (Chicago Bulls)
Wilson has a unique hobby: he’s a Lego fan and even built a Lego Lamborghini Countach during one of his seasons in North Carolina. Reflecting on his time there, he expressed, “I came to be a great basketball player, so I do things off the court that help me mentally. Balance is key.” Definitely an interesting perspective.
5. Keaton Wagler (LA Clippers)
Wagler made a surprising mark as the first player in the Scouting Network era not listed in the top 100 prospects by any major scouting services, yet he became a lottery pick. The only site that placed him on a list was 247Sports, which ranked him No. 150.
6. Mikel Brown Jr. (Brooklyn Nets)
Brown Jr. had quite a turbulent college journey, playing only 21 games due to a back injury. Nonetheless, he achieved a milestone at Louisville, scoring 45 points against North Carolina State, which set a new ACC freshman record and matched legendary Wes Unseld’s scoring record at the school.
7. Darius Acuff Jr. (Sacramento Kings)
Acuff captured the 2026 Bob Cousy Award for being the top college point guard and became one of only two players in SEC history to lead the league in both scoring and assists in the same season. He also nabbed SEC Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year titles.
8. Kingston Flemings (Atlanta Hawks)
Flemings didn’t just break Houston’s freshman scoring record with a massive 42-point game against Texas Tech. He also became the first freshman in college basketball history to maintain averages of at least 16 points, four rebounds, five assists, and two turnovers per game during the season.
9. Mores Johnson Jr. (Dallas Mavericks)
By getting drafted by the Mavericks, Johnson Jr. became the first player since 2014 to be chosen by the same coach he played for in college. It’s a nod to a rare connection in the world of college and professional basketball.
10. Brayden Burries (Milwaukee Bucks)
The Burries family certainly has some bragging rights now, although older brother BJ still holds the title for scoring the most points in Arizona boys high school basketball history. BJ recently wrapped up a stint as a graduate assistant at the University of Arizona.
11. Jaksel Lendeborg (Golden State Warriors)
Lendeborg, at 23, earned the title of the oldest player taken in the first round this year. He has a unique college path, spending three years at junior college before moving to UAB, and ultimately contributing to Michigan’s national championship in the 2025-26 season.
12. Aday Mara (Oklahoma City Thunder)
Standing at 7’3″ without shoes, Mara is officially the tallest player drafted in the first round. He shattered records at Michigan by logging 103 blocks in a single season—quite the defensive feat.
13. Nate Ament (Milwaukee Bucks)
Ament’s mother hails from Rwanda and is a nurse. In homage to her roots, he often sports shoes featuring the colors of Rwanda’s flag. Notably, despite being only 19, he has made several visits to Rwanda, hosting basketball clinics while there.
14. Hannes Steinbach (Charlotte Hornets)
This German sensation topped the NCAA in rebounding last season with an impressive average of 11.8 boards per game, accomplishing 22 double-doubles within 30 games. His efforts made him one of only 14 freshmen in NCAA history to hit the 550 points and 350 rebounds mark in a season.
15. Daylene Swain (Chicago Bulls)
During his singular season at Texas, Swain stood out by being the sole player in the country to lead his team in all major statistical categories. Quite an achievement for a newcomer!
16. Bennett Staats (Oklahoma City Thunder)
Staats has quite the educational journey, having moved from Division II Northwest Missouri State to Drake University, and ultimately finishing up his college career at the University of Iowa.
17. Ebuka Okolie (Detroit Pistons)
Originally set on attending Harvard, Okolie’s parents encouraged him to pursue basketball instead. Their condition? A school with rigorous academic standards, which led him from Stanford to the NBA shortly after a successful collegiate experience.
18. Christian Anderson (Charlotte Hornets)
Anderson made a name for himself by being awarded the Big 12’s Most Improved Player title, not to mention setting a single-season assists record at Texas Tech with 244 assists.
19. Allen Graves (Toronto Raptors)
Santa Clara University’s draft history was quite limited until recently, with only three first-round picks selected from 1947 to 2021. However, they’ve bagged three first-round picks in just five years—Graves being one of them.
20. Jaden Quaentance (San Antonio Spurs)
Quaintance holds the record for being the youngest McDonald’s All-American, making the 2024 roster at just 16. His youth led him to play in college for two years before making the jump to the NBA.
21. Karim Lopez (Memphis Grizzlies)
Lopez made history as the first Mexican-born player drafted in the first round of the NBA Draft, marking a significant milestone for representation in the sport.
22. LaBaron Philon Jr. (Philadelphia 76ers)
In his sophomore year at Alabama, Philon made waves by becoming the only Division I player to average 22 points and 5 assists while also shooting over 50% from the field—a significant accomplishment.
23. Zuby Ejiofor (Atlanta Hawks)
Ejiofor made history during the 2025-26 season by sweeping the Big East’s major awards—Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, Tournament Player of the Year, and Scholarship Player of the Year—all in the same season.
24. Cameron Carr (Los Angeles Lakers)
Carr comes from a basketball lineage; his father, Chris, had a six-season career in the NBA and famously competed in the 1997 Slam Dunk Contest against Kobe Bryant when Bryant was just 18. His mother was also part of the Minnesota Timberwolves dance team.
25. Sergio De Larrea (Dallas Mavericks)
De Larrea joined the Mavericks after a standout season with Valencia Basket in Spain’s Liga Endesa, where he was recognized as the Young Player of the Year.
26. Taris Reed Jr. (San Antonio Spurs)
Reed’s college journey saw him tied to both the Michigan Wolverines and the Huskies. His career ended in disappointment, as his team faced Michigan in the 2026 national championship game.
27. Chris Cenac Jr. (Boston Celtics)
Standing at 7’5″ with remarkable reach, Cenac secured at least one offensive rebound in 33 out of 37 games he played for Houston during the 2025-26 season.
28. Joshua Jefferson (Brooklyn Nets)
This versatile 6’9″ forward etched his name in the records as the first player in Iowa State and Big 12 history to secure multiple triple-doubles in one season.
29. Alex Karaban (Sacramento Kings)
As the all-time leader in 3-pointers at his school, Karaban made a significant impact and was the only player drafted from a team that won multiple national titles.
30. Core Pete (Phoenix Suns)
Pete is the youngest of seven siblings. His older brother, Andrus Pete, was a three-time Pro Bowl offensive lineman in the NFL. Interestingly, “Koa” translates to “strong warrior” in Hawaiian, quite an apt name.
