NBA Draft 2026 dates, start time, pick order, TV channels & updated mock drafts

Who will the Wizards select No. 1 overall in the 2026 NBA Draft? Well, your answer is all a matter of preference.

Washington holds the keys to the draft board after years of lottery futility. It will look to capitalize this week, searching high and wide for a No. 1 option. There are three prospective candidates, all of whom come with intriguing traits. AJ Dybantsa was splendid in his freshman season at BYU, leading the country in scoring. Darryn Peterson was widely considered a No. 1 pick candidate ahead of his freshman campaign at Kansas. And Cameron Boozer mounted a charge for the National Player of the Year honors with Duke.

The Dybantsa-Peterson-Boozer debate remains an integral part of the 2026 draft board. It isn't the only one, however. Whether you're selecting in the top-five or watching on from the stands, one can expect basketball enthusiasts to embrace the joy of another NBA Draft.

With that, here's a look at everything you need to know about the 2026 NBA Draft, including dates, start time and pick order.

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When is the NBA Draft in 2026?

• Date: Tuesday, June 23 (Round 1), Wednesday, June 24 (Round 2)
• Start time: 8:00 p.m. ET (Wednesday and Thursday)
• TV channels: ABC (Wednesday), ESPN (Wednesday and Thursday)
• Live stream: ESPN+, fubo

The NBA Draft will take place in the last week of June between the end of the NBA Finals and the official start of free agency.

For the third straight year, the NBA Draft will be split up into two nights. This year, round one will take place on Tuesday, June 23, while round two will be on Wednesday, June 24.

What time does the NBA Draft start?

Now that the draft has been separated into two nights, both rounds of the NBA Draft will begin at 8:00 p.m. ET.

NBA Draft TV schedule

ESPN will once again have the broadcast of the entire NBA Draft. The first round will be broadcast on both ABC and ESPN, while the second round will be aired just on ESPN. Both rounds will also be live-streamed on ESPN+ and fubo, which offers a free trial.

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NBA Draft order 2026

The Wizards won the draft lottery in May, giving them the top pick in the draft. They'll be joined in the top three by the Jazz and Grizzlies, all of whom are in search of a franchise player to push the organizations to new heights.

Round 2

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2026 NBA mock draft

It remains anyone's guess to see who hears their name called first in this year's draft. AJ Dybantsa looks to establish himself as the odds-on favorite to go first to the Wizards. But Darryn Peterson and Cameron Boozer remain in the mix, with some scouts and analysts arguing the other two have higher ceilings than Dybantsa.

Beyond that top three, uncertainty looms all around this draft board. Widely considered to be one of the strongest drafts in recent memory, there are a lot of players who could see their stock soar following a string of impressive workouts.

With that, here's a look at the top-five picks in TSN's Steph Noh's latest mock draft, written after the lottery results came out in mid-May:

1. Washington Wizards: AJ Dybantsa, SF, BYU

Dybantsa has First Team All-NBA potential. He showed that as a freshman at BYU, leading the nation in scoring with 25.5 points per game. The 6-9 wing has rare fluidity and a complete scoring package, giving him the highest ceiling in this deep draft. 

2. Utah Jazz: Darryn Peterson, G, Kansas

Peterson is a great fit in the wide-open Jazz offense. He should benefit tremendously from the spacing that Lauri Markkanen, Jaren Jackson Jr., Ace Bailey, and Keyonte George provide. He's a natural fit in their starting lineup as a terrific scorer and great athlete who can be a dangerous combo guard next to George. 

MORE: Darryn Peterson's timeline of Kansas controversies

3. Memphis Grizzlies: Cameron Boozer, PF, Duke

Caleb Wilson is going to put a lot of pressure on the Grizzlies at No. 4. But Memphis has been an analytically-inclined organization when it comes to the draft. Wilson shines in draft models, but Boozer looks like a once-in-a-generation prospect. He's likely to be the pick here. He put up better numbers than last year's No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg, dominating college basketball with his size, playmaking, post touch, and shooting. While he might not be the highest jumper or the fastest, he's the safest pick in this draft and could easily be the best player 10 years from now. 

MORE: Cameron Boozer is The Sporting News Player of the Year

4. Chicago Bulls: Caleb Wilson, SF/PF, North Carolina

Bulls lead executive Bryson Graham has already stated his desire to acquire players who meet his SLAP criteria consisting of strength, length, athleticism, and physicality. That makes the pick here Wilson unless he is already off the board. Standing at 6-10, he's a defensive Swiss Army knife that gets excited about locking down opponents. Offensively, he's a terror in transition and hard to stop with a head of steam.

5. Los Angeles Clippers: Keaton Wagler, G, Illinois

The Clippers have a choice of a ton of talented guards at this spot. They also have a small guard who has defensive issues in Darius Garland. 

Wagler has the size at 6-6 to not be a complete liability on that side of the ball. And he can play with or without the ball thanks to his outstanding 3-point shooting. He's the best fit of the talented guards that are in this next tier. Los Angeles will have one of the most dynamic backcourts in the league, with terrific passing and shooting from both backcourt spots.