The Race for No. 1
Breaking Down the Trio Fighting to Become the 2026 Draft’s Crown Jewel
A Blazing Start to the 2026 Draft Cycle
The 2026 NBA Draft class is off to a blazing start just a month into the season. At this point, everyone we expect to be lottery picks has already been tested. Some of the results have been favorable; others have struggled in their respective marquee matchups. A lot has been learned with conference games on the horizon. With so much talent in the class, it seems like every other night we have the opportunity to see if “the next best thing” can handle adversity.
What makes this draft so special is that there is a legitimate case for three players to go number one: Kansas’ Darryn Peterson, BYU’s AJ Dybantsa, and Duke’s Cameron Boozer. Not since the 2022 NBA Draft—which featured Paolo Banchero, Chet Holmgren, and Jabari Smith Jr.—have we seen a true race for the top pick. That draft ultimately became a two-man race, with the Orlando Magic selecting Banchero and the Oklahoma City Thunder following with Holmgren.
The dialogue this year is different because, again, there are three guys with a real chance of being selected first overall.
There’s also the “what if” factor: What if Cooper Flagg didn’t reclassify and become eligible for the 2025 NBA Draft?
I can’t imagine how those conversations would go, but I’m more than happy to talk shop about the three we have.
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