There are 363 days until next Christmas, but only 22 weeks and 3 days until a gift basketball fans really love arrives — the 2026 NBA Draft.
However, it’s always NBA Mock Draft season. And, with conference play set to tip off in college basketball, now is a great time to take a closer look at the players who have already been shining and building real draft buzz. The top three prospects — AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, and Cam Boozer — feel basically locked in, but picks 4 through 30 are where teams can really make some noise and change their future.
For this week’s mock draft, there are three names that should excite you the most. First is Jayden Quaintance from Kentucky, who recently returned from an ACL injury and, even in limited minutes, looked exactly like the defensive monster people hoped he’d become. This is a guy who had to play a second year of college basketball simply because he was too young to enter the NBA Draft , which means he gets an extra year of development without any fear of “aging out” of the top 10.
The other two names turning heads are Labaron Philon from Alabama and Hannes Steinbach from Washington. Their recent surge in form has pushed them up draft boards, and they were both on my wish list for the Chicago Bulls. But if this level of play holds, the Bulls would be lucky to see either one slip to the late lottery.
The order for this mock draft was determined by a Tankathon spin, and here’s where things stand in the NBA Draft world just two days after Christmas.
via Tankathon.com2026 NBA Mock Draft — First Round
Indiana Pacers: AJ Dybantsa, SF, BYU Sacramento Kings: Darryn Peterson, PG, Kansas Washington Wizards: Cameron Boozer, PF, Duke Dallas Mavericks: Caleb Wilson, PF, North Carolina Atlanta Hawks (from NO): Kingston Flemings, PG, Houston Oklahoma City Thunder (from LAC): Jayden Quaintance, C, Kentucky Brooklyn Nets: Nate Ament, F, Tennessee Charlotte Hornets: Mikel Brown, Jr., PG, Louisville Oklahoma City Thunder (from Utah): Koa Peat, PF, Arizona Portland Trail Blazers: Labaron Philon, PG, Alabama Milwaukee Bucks: Tounde Yessoufou, SF, Baylor Memphis Grizzlies: Braylon Mullins, SG, UConn Chicago Bulls: Hannes Steinbach, PF, Washington San Antonio Spurs (from ATL): Karim Lopez, F, New Zealand Breakers Miami Heat: Cameron Carr, SF, Baylor Golden State Warriors: Yaxel Lendeborg, PF, Michigan Atlanta Hawks (from CLE): Dash Daniels, SG, Melbourne United Memphis Grizzlies (from PHX): Thomas Haugh, F, Florida Charlotte Hornets (from ORL): Darius Acuff, Jr., PG, Arkansas Oklahoma City Thunder (from PHI): JT Toppin, PF, Texas Tech Toronto Raptors: Patrick Ngongba, C, Duke Boston Celtics: Isaiah Evans, SG, Duke Oklahoma City Thunder (from HOU): Neoklis Avdalas, SF, Virginia Tech Minnesota Timberwolves: Meleek Thomas, G, Arkansas Los Angeles Lakers: Chris Cenac, Jr., PF, Houston New York Knicks: Dame Sarr, SF, Duke Denver Nuggets: Flory Bidunga, C, Kansas Cleveland Cavaliers (from SA): Bennett Stirtz, PG, Iowa Detroit Pistons: Keaton Wagler, SG, Illinois Washington Wizards (from OKC): Sergio de Larrea, G, SpainAlso Read
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