2026 NBA mock draft by AI featuring first round picks, predictions

The 2026 NBA draft may be more than four months away, but the consensus about the top-three picks in this year’s loaded class hasn’t changed as the best college basketball players approach March Madness.

Darryn Peterson of Kansas, BYU’s AJ Dybantsa and Duke’s Cameron Boozer are seen as prized prospects capable of becoming franchise players, with only what order they go in and what NBA teams are picking in the top-three slots in question before the draft arrives in June.

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The rest of the draft is wide open, but there’s a sense among NBA front offices that this class will yield a slew of impact players. It’s why more NBA franchises than usual are in tank mode coming out of the All-Star break.

With that in mind, USA TODAY Sports sought the input of AI to get a sense of what the 2026 NBA mock draft landscape looks like as the 2025-26 NBA regular season restarts and the 2026 NCAA Tournament looms ever closer:

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Dribble into this collection of dunk photos as NBA stars posterize opponents

Oct. 26: The Dallas Mavericks’ Cooper Flagg dunks the ball past the Toronto Raptors’ Sandro Mamukelashvili at the American Airlines Center.

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Dribble into this collection of dunk photos as NBA stars posterize opponents

Oct. 26: The Dallas Mavericks’ Cooper Flagg dunks the ball past the Toronto Raptors’ Sandro Mamukelashvili at the American Airlines Center.

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Dribble into this collection of dunk photos as NBA stars posterize opponents

Oct. 26: The Washington Wizards’ Cam Whitmore dunks the ball against the Charlotte Hornets at Capital One Arena.

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Dribble into this collection of dunk photos as NBA stars posterize opponents

Oct. 26: The Brooklyn Nets’ Michael Porter Jr. dunks in front of the San Antonio Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama at Frost Bank Center.

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Dribble into this collection of dunk photos as NBA stars posterize opponents

Oct. 25: The Denver Nuggets’ Christian Braun dunks the ball against the Phoenix Suns’ Grayson Allen at Ball Arena.

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Dribble into this collection of dunk photos as NBA stars posterize opponents

Oct. 24: The Memphis Grizzlies’ Jaren Jackson Jr. dunks against the Miami Heat at FedExForum.

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