See the NBA's Brightest New Stars Pose for PEOPLE Moments Before Their Life-Altering Night at 2026 Draft (Exclusive)
Credit: Yu Tsai
The next generation of NBA superstars have arrived.
On Tuesday, June 23, the dreams of 30 prospects became realities at the 2026 NBA Draft. Before the first-rounders heard their names called by NBA commissioner Adam Silver inside the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, they visited PEOPLE’s exclusive portrait studio for their big night.
Check out the newest roster of NBA playmakers below!
01 of 11
AJ Dybantsa, Washington Wizards
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The No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, former BYU Cougars star AJ Dybantsa, is headed to the nation’s capital as the newest member of the Washington Wizards. Speaking with PEOPLE, the 6-foot-9 forward called himself “the most versatile” player in his draft class.
“I think I can do a little bit of everything,” Dybantsa, 19, says. “I might not have one skill better than somebody, but I do a little bit of everything, which kind of makes me unique.”
02 of 11
Darryn Peterson, Utah Jazz
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Darryn Peterson is ready to make his mark in Utah. The former Jayhawks guard was selected second overall by the Jazz in Tuesday’s NBA Draft after one season at Kansas. Looking ahead to his next chapter, the 6-foot-9 Peterson is grateful for the support he’s had from family along the way.
“My pops, he definitely believed in me before everybody, for sure,” Peterson, 19, tells PEOPLE.
03 of 11
Cameron Boozer, Memphis Grizzlies
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Cameron Boozer looks forward to proving himself. The 18-year-old Duke University star and son of former NBA All-Star Carlos Boozer was selected third overall by the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday, and he confidently tells PEOPLE, “I think I win better than anyone else in the class.”
Growing up learning from Carlos, 44, might have given Cameron an advantage along the way, but the newest Grizzly says the best advice his dad ever gave him was, “Be present. Enjoy the moment. Soak it all in. Have fun.”
04 of 11
Caleb Wilson, Chicago Bulls
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Caleb Wilson will head to the Windy City after making a name for himself with the North Carolina Tar Heels. Wilson, 19, was selected fourth overall on Tuesday. Basketball fans can look forward to the power forward’s confident game this season. “One player I modeled my game after is Kobe Bryant,” Wilson tells PEOPLE.
The former Tar Heel says he credits his success and pursuing his dreams to his father, Jerry Wilson. “My dad was someone who believed in me before anyone else.”
05 of 11
Keaton Wagler, Los Angeles Clippers
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Keaton Wagler is headed to the Los Angeles Clippers as the fifth overall pick on Tuesday. The 19-year-old former Illinois Fighting Illini guard averaged 17.9 points, 5.1 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game in college, and now he’s confident about the talent he’ll bring the Clippers. “One thing I feel like I do better than anyone else in this class is, shoot the ball. I feel like I’m the best shooting in the class. Can shoot it from deep, and close,” Wagler, whose parents both played college basketball, says to PEOPLE.
“Ever since I was young, they thought I was a really good player. Even when, you know, I wasn’t in ranked as high, you know, they still believed in me,” he says.
06 of 11
Mikel Brown Jr., Brooklyn Nets
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Mikel Brown Jr. was selected by the Brooklyn Nets with the sixth pick and says he’s ready for the spotlight of the NBA. The former Louisville Cardinals star — who averaged 18.2 points, 4.7 assists and 3.3 rebounds in his freshman year — tells PEOPLE that of the 2026 draft class, he’s the best at “creating advantages” for his team. “Whether that’s me scoring or that’s me creating a shot for somebody else,” says Brown Jr., 20.
The point guard says his dad and longtime trainer, Christopher Brown Sr., was the person who believed in him before everyone else. “My dad, you know, instilled that confidence in me to you know, do what I do every single game.”
07 of 11
Darius Acuff Jr., Sacramento Kings
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Darius Acuff Jr. played a dominant freshman season with the Arkansas Razorbacks, averaging 23.5 points, 6.4 assists, and 3.1 rebounds per game, before the Sacramento Kings drafted him with the seventh pick on Tuesday. Acuff Jr., 19, says he modeled his game growing up after former Knicks and Bulls star Derrick Rose. “He was just a dog on the court, so I love watching him,” Acuff Jr. tells PEOPLE.
Recently a guest on NBA star Draymond Green’s podcast, Acuff Jr. says he learned from Green: “When you come in the league, just don’t be one of those guys on defense, who you just getting picked on. So he just told me take everything serious for sure throughout the whole process.”
08 of 11
Kingston Flemings, Atlanta Hawks
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Kingston Flemings believed in himself before anyone else did, he tells PEOPLE, when asked about where he gets his drive. “I’ve got to say myself, and outside of myself, I’d say my parents,” says the 19-year-old Atlanta Hawks rookie coming out of Houston. “They believed I could get whatever I wanted to as long as I put the work in,” adds Flemings of his mom and dad, Demetric Flemings and Shayla Flemings.
When it comes to his game, Flemings says he’s modeled his game after Philadelphia 76ers star Tyrese Maxey, who he describes as “a smaller kind of guard, uses his shoulder to get downhill and get to the rim.”
He looks forward to showing fans his skills getting “two feet in the paint” in Atlanta this season. “When I drive, you know, getting two feet in the paint and then scoring in transition. I’m a fast player.”
09 of 11
Morez Johnson Jr., Dallas Mavericks
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The Dallas Mavericks selected Morez Johnson Jr. with the ninth overall pick, putting him beside former No. 1 overall Cooper Flagg and reuniting him with his Michigan coach, Dusty May, who just took the head coaching position in Texas. The forward, 20, tells PEOPLE he models his game after Giannis Antetokounmpo. “I like how Giannis is so aggressive, ferocious, and I try to play like him on the court.”
Johnson Jr. credits his father, Morez Johnson Sr., with believing in him before anyone else did. “Shout out pops.”
10 of 11
Brayden Burries, Milwaukee Bucks
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Brayden Burries was selected tenth overall by the Milwaukee Bucks after the team’s blockbuster trade of star Giannis Antetokounmpo, who now plays for the Miami Heat. Burries, 20, was a leader on the Arizona Wildcats roster, where he averaged 16.1 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game.
“I feel like what I do it better than anybody else is win. Score,” Burries tells PEOPLE.
Before making it to the NBA, I believed in myself before anyone believed in me,” he shares. “And then outside of myself, I’d say my family, my pops, my mom.”
11 of 11
Michigan Boys: Yaxel Lendeborg, Aday Mara and Morez Johnson Jr.
After winning the national championship two months earlier, three Michigan basketball stars made history at the draft as the first trio from the school to be selected in the first round in 36 years. Johnson Jr. was the first to go with his selection to the Mavericks at No. 9, followed by Yaxel Lendeborg at 11 to the Golden State Warriors and Aday Mara one pick later to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
“It’s going to be great to play against them,” Mara tells PEOPLE. “We know each other, so it’s going to be easier.”
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