There might still be a debate about the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. The early consensus centered around BYU’s AJ Dybantsa. The analytics reportedly favored Duke’s Cameron Boozer. The speculation has now shifted to Dybantsa or Kansas guard Darryn Peterson, or perhaps all three still being considered, with less than a week until the Washington Wizards are officially on the clock with the first selection of the draft.
But AI hasn’t wavered in terms of the top of the 2026 draft class. Since the draft lottery was conducted last month, and the Wizards, Utah Jazz and Memphis Grizzlies wound up with the top three picks, Microsoft Copilot’s AI chatbot has consistently churned out the same prospects for those first three choices when prompted by USA TODAY Sports.
The same is not true for most picks outside of the top four prospects (Dybantsa, Peterson, Boozer and North Carolina’s Caleb Wilson). There was again a shift in selections made in the first AI mock draft since the conclusion of the NBA Finals, particularly in the latter half of the first half, based on the latest intel.
Here’s a breakdown of Microsoft Copilot AI’s latest 2026 NBA mock draft, including the chatbot’s reasoning for making each first-round pick:
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2026 NBA mock draft by USA TODAY Sports
You can compare AI’s picks to the latest USA TODAY 2026 NBA mock draft by clicking here.
2026 NBA mock draft: AI picks entire first round
USA TODAY Sports asked Microsoft Copilot AI to generate a mock draft for the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft featuring only players eligible this year now that the NBA draft withdrawal deadline passed for college players. The chatbot was asked to base its selections on current mock drafts from reputable websites, as well as the latest intel on team needs, prospect analysis, pre-draft workouts and the most up-to-date draft withdrawal news.
Note: AI models still have issues with accuracy as seen in the mock draft below. Of particular note, Microsoft Copilot needed additional prompts after several picks were inaccurately assigned to teams. The average mock draft pick referenced for each player was compiled by USA TODAY Sports using 13 of the latest mock drafts from national websites around the country, including USA TODAY.
1. Washington Wizards: AJ Dybantsa, BYU
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Average mock draft pick: 1
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AI analysis: “A franchise-caliber scoring wing with elite shot creation tools, Dybantsa gives Washington the highest ceiling player in the class.”
2. Utah Jazz: Darryn Peterson, Kansas
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Average mock draft pick: 2
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AI analysis: “A dynamic lead guard with two-way upside, Peterson offers Utah a primary initiator to build around long term.”
3. Memphis Grizzlies: Cameron Boozer, Duke
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Average mock draft pick: 3
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AI analysis: “Boozer’s polished offensive game and physicality make him a plug-and-play frontcourt centerpiece.”
4. Chicago Bulls: Caleb Wilson, North Carolina
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Average mock draft pick: 4
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AI analysis: “Wilson’s defensive versatility and upside swing potential fits a Chicago team in talent acquisition mode.”
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Average mock draft pick: 6
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AI analysis: “Acuff brings explosive scoring and on-ball creation as a potential franchise point guard in a high-leverage slot.”
6. Brooklyn Nets: Mikel Brown Jr., Louisville
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Average mock draft pick: 7
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AI analysis: “Brown’s scoring burst and rising pre-draft momentum make him one of the top offensive guard bets.”
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Average mock draft pick: 8
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AI analysis: “With multiple guards in the same tier, Flemings gives Sacramento a high-upside playmaker without needing to trade up.”
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Average mock draft pick: 10
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AI analysis: “Ament’s size, shot creation and upside fit cleanly next to Jalen Johnson as Atlanta prioritizes building around versatile forwards and wing-driven offense.”
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Average mock draft pick: 9
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AI analysis: “Burries adds perimeter scoring and secondary playmaking to complement Cooper Flagg as Dallas reshapes its offensive hierarchy.”
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Average mock draft pick: 5
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AI analysis: “Wagler gives Milwaukee a needed infusion of shot creation as it balances contention with long-term backcourt planning.”
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Average mock draft pick: 11
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AI analysis: “Mara’s size and rim protection provide Golden State with a developmental anchor for its evolving frontcourt.”
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Average mock draft pick: 16
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AI analysis: “Steinbach’s skill and versatility fit Oklahoma City’s model of adding multi-dimensional, high-IQ frontcourt players.”
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Average mock draft pick: 12
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AI analysis: “Lendeborg’s toughness and readiness align with Miami’s preference for plug-and-play contributors.”
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Average mock draft pick: 15
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AI analysis: “Philon gives Charlotte another dynamic guard to complement its fast-paced, offense-first identity.”
15. Chicago Bulls: Cameron Carr, Baylor
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Average mock draft pick: 17
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AI analysis: “Carr’s athleticism and scoring upside give Chicago another developmental wing to grow with its young core.”
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Average mock draft pick: 13
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AI analysis: “Johnson adds physicality and rebounding to a Memphis roster that values frontcourt toughness and depth.”
17. Oklahoma City Thunder: Karim Lopez, New Zealand Breakers (NBL)
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Average mock draft pick: 14
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AI analysis: “Lopez offers long-term upside and positional flexibility as Oklahoma City continues to stockpile versatile talent.”
18. Charlotte Hornets: Chris Cenac Jr., Houston
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Average mock draft pick: 20
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AI analysis: “Cenac strengthens Charlotte’s interior defense as it builds out a more balanced roster.”
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Average mock draft pick: 22
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AI analysis: “Swain’s two-way profile fits Toronto’s continued emphasis on length, defense and position-less basketball.”
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Average mock draft pick: 21
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AI analysis: “Quaintance’s defensive ceiling and physical tools align with San Antonio’s patient developmental timeline.”
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Average mock draft pick: 18
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AI analysis: “Stirtz provides steady playmaking and leadership to help organize Detroit’s young roster.”
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Average mock draft pick: 24
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AI analysis: “Okorie adds scoring punch and guard depth for a Philadelphia team still prioritizing offensive firepower.”
23. Atlanta Hawks: Christian Anderson, Texas Tech
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Average mock draft pick: 19
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AI analysis: “Anderson gives Atlanta another shot-creator to complement its evolving wing-driven approach around Jalen Johnson.”
24. New York Knicks: Allen Graves, Santa Clara
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Average mock draft pick: 23
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AI analysis: “Graves’ versatility and feel project well into a complementary role for a Knicks team focused on depth.”
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Average mock draft pick: 25
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AI analysis: “Peat’s size and scoring upside offer the Lakers a developmental forward with long-term potential.”
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Average mock draft pick: 27
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AI analysis: “Veesaar provides Denver with a skilled backup center option to support its frontcourt rotation.”
27. Boston Celtics: Meleek Thomas, Arkansas
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Average mock draft pick: 26
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AI analysis: “Thomas adds another scoring guard to Boston’s rotation, reinforcing its depth and offensive versatility.”
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Average mock draft pick: 28
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AI analysis: “Evans’ shooting and wing scoring bolster Minnesota’s perimeter offense.”
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Average mock draft pick: 30
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AI analysis: “Jefferson’s energy and versatility give Cleveland a flexible piece in the frontcourt.”
30. Dallas Mavericks: Tarris Reed Jr., UConn
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Average mock draft pick: 29 (appeared in 11/13 mock drafts)
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AI analysis: “Reed adds interior size and rebounding to support a Dallas core headlined by Cooper Flagg.”
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NBA mock draft 2026: AI predicts entire first round of NBA draft
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