When is 2026 NBA Draft after Wizards win lottery

The ping pong balls went the Washington Wizards’ way, as they walked away from the 2026 NBA Draft Lottery with the first overall selection. Washington will pick first overall for the seventh time in franchise history, which is more than any other organization in the league. The Wizards will have their choice of AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, and Cameron Boozer, but this draft class is one of the best in recent memory because of more than just the talent at the top, though. There is plenty of depth in the 2026 NBA Draft, and all 60 picks will play an important part in the future of basketball. So, just when is draft day?

2026 NBA Draft date

For the third straight year, the NBA Draft will take place over the course of two days. The first round will be at 8 p.m. ET on Tuesday, June 23. Round two will be the next day, Wednesday, June 24, also at 8 p.m. ET. ABC and ESPN will broadcast the first round, with round two being exclusively on ESPN.

The Wizards will pick first overall. They will be followed by the Utah Jazz, Memphis Grizzlies, and Washington Wizards. The Los Angeles Clippers will pick fifth overall, thanks to a pick received from the Ivica Zubac trade not ending up in the top four. They will be followed in the lottery by the Brooklyn Nets, Sacramento Kings, Atlanta Hawks, and Dallas Mavericks. Picks 10-14, in order, are held by the Milwaukee Bucks, Golden State Warriors, Oklahoma City Thunder, Miami Heat, and Charlotte Hornets.

It isn’t clear who Washington will take with the first pick quite yet. Peterson shows flashes of brilliance, but his collegiate experience at Kansas was a rollercoaster ride highlighted by cramping issues. He might be the most talented player in this class, but the red flags are concerning to some, and the Wizards already have a lot of guards. Dybantsa is an explosive wing with elite physical and athletic traits. He led all of college in scoring as a freshman at BYU, but he needs to improve as a defender. Boozer was the Naismith Player of the Year as a freshman. He can score inside or outside, but some consider him somewhat of a tweener.

Even after that consensus top three, Caleb Wilson, Kingston Flemings, Darius Acuff Jr., Keaton Wagler, and Nate Ament are all elite prospects. Teams expect to add franchise-changing players in draft class, which makes sense, considering more teams were tanking for top picks than ever before.

The NBA Scouting Combine and the pre-draft process as a whole will still have a big impact on the upcoming draft, but fans and teams alike are thrilled for what is to come on June 23.

The post When is 2026 NBA Draft after Wizards win lottery appeared first on ClutchPoints.