Biggest Surprises from Round 1 of the 2026 NBA Draft
Summary
The first round of the 2026 NBA Draft went mostly as expected at the top, with AJ Dybantsa picked first by the Washington Wizards. However, some surprising picks in the middle and late first round caught many people off guard, including players Dailyn Swain, Ebuka Okorie, and Alex Karaban.Key Facts
- AJ Dybantsa was selected No. 1 overall by the Washington Wizards.
- Nine of the first 10 picks were freshmen, setting an NBA Draft record.
- Dailyn Swain, a 6-foot-7 player from Texas, was picked No. 15 by the Chicago Bulls despite concerns about his outside shooting and turnovers.
- The Detroit Pistons traded up to pick Ebuka Okorie at No. 17; Okorie is a 6-foot-2 guard from Stanford known for scoring but with questions about his size and athleticism.
- Alex Karaban, a 6-foot-7 forward from UConn, was selected No. 29 by the Sacramento Kings after the team traded to move up, surprising some analysts who expected him to go in the second round.
- Scouts noted defensive and physical limitations for some of these surprise picks.
- Some players chosen in the first round were previously projected to go much later or in the second round.
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