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ESPN's First 2026 NBA Mock Puts Peterson No. 1 Over Dybantsa, Boozer

ESPN presents this as a snapshot, noting injuries and a tiny sample could reshuffle prospects.

Overview

  • Jeremy Woo slots Kansas freshman Darryn Peterson to the Nets at No. 1, even as a hamstring has kept him out recently.
  • BYU wing AJ Dybantsa is projected to the Wizards at No. 2 after an encouraging start to his college season.
  • Duke big man Cameron Boozer lands at No. 3 to the Jazz in the early projection.
  • The class skews young, with freshmen accounting for nine of the first 10 picks in the mock.
  • Woo says the order reflects ongoing talks with NBA executives and scouts and uses ESPN's BPI to set draft order, while separate reporting notes there is no consensus No. 1 between Peterson and Dybantsa.