2026 NBA mock draft: AI predicts every pick from the first round - USA Today

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

- Average mock draft pick: 1

- 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

- Average mock draft pick: 2

- 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

- Average mock draft pick: 3

- AI analysis: "Boozer’s polished offensive game and physicality make him a plug-and-play frontcourt centerpiece."

4. Chicago Bulls: Caleb Wilson, North Carolina

- Average mock draft pick: 4

- AI analysis: "Wilson’s defensive versatility and upside swing potential fits a Chicago team in talent acquisition mode."

5. Los Angeles Clippers: Darius Acuff Jr., Arkansas

- Average mock draft pick: 6

- 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

- Average mock draft pick: 7

- AI analysis: "Brown’s scoring burst and rising pre-draft momentum make him one of the top offensive guard bets."

7. Sacramento Kings: Kingston Flemings, Houston

- Average mock draft pick: 8

- AI analysis: "With multiple guards in the same tier, Flemings gives Sacramento a high-upside playmaker without needing to trade up."

8. Atlanta Hawks: Nate Ament, Tennessee

- Average mock draft pick: 10