From Yaxel Lendeborg to Karim López, relive some of the best emotional moments from the 2026 NBA Draft in Brooklyn.
• Download the NBA App
• 2026 NBA Draft Board
LAS VEGAS — The path becomes a much straighter line starting now. The next batch of NBA players are finishing up NBA Summer League and, after a brief rest, will start training camp. It happens so fast. It’ll be here before anyone knows it.
Such is the case in the transition from college to the NBA. There’s barely enough time to exhale before professional careers are launched.
With that in mind, what’s on the mind of players from the Draft Class of 2026?
Here’s a sampling of poll questions tossed to select incoming rookies and their responses:
Discounting yourself, who has the best chance to win Kia Rookie of the Year in 2026-27?
Nate Ament, Bucks: I say AJ Dybantsa. He’s a great player, got the skill set, the mentality. A good chance to win it.
Darryn Peterson, Jazz: AJ. No specific reason, just the name that came to mind.
AJ Dybantsa, Wizards: Darryn Peterson. He’s a talented scorer; he’s on the right team.
Caleb Wilson, Bulls: Cam (Boozer) because he’ll be the focal point of his team. He doesn’t have anyone else.
Chris Cenac Jr., Celtics: AJ. I know all the work he puts in.
Kingston Flemings, Hawks: Darryn Peterson the first choice, then Cam Boozer. They’ll have the most opportunities and the situation they’re in. Darryn at the two guard is in a good spot for a team that needs him. As for Cam in Memphis, they just traded Ja (Morant) and Jaren Jackson, so he’ll get a lot of touches and chances.
Labaron Philon Jr., 76ers: Peterson or Dybantsa. I like both. Just the way they play the game. They play the way it’s supposed to be played.
Mikel Brown Jr., Nets: AJ or Darryn. They’re just talented man, so talented.
What advice do you want from your veteran teammates next season?
Meleek Thomas, Cavaliers: How to stay yourself. I also want to watch film with that vet and I want that vet to let me know how the game is played and how I can get better.
Chris Cenac Jr., Celtics: Just how to navigate the league as a rookie. I know some of the guys like (Jayson Tatum) came into the league at my age of 19. So I want to know what were some of the challenges they had to face, so I’ll get a better idea and make it easier for me.
Caleb Wilson, Bulls: Good places to eat, for one. How to navigate relationships mainly, that’s what the vets can teach me. That’s going to take time. The things like off the court relationships, the changes you go through, just life.
Mikel Brown Jr., Nets: How the league works, the 82-game season, how do you deal with the ups and downs, what takes your mind off the adversity.
Cameron Boozer, Grizzlies: Just help me grow in the league. Obviously coming in as a rookie, I don’t know everything.
Cameron Carr, Lakers: I just want to know how they see the game, to see if I can elevate my game and see how they see it. Also I want to show them I’m smarter than the typical rookie and ready for any challenge.
Labaron Philon Jr., 76ers: How to be organized, professionalism, being on time, how to thrive in that winning culture because I’m going to a winner in Philadelphia.
AJ Dybantsa, Wizards: Anything that can help. I’m going to be a sponge, ask a lot of questions, anything on the court, anything off the court.
Alex Karaban, Kings: What it takes to succeed, what can I do to help the team win and how to help the organization compete at the highest level.
Cameron Boozer, AJ Dybantsa and Darryn Peterson discuss what they’re looking forward to in the NBA.
If LeBron James approaches in your first meeting, introduces himself and says what’s up, how will you respond?
Chris Cenac Jr., Celtics: What’s good, you got any advice for me?
Nate Ament, Bucks: Well, I would speak for the younger generation and tell him how much I’ve watched him and what he means to the sport, and to all these new kids coming in.
Darryn Peterson, Jazz: Nice to see you in person. Great to see you. Wait a minute, is this conversation happening before the game? If so, then I won’t say much. I’ll be ready to play.
Brayden Burries, Bucks: I would say, what’s up, coach? Well, actually, he’s not my coach no more. (Note: Burries once played for LeBron’s AAU team, Strive For Greatness, where he averaged 22 points and nearly 10 rebounds.)
Mikel Brown Jr., Nets: I would just have a normal conversation with him. At the end of the day, he’s a human being. That’s how I’ll treat him.
Meleek Thomas, Cavaliers: I’m probably like, what up? I watched you all my life, I’m a huge fan of your game and I’m excited to compete against you.
Cameron Carr, Lakers: I’m going to give him his respect, tell him how much I appreciate him and how much I look forward to playing against him. I’m not going to ignore him that’s for sure. (Note: LeBron chose not to re-sign with the Lakers for next season and therefore deprived Carr the chance to be teammates.)
Caleb Wilson, Bulls: Just hey. That’s all. I can’t say too much because I got to play against him.
AJ Dybantsa, Wizards: I’ve talked with LeBron plenty of times. He gave me some advice. I worked out with him in L.A. once.
Alex Karaban, Kings: I’ll tell him I appreciate just the way he has played, how he allowed me to fall in love with basketball, the competitor he is, ask about the championships he won. Just his love for the game. I’d like to thank him for that.
Henri Veesaar, Hawks: I’ll play it cool, like, what’s up?
Labaron Philon Jr., 76ers: What’s good?
What are the kids you went to high school with saying right now?
Meleek Thomas, Cavaliers: They’re super proud of me. They say `stay on your path.’ They saw how I worked hard early and was so passionate about the game. You know, when you make it, they always say `we always knew you were gonna do it.’ But the real ones I grew up with and had bonds with, they say right now, `keep doing what you’re doing, because we’ll never see anything like this again.’
Chris Cenac Jr., Celtics: They’re all just proud of me. I still talk to two or three of them almost every day.
Labaron Philon Jr., 76ers: They’re telling me I look good.
Mikel Brown Jr., Nets: They’re telling me I’m not done yet.
Kingston Flemings, Hawks: The friends I’m close with, they’re honest with me. I think I’m a great person. I keep my circle tight so therefore the people I’m friends with from back then, they’re great people as well.
In your first game, you have a choice: game-winning shot or game-saving steal or block?
Kington Flemings, Hawks: Game-winning shot. That’s like once in a lifetime. In your first game? Yeah.
Darryn Peterson, Jazz: The shot. That’s just natural. That’s what I want to do throughout my career.
Brayden Burries, Bucks: Game-winning shot. A stop though is pretty cool. I had one in college.
Meleek Thomas, Cavaliers: Game-saving stop. Because I can guarantee that I’ll get in the next game if I get a stop. If I hit the shot, that just meant somebody went to double Donovan (Mitchell) and left me open and gave me a chance.
Prospective members of the 2026 NBA Draft are presented before the First Round tips off in Brooklyn at Barclays Center.
What are you looking forward to most about your new city?
Kingston Flemings, Hawks: The thing about Atlanta is there’s so many trees around. I love that. And I just want to be a fan favorite. I want the fans to love me. I’m a great guy to get to know.
Labaron Philon Jr., 76ers: The city is very supportive of the teams. You got the Phillies, Eagles and Sixers. It’s a really a big special place for basketball, football and baseball. Being able to experience that fan support will be great.
Nate Ament, Bucks: It’s kind of similar to where I’m from, so I’m excited to get into the community and feel the fan base. But also excited to put on for the city.
Mikel Brown Jr., Nets: Brooklyn is very historical. I just look forward to going around to see the monuments and getting a feel for the city. It’s amazing.
Caleb Wilson, Bulls: I learned about the city when I went on a tour. I’m very blessed to be in that city. A great city. I really want to connect with the people, with high schoolers, the community. Can’t wait to make a positive impact on the city and hopefully people’s lives.
Who do you want to jersey-swap with next season?
Meleek Thomas, Cavaliers: Probably the Thompson twins. I love their impact. Kevin Durant for sure, (Nikola) Jokić for sure.
Brayden Burries, Bucks: LeBron, Steph Curry, Devin Booker, the main three right there.
Labaron Philon Jr., 76ers: Tre Johnson. My guy from high school. (Note: Philon and Johnson, in his second season with the Wizards, played at Link Academy in Branson, Mo. That basketball powerhouse has produced, among others, Chris Cenac and Tarris Reed, also in the 2026 draft class.)
Nate Ament, Bucks: Kevin Durant. I’d tell him how much he meant to me as a kid. That’s my guy. I tried all his moves on the blacktop. But also I can’t lay it on too thick. I got to compete against him.
Kingston Flemings, Hawks: Cason Wallace, Cade Cunningham, Tyrese Maxey. I watched Cason and Cade a lot growing up. I kind of modeled my game after them.
Because of your age, you never saw Michael Jordan and most of Kobe Bryant’s prime, if any. You didn’t see them in the moment. Do you feel as though you missed out?
Meleek Thomas, Cavaliers: Well, what they brought to the game, their spirit and their play, it’s still out there. I watched so much of it on YouTube. So while I missed out on the real time, and I realize real time is different than YouTube, I still pick up a lot from them.
Chris Cenac Jr., Celtics: I’ve watched a little film, but I know it’s a lot different than being in the moment.
Kingston Flemings, Hawks: A lot of time in history, you kind of wonder what it was like. Luckily with video, you can kind of go back and watch, realizing it’s not the same. I’m glad to be in the time that I’m in.
Labaron Philon Jr., 76ers: Definitely missed out. Michael Jordan was the best player ever to touch the ball. And Kobe. Watching those guys’ highlights, it was crazy even though it wasn’t in real time.
Nate Ament, Bucks: You also think back to the guys like Larry Bird and Magic Johnson, they’re the reason we’re here today, they also brought the game to where it is today.
Brayden Burries, Bucks: Everything happens for a reason. I think I was born at the right time.
Caleb Wilson, Bulls: For sure. It goes to the era, to Michael Jordan and everyone who came before him, to Magic, Kareem (Abdul-Jabbar). At some point people miss out on those eras. I was fortunate to see LeBron play, at least I can say that. Now it’s up to me, to create my own era. (Note: Wilson is playing in Chicago, where hopes are high for him, and will likely often see the Jordan statue outside United Center.)
* * *
Shaun Powell has covered the NBA since 1985. You can e-mail him at spowell@nba.com, find his archive here and follow him on X.
Spurs 82: