Feb. 19, 2026, 6:03 a.m. ET
The 2026 NBA draft may be more than four months away, but the consensus about the top-three picks in this year’s loaded class hasn’t changed as the best college basketball players approach March Madness.
Darryn Peterson of Kansas, BYU’s AJ Dybantsa and Duke’s Cameron Boozer are seen as prized prospects capable of becoming franchise players, with only what order they go in and what NBA teams are picking in the top-three slots in question before the draft arrives in June.
The rest of the draft is wide open, but there’s a sense among NBA front offices that this class will yield a slew of impact players. It’s why more NBA franchises than usual are in tank mode coming out of the All-Star break.
With that in mind, USA TODAY Sports sought the input of AI to get a sense of what the 2026 NBA mock draft landscape looks like as the 2025-26 NBA regular season restarts and the 2026 NCAA Tournament looms ever closer:
2026 NBA mock draft: AI picks 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 college and international players who could be eligible this year.
Microsoft Copilot assigned the draft order based on current NBA records, with the worst record getting the No. 1 pick and the best record getting the No. 30 pick. It used current mock drafts from reputable websites, as well as team needs and prospect analysis, to determine the draft picks for each team.
Here’s a 2026 NBA first-round mock draft, according to Microsoft Copilot AI:
Note: In this scenario, the Pelicans’ No. 3 pick would belong to the Atlanta Hawks based on last year’s draft night trade involving Derik Queen
4. Indiana Pacers: Caleb Wilson, North Carolina
5. Brooklyn Nets: Kingston Flemings, Houston
6. Utah Jazz: Nate Ament, Tennessee
9. Milwaukee Bucks: Darius Acuff Jr., Arkansas
10. Chicago Bulls: Jayden Quaintance, Kentucky
11. Atlanta Hawks: Brayden Burries, Arizona
Note: In this scenario, the Clippers’ first-round pick would belong to the Oklahoma City Thunder based on a previous trade.
15. Miami Heat: Chris Cenac Jr., Houston
17. Orlando Magic: Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan
Note: In this scenario, the Magic’s first-round pick would belong to the Memphis Grizzlies based on a previous trade.
Note: In this scenario, the 76ers’ first-round pick would belong to the Oklahoma City Thunder based on a previous trade.
Note: In this scenario, the Suns’ first-round pick would belong to the Charlotte Hornets based on a previous trade.
