Bilas' 2026 NBA draft superlatives: Most talented,...
Key takeaways
- Whether Le Bron James in 2003 or Victor Wembanyama in 2023, there are certain drafts in which everyone knows the top pick -- which leads to little discussion.
- This draft has three prospects who are worthy of the No. 1 pick: Darryn Peterson of Kansas, AJ Dybantsa of BYU and Cameron Boozer of Duke.
- Each makes an interesting case, and it wouldn't shock or surprise me to hear any of their names called first.
Why this matters: a sports story that could shift standings, legacies, or fan conversations.
Whether Le Bron James in 2003 or Victor Wembanyama in 2023, there are certain drafts in which everyone knows the top pick -- which leads to little discussion. The top of this draft reminds me of 2022, when Paolo Banchero, Chet Holmgren and Jabari Smith all were discussed as potential No. 1 selections. Nobody seemed to know which player would go first until right before the draft started.
This draft has three prospects who are worthy of the No. 1 pick: Darryn Peterson of Kansas, AJ Dybantsa of BYU and Cameron Boozer of Duke.
Each makes an interesting case, and it wouldn't shock or surprise me to hear any of their names called first. Peterson is the most talented, Dybantsa is the prototype who fits the NBA suit and Boozer is the best pure basketball player -- the dream date of analytics.