2026 NBA Draft: Full names, full-circle connections and fulfillment from Barclays Center

NEW YORK — The First Round of the 2026 NBA Draft is over and 30 players realized their dreams after years of hard work and dedication. BYU wing AJ Dybantsa was the first player off the board and looked relieved to know where he would be starting his NBA career (Washington). Dybantsa’s family stayed in the green room for the first 20 picks and could be seen hugging other player’s family members as they were drafted.

Arkansas head coach John Calipari was seen joking with different camera operators as they roamed the green room and Allen Graves had a family group huddle and prayer at his table before the draft started.

Here are the sights and sounds from the First Round of the 2026 NBA Draft:

Silver announces Dybantsa’s full name at No. 1

When Adam Silver stepped to the podium to announce the No. 1 overall pick in the draft, he said, “the Washington Wizards select Anicet Dybantsa Jr. out of BYU.”

All basketball fans know the 6-foot-9 talented wing as “AJ” and many had never heard his full name. “You guys can still call me AJ,” Dybantsa told reporters afterwards. “I wanted Adam to call me ‘Anicet’ because I also wanted to honor my dad. His name is Anicet Dybantsa Sr. and he goes by ‘Ace’. Without him, I wouldn’t be here today.”

Ace Dybantsa and Darryl Peterson share a moment

After the Utah Jazz selected Darryn Peterson with the second overall pick, Petterson’s dad went over to AJ Dybantsa’s table and had a long hug with Dybantsa’s father, Ace. The two players have been battling since high school and there is a tremendous amount of mutual respect between the two players.

In one of the most impressive high school basketball games in recent memory, Dybantsa and Peterson combined for 107 points. Peterson scored 58 points and Prolific Prep got the win (Peterson had the game winner) and Dybantsa had 49 points. When the pair squared off this past season, Peterson put up 18 points in 20 minutes of action and didn’t even play in the second half. He scored at every level, including a poster dunk, and was the best prospect on the court as Kansas got the win over BYU.

Dybantsa led the country in scoring, averaging 25.5 points per game, and broke the Big 12 Tournament scoring record when he scored 93 points over three games. The record was previously held by Kevin Durant.

Michigan connection takes root in Dallas

Michigan forward Morez Johnson Jr. was the first upperclassman off the board. The Dallas Mavericks selected him with the No. 9 overall pick after the Mavericks hired former Michigan head coach Dusty May.

Johnson was instrumental in the national title run for the Wolverines and May was in the Barclays Center and gave Johnson a long hug after commissioner Adam Silver called his name. “I feel so calm tonight, it’s crazy,” Johnson told NBA.com in the green room before the Draft.

Johnson’s Michigan teammates also went among the Lottery selections. Yaxel Lendeborg went to the Golden State Warriors at pick No. 11 and Aday Mara was selected immediately afterwards at pick No. 12 to Oklahoma City. The trio are the first upperclassmen taken in the lottery since three Florida Gator players in 2007.

German teammates reunite in Charlotte

The Charlotte Hornets selected Washington forward Hannes Steinbach with the 14th overall pick and then drafted his German national compatriot, Christian Anderson, with the 18th. The duo was electric for Germany during the U19 FIBA World Cup in Lausanne, Switzerland last summer and the on-court chemistry was obvious; Steinbach led Germany in rebounds and blocks, while Anderson did the same in scoring and assists.

“That’s my guy and I can’t wait to play with him,” Anderson said. “His footwork is elite, he was the best rebounder in college basketball this season and he’s got the size for the physicality of the league.”

Steinbach’s family was thrilled when the pick was made and both families were seen hugging in disbelief that their boys would be reunited in Charlotte.

 Jose Alvarado and Cedric Coward make the rounds

Both players were making their way around the green room before the draft kicked off. Coward joked with Cameron Boozer and Carlos Boozer and apologized for not going to Duke. Coward would have been teammates with Boozer and Isaiah Evans but he elected to stay in last year’s draft and was drafted by the Grizzlies with the 11th pick.

Alvarado was a correspondent with New Era and told NBA.com, “I had to come check out the young talent hitting the league myself. I’ve heard about this class.”

Chris Cenac Jr. realizes NBA dreams 8 years later

Chris Cenac Jr., whom the Celtics drafted Tuesday, first attended the event eight years ago. Credit: Sharita Cenac/Instagram

Sharita Cenac took a young Chris Cenac Jr. and his sister to the 2018 NBA Draft. Deandre Ayton was the No. 1 overall and Luca Doncic was the 4th pick that year. Chris sat in the stands taking everything in and dreaming about what it would be like to walk across the stage and shake the commissioner’s hand.

“It was in the same arena and I just remember a lot of the players were crying,” Cenac said. “I told my mom one day I would be here and she always believed in me. It’s a real full-circle moment. I didn’t know what my emotions would be tonight but man, it just hit me. You can only control what you can control and I’m ready to get to work in Boston.”

The Celtics selected Cenac with the 27th pick without meeting with him or bringing him in for a workout, and there were tears of relief and long hugs as Cenac made his way around the table after waiting almost three hours to hear his name called.

Custom lining tells the tales

Bennett Stirtz reveals his journey at the 2026 NBA Draft.

Fashion has turned into a big part of the NBA Draft, and this year’s class did not disappoint. One trend is customized lining on the inside of suit jackets. Iowa’s Bennett Stirtz had logos of all the schools at which he played. Ebuka Okorie had photos of himself and family on the inside of his jacket; and Karim López had the Mexican flag and “100% Jesus” printed on the lining of his jacket.

Darius Acuff Jr. wore a navy Louis Vuitton suit, and Cameron Boozer, wearing a white suit, invoked memories of LeBron James’ 2003 draft night suit.