The Washington Wizards made the most of their lottery odds on Sunday evening, winning the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft and positioning themselves to select the top prospect in one of the most talent-rich draft classes the league has assembled in years.
The lottery, held at McCormick Place Convention Center in Chicago, set the full draft order for a class with significant depth at the top. The Utah Jazz will pick second, the Memphis Grizzlies third and the Chicago Bulls fourth — giving three additional franchises premium positioning in a class where multiple prospects carry legitimate franchise-player upside.
The full lottery results
The complete order for picks one through fourteen came out as follows: 1. Washington Wizards, 2. Utah Jazz, 3. Memphis Grizzlies, 4. Chicago Bulls, 5. Los Angeles Clippers, 6. Brooklyn Nets, 7. Sacramento Kings, 8. Atlanta Hawks, 9. Dallas Mavericks, 10. Milwaukee Bucks, 11. Golden State Warriors, 12. Oklahoma City Thunder, 13. Miami Heat and 14. Charlotte Hornets.
The Clippers’ No. 5 pick arrived via the Indiana Pacers as a result of the Ivica Zubac trade. The Pacers’ selection had been top-4 protected, meaning Indiana would retain it only if it landed inside the top four. When it fell to fifth, it conveyed directly to the Clippers, leaving the Pacers without a lottery selection this year. The Atlanta Hawks’ pick came via the New Orleans Pelicans from a 2025 draft-night trade, while Oklahoma City’s pick arrived via the Clippers as part of the 2019 Paul George deal.
The top prospects in a loaded class
This draft lacks the kind of undisputed No. 1 prospect that has defined recent classes. Cooper Flagg and Victor Wembanyama each arrived as generational talents with no meaningful debate at the top. This year’s class is different — not because it lacks quality but because the quality is more evenly distributed.
BYU forward AJ Dybantsa has risen to the top of many draft boards entering lottery night. The 6-foot-9 freshman from Brockton, Massachusetts led the nation with 25.5 points per game this season and broke a 48-year-old BYU freshman scoring record with a 43-point performance. His blend of size, scoring versatility and playmaking ability makes him a compelling franchise cornerstone, and his fit alongside Alex Sarr in Washington’s frontcourt has drawn particular attention from analysts.
Duke forward Cameron Boozer presents a different but equally compelling case. At 6-foot-9 and 250 pounds, Boozer is regarded as the most polished and complete player in the class — shooting 40% from three-point range at high volume while earning Naismith Player of the Year honors after guiding Duke to 35 wins. The son of two-time All-Star Carlos Boozer, he arrives carrying both elite credentials and a winning pedigree. Kansas guard Darryn Peterson and North Carolina forward Caleb Wilson have also been raised as potential top-pick options, while Arkansas guard Darius Acuff Jr., Houston guard Kingston Flemings, Illinois guard Keaton Wagler and Louisville guard Mikel Brown Jr. all carry meaningful upside as the class extends deeper into the lottery.
What the win means for Washington
The Wizards entered Sunday holding a 14% chance at the top pick, tied with the Brooklyn Nets and Indiana Pacers for the best odds in the field. Former Wizards star John Wall represented the franchise at the lottery, making for a full-circle moment for a franchise that has been patiently rebuilding.
Under anti-tanking reforms currently moving through the league’s approval process, Washington would not be eligible for the No. 1 pick again in 2027. That makes Sunday’s result more than just a fortunate outcome — it may prove to be the turning point the franchise has been waiting for.
Source: Yahoo Sports