2026 NBA

Draft

How to watch 2026 NBA Draft: TV and streaming info, picks order, prospects to know

AJ Dybantsa has been No. 1 on The Athletic's mock draft board since lottery night. Caleb Bowlin / Getty Images

This class was good enough to ignite a full-on freshman revolution throughout college basketball. It looked promising enough to inspire a colossal tank-a-thon around the pros. At long last, the 2026 NBA Draft has arrived. The hooping world braces for impact.

Across two days and two different TV channels, the future of this league begins to unfurl live in Brooklyn. Potential franchise-changers like AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson and Cameron Boozer find their first NBA homes. Fans look out for both fashion statements and trade winds. It’s a quick string of eventful, consequential moments.

The Washington Wizards are on the clock at No. 1. They’re then followed by the Utah Jazz, Memphis Grizzlies, Chicago Bulls and LA Clippers. Here’s what to know and when to tune in for the Tuesday and Wednesday broadcasts. All times listed are ET.

How to watch the 2026 NBA Draft

• Location: Barclays Center — Brooklyn, N.Y.
• Dates: June 23-24
• TV: ABC and ESPN

ABC is free over the air. ABC and ESPN are also available with an ESPN Unlimited subscription.

The NBA Draft broadcast

There are two different viewing options for the first round.

ABC’s presentation takes on a narrative bend, with feature-like packages on the biggest names. The ABC broadcast is hosted by Kevin Negandhi. Desk analysts include former NBA players Richard Jefferson, Kenny Smith and Jay Williams. Jefferson was the 13th pick of the 2001 draft, Smith was No. 6 in 1987 and Williams went second overall in 2002.

ESPN counters with more analytical and statistical appraisals. That telecast starts an hour before the draft at 7 p.m. and is hosted by Malika Andrews, who is flanked by commentators Jay Bilas, Tim Legler, Bobby Marks and Andraya Carter. Bilas was the 108th selection in 1986, back when the draft had seven rounds. However, he never played in an NBA game. Legler, meanwhile, went undrafted but wound up with a 10-year NBA career from 1989 to 2000.

The ESPN presentation also has insider Shams Charania, international basketball expert Fran Fraschilla and field reporter Lisa Salters. The digital show “Hoop Streams” is in the building and on the ESPN app throughout Tuesday.

Wednesday’s second round is anchored by Andrews. Joining her are Bilas, Charania, Fraschilla and Marks. This second night adds King McClure, Iman Shumpert and Brian Windhorst to the coverage. Of those three, only Shumpert heard his name called from the NBA Draft podium — he went No. 17 in 2011. Vanessa Richardson is the reporter for the Wednesday proceedings.

The pre-draft studio shows

Tuesday warrants a two-hour draft episode of “NBA Today,” which starts at 3 p.m. Additionally, there is a red carpet special at 5 p.m. for first looks at draft suits. Hannah Storm hosts both of these shows.

The pre-draft programs tap two former pros in Shumpert and Kendrick Perkins, the No. 27 pick from the hallowed 2003 draft. The network’s analysts in tow are Windhorst, Sean Farnham, Seth Greenberg and Jeremy Woo.

A history of draft suits The evolution of NBA Draft fashion and the most emblematic suits from each era From Olajuwon's Michael Jackson look to the bespoke threads of today's rookies, NBA Draft night is a bellwether of evolving league fashion.

The prospects to know

Players sorted by The Athletic’s latest mock draft from Monday morning.

AJ Dybantsa averaged 25.5 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game in his freshman season at BYU. The 6-foot-9 wing has been hyped for his explosiveness and end-to-end rim running. However, his Cougars massively underperformed and lost in the NCAA Tournament’s first round.

Darryn Peterson offered dizzying highs and disorienting lows during his lone Kansas campaign. The silky shooter posted 20.2 points per game across an average of 29 minutes. He also left some contests prematurely and missed others entirely due to full-body cramps.

Cameron Boozer was college basketball’s consensus national player of the year, just the second Duke freshman to earn such prestigious honors. He paced the team with an average stat line of 22.5/10.2/4.1. He arrives to the NBA after his Blue Devils were devastated in the Elite Eight.

Caleb Wilson had a strong first year for North Carolina. He put up almost 20 points and 10 rebounds per game off the strength of his 7-foot wingspan. Wilson missed the 2026 tourney after he broke his thumb during a practice session.

Draft week projections NBA mock draft 2026: The real drama starts at No. 5 with the LA Clippers There's still some uncertainty about the No. 1 pick, but trades and surprises could happen a little farther down the board Tuesday.

Keaton Wagler rocketed through mock draft boards with a superb freshman stint at Illinois. The once-unheralded guard finished with 17.9 points, 5.1 boards and 4.2 dimes per outing, and his Fighting Illini reached the Final Four.

Mikel Brown Jr. was a fellow freshman guard breakout. He topped 18 points per game for Louisville, but wasn’t the most efficient at 41 percent from the floor and 34.4 percent on 3s.