The opening night of the 2026 NBA Draft saw the Washington Wizards claim the top spot, selecting BYU’s versatile forward AJ Dybantsa with the first overall pick, while the Utah Jazz secured the second pick by choosing Kansas guard Darryn Peterson.
What followed was a second round that analysts warned would be anything but predictable, as teams navigated a deep pool of talent and a draft board that kept shifting with each selection.
A Badger on the Rise
Among the names surfacing in mock projections, Wisconsin’s Nick Boyd emerged as a frequent mention, his 20.7‑point average and playmaking numbers catching the eye of several NBA outfits.
The consensus among draft watchers placed Boyd somewhere between the mid‑50s and early‑60s, a range that reflects both his upside and the uncertainty surrounding his fit at the next level.
USA Today’s Bryan Kalbrosky had him slotted at No. 52 for the Los Angeles Clippers, while Jordan Mendoza of the same outlet had the Denver Nuggets taking him at No. 49 just before the draft began. Over at The Athletic, Sam Vecenie projected the Sacramento Kings to grab Boyd at No. 45.
If any of those scenarios materialize, the selection would mark the second straight year a Wisconsin player has been drafted, echoing the path of John Tonje, who slipped to the Utah Jazz at No. 53 a year earlier.
The ripple effect extends beyond the Badgers, as the draft’s first round already featured a pair of marquee names from BYU and Kansas, setting a tone of excitement that will carry through the later selections.