NBA draft 2026 first-round winners and losers: triumph of the tankers and the Jalen Brunson Effect

The 2026 draft class is loaded with talent. Photograph: Anadolu/Getty ImagesView image in fullscreenThe 2026 draft class is loaded with talent. Photograph: Anadolu/Getty ImagesNBANBA draft 2026 first-round winners and losers: triumph of the tankers and the Jalen Brunson EffectAJ Dybantsa went No 1 in a draft that proved to be low on drama, but loaded with generational talentAR ShawWed 24 Jun 2026 13.26 BSTLast modified on Wed 24 Jun 2026 13.28 BSTSharePrefer the Guardian on GoogleWinnersThe tanking teamsAfter a season that featured multiple teams participating in the most egregious display of tanking in NBA history, Adam Silver responded by implementing new rules that will supposedly stop the tactic. However, those rules will not go into effect until next season, which means the biggest losers were the biggest winners on draft night.The Washington Wizards (AJ Dybantsa), Utah Jazz (Darryn Peterson), Memphis Grizzlies (Cameron Boozer), and Chicago Bulls (Caleb Wilson) picked up generational players in what is considered the deepest draft in years. Among the teams who won by tanking, the Wizards stand out – they are poised to improve significantly after drafting Dybantsa No 1 overall. Adding Dybantsa as the centerpiece on a team that features two former All-NBA picks, Trae Young and Anthony Davis, could lead to the Wizards making the playoffs for the first time since 2021. ​The Jalen Brunson EffectAfter leading the New York Knicks to their first NBA championship since 1973, Brunson proved that shifty guards with a knack for scoring can anchor title-contending teams. In an era where 3-and-D wings were previously considered the gold standard, Brunson’s feats may have reshaped the NBA: six guards were selected in the top 10 of this year’s draft.Peterson, Keaton Wagler, Mikel Brown Jr, Darius Acuff Jr, Kingston Flemings, and Brayden Burries are all aggressive guards who, like Brunson, can take over in the fourth quarter and dictate the outcome of games in critical moments....