2026 NBA draft class prepares for opening night
Twelve of the 14 lottery picks could make their regular-season debuts on Wednesday, Oct. 21, according to the NBA.
The 2026 NBA draft class is set to begin its regular-season careers during opening week. In a Kia Rookie Ladder report published by the NBA on Oct. 21, the league said 12 of the 14 lottery picks could debut that Wednesday.
Those scheduled debuts had not yet taken place when the preview was published. The NBA reported that Aday Mara had already made his debut on Tuesday against San Antonio, while No. 1 pick AJ Dybantsa was ruled out of Washington’s season opener against Milwaukee with a sprained left ankle.
Top picks set for Wednesday matchups
No. 2 pick Darryn Peterson was scheduled to open his NBA career with Utah at Memphis, where he would face No. 3 pick Cameron Boozer. Boozer was listed for his first game with Memphis against the Jazz.
No. 4 pick Caleb Wilson was scheduled to make his debut for Chicago at Toronto. The other listed lottery matchups included No. 5 Keaton Wagler and the LA Clippers against Sacramento, and No. 6 Mikel Brown Jr. and Brooklyn against Charlotte.
More lottery picks on the opening slate
No. 7 Darius Acuff Jr. was listed for Sacramento’s game at the Clippers, while No. 8 Kingston Flemings was scheduled to play for Atlanta at Orlando. No. 9 Morez Johnson Jr. and Dallas were set to visit Houston.
No. 10 Brayden Burries was listed for Milwaukee’s game at Washington. The NBA preview also noted that Dybantsa, the top pick, would miss that opener; it did not specify a debut date for him.
Preseason performances in the preview
The report highlighted Boozer’s all-around preseason production, saying he recorded at least 10 points, four rebounds and two assists in each of four games. It also said he was selected as the projected Rookie of the Year in the 2026–27 NBA general manager survey.
Wilson’s preseason per-36-minute averages were listed as 21.4 points on 43.5% shooting, 6.2 rebounds and 3.8 assists. Acuff scored 19 points against the Lakers and had 25 points, eight assists and four rebounds against Golden State, according to the NBA.
Newsroom
The NBA’s preview frames Wednesday’s slate as an initial opportunity for much of the 2026 lottery class, but the scheduled games had not been played at the time of publication.
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Official source · 21/10/2026 15:51
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