Kia Rookie Ladder: 2026 Draft class ready to make NBA debut

No. 3 pick Cameron Boozer (right) will debut Wednesday vs. the Jazz, while No. 4 pick Caleb Wilson faces the Raptors.

Opening week has arrived for the 2026 NBA Draft class.

Their first regular-season games are finally here. 12 of the 14 lottery picks in the NBA Draft could make their regular-season debut Wednesday. Oklahoma City’s Aday Mara made his debut

Tuesday against San Antonio

, and No. 1 overall pick AJ Dybantsa will be

sidelined with a sprained left ankle

for the Wizards season opener.

This is a much-anticipated class. The lottery picks and beyond have shown why with their performances in Summer League and preseason games. We will be following the first-year players all season in the Kia Rookie Ladder.

Here’s a look at the lottery picks and their opening games.

AJ Dybantsa, Washington Wizards (No. 1 pick)

Debut

: TBD

Dybantsa is in a solid situation where he doesn’t need to do it all, but the Wizards know he’s capable of doing a lot. He scored in double figures in all four preseason games, had seven rebounds in one game, four steals in another and three assists in another. Unfortunately, fans will have to wait for his debut as he’s listed as day-to-day with a sprained left ankle and was

ruled out

for Washington’s season opener against Milwaukee.

Darryn Peterson | Utah Jazz (No. 2 pick)

: Wednesday at Memphis Grizzlies (

8 ET, NBA League Pass

)

Peterson scored 23 points in his second preseason game and had 13 points, six rebounds and six assists in his final preseason game. He’s set to tip off his NBA career in Memphis against No. 3 overall pick Cameron Boozer.

Cameron Boozer | Memphis Grizzlies (No. 3 pick)

: Wednesday vs. Utah Jazz (

Boozer enters the league as ready physically as any rookie and with an all-around skill set. He had at least 10 points, four rebounds and two assists in four preseason games. In the

2026-27 NBA GM Survey

, Boozer was picked to win Rookie of the Year.

Caleb Wilson | Chicago Bulls (No. 4 pick)

: Wednesday at Toronto Raptors (

7:30 ET, NBA League Pass

Wilson posted impressive per-36-minute averages in the preseason: 21.4 points on 43.5% shooting, 6.2 rebounds and 3.8 assists. He looked comfortable attacking the basket.

Keaton Wagler | LA Clippers (No. 5 pick)

: Wednesday vs. Sacramento Kings (

10:30 ET, NBA League Pass

The Clippers will give Wagler opportunities, and he is in a situation where he can grow without immediate pressure on him to produce victories.

Mikel Brown Jr. | Brooklyn Nets (No. 6 pick)

: Wednesday vs. Charlotte Hornets (

Brown had 15 points, three rebounds, three assists and two steals in his lone preseason game, and he is benefiting from the mentorship of Julius Randle.

Darius Acuff Jr. | Sacramento Kings (No. 7 pick)

: Wednesday at LA Clippers (

Acuff’s ability to score drew attention across the league – 19 points against the Los Angeles Lakers and 25 points, eight assists and four rebounds against the Golden State Warriors. He was 8-for-19 on 3-pointers in the preseason.

Kingston Flemings | Atlanta Hawks (No. 8 pick)

: Wednesday at Orlando Magic (

7 ET, NBA League Pass

Flemings has drawn high praise for his work ethic and attention to detail and will get his opportunities in the rotation. He had at least five assists in three of Atlanta’s five preseason games and had just two turnovers in the Hawks’ final four preseason games.

Morez Johnson Jr. | Dallas Mavericks (No. 9 pick)

: Wednesday at Houston Rockets (

8:30 ET, NBA League Pass

Johnson played limited minutes in two preseason games, and it will be interesting to see how Mavericks head coach Dusty May, who was Johnson’s coach at Michigan, uses him early in the season.

Brayden Burries | Milwaukee Bucks (No. 10 pick)

: Wednesday at Washington Wizards (

In the

, Burries was voted the biggest steal at where he was selected in the draft. He displayed his ability to score, rebound, pass and generate steals in the preseason, including 19 points, five rebounds, five assists and four steals against Chicago.

Yaxel Lendeborg | Golden State Warriors (No. 11 pick)

: Wednesday at Los Angeles Lakers (

10 ET, ESPN

Warriors head coach Steve Kerr is on record saying Lendeborg will get minutes in the rotation, and Lendeborg did his part in the preseason, scoring at least 17 points in four of five games, including 23 points, 10 rebounds, six assists, two steals and one block in 24 minutes against Sacramento.

Aday Mara | Oklahoma City Thunder (No. 12 pick)

: Tuesday at San Antonio Spurs (

116-104 win

Mara had seven points, two rebounds, one assist and one block in nearly 12 minutes as the Thunder defeated San Antonio in the season opener Tuesday. On Mara’s block, he stuffed Victor Wembanyama, who was trying to complete a dunk on an alley-oop attempt. It led to Mara completing an alley-oop dunk on Oklahoma City’s next possession.

Aday Mara MAKING PLAYS in his first NBA game 🔥

Big-time swat at the rim.

Two-hand alley-oop slam.

The Thunder lead in Q3!

pic.twitter.com/YJpmoBAm8J

— NBA (@NBA)

October 21, 2026

Nate Ament | Milwaukee Bucks (No. 13 pick)

Ament sprained his ankle in the preseason and was limited to just 23 minutes in two preseason games. He’s listed as Probable to play in Wednesday’s season opener.

Hannes Steinbach | Charlotte Hornets (No. 14 pick)

: Wednesday at Brooklyn Nets (

Steinbach had 19 points, 10 rebounds and three steals in Charlotte’s final preseason game – and that leaves the franchise excited about his potential as a versatile big man in the rotation.

* * *

Jeff Zillgitt has covered the NBA since 2008. You can email him at

jzillgitt@nba.com

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