The 2026 NBA Draft class is rapidly gaining a reputation as one of the deepest and most talented in recent memory, with league executives suggesting that even Cooper Flagg might not have gone first overall had he remained in this class.
Flagg, who reclassified to enter the 2025 NBA Draft and was selected No. 1 overall by the Dallas Mavericks, is already showing flashes of brilliance in his rookie season. Yet, the buzz around the 2026 class is so strong that some insiders believe he would’ve been a mid-lottery pick at best.
The 2026 draft is headlined by a trio of elite prospects: Darryn Peterson (Kansas), Cameron Boozer (Duke), and AJ Dybantsa (BYU).
These three have been dubbed the “Big Three” of the 2026 class, and scouts are already projecting them as franchise-altering talents.
“To put it into perspective, some executives around the NBA say that if Flagg had never reclassified and were instead part of this 2026 group, he probably would be the third pick at best but could go as low as fifth or sixth,” reported Kevin O’Connor of Yahoo Sports.
Cooper Flagg’s decision to reclassify and enter the 2025 draft was met with widespread approval at the time. He went on to win the 2024–25 CBS Sports Player of the Year at Duke and was selected No. 1 overall by Dallas. However, the Mavericks’ early struggles and Flagg’s adjustment to playing point guard in the NBA have sparked debate about whether he would have benefited from another year of development.
“He’s going to be incredible,” said Draymond Green recently. “But we’re asking a rookie who’s not a point guard to be a great point guard. That’s just not how this works.”
What sets the 2026 class apart is its combination of elite top-end talent and depth. Scouts are comparing this group to legendary draft classes like 2003 and 1996 in terms of potential impact.
With several teams already underperforming early in the 2025–26 season, speculation is mounting that franchises may begin to “bottom out” in hopes of landing a top-five pick in this loaded draft. The lottery, scheduled for May 2026, is expected to be one of the most consequential in recent memory.
