NBA Draft Odds 2026: Kansas' Peterson Favored to go No. 1 Ahead of BYU's Dybantsa
The NBA draft odds indicate it's a two-horse race between Kansas' Darryn Peterson (+115) and BYU's AJ Dybantsa (+135) to be the first overall selection in next year's draft.
Trailing slightly behind is Duke's Cameron Boozer (+330), while Nate Ament (+2800) and Mikel Brown Jr. (+3500) round out the top five.
All five players with the shortest odds are freshman, which tracks as the last non-freshman to be taken first overall was Blake Griffin all the way back in 2009.
I'm breaking down the favorites while offering my NBA draft best bet as part of our NBA picks.
📊 2026 NBA Draft No. 1 pick odds
Odds via DraftKings.
- Darryn Peterson, Kansas: +115
- AJ Dybantsa, BYU: +135
- Cameron Boozer, Duke: +330
- Nate Ament, Tennessee: +2800
- Mikel Brown Jr., Louisville: +3500
- Tounde Yessoufou, Baylor: +10000
- Karim Lopez, New Zealand: +10000
- Jayden Quaintance, Kentucky: +10000
- Chris Cenac Jr., Houston: +10000
1️⃣ 2026 NBA Draft No. 1 pick odds favorite
🐦 Darryn Peterson, Kansas (+115)
Kansas freshman Darryn Peterson is seen as one of the more polished prospects of the 2026 class, which likely gives him a leg up in the betting market as we have yet to see any of the top prospects play at the college level.
Peterson is a talented shooting guard who can score efficiently as both a shooter and a cutter. Like any 18-year-old, he has plenty of room to grow ahead of his freshman season in Lawrence as NBA teams and bettors alike track his development.
He's looking to be the third Jayhawk ever to be drafted first overall after Danny Manning (1988) and Andrew Wiggins (2014).
Peterson's +115 odds translate to an implied probability of 46.51%, per our odds calculator. A winning $10 bet would net an $11.50 profit.
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👀 My 2026 NBA Draft No. 1 pick prediction & best bet
🔥 AJ Dybantsa, BYU (+135)
BYU forward AJ Dybantsa is neck-and-neck with Peterson in the betting odds, as well as early 2026 NBA mock drafts.
Luckily for us, they face off this season in what should be a highly-anticipated matchup.
What sets Dybantsa apart is his offensive versatility at his size (6-foot-9, 210 lbs). He showed at Utah Prep that he could score at all three levels while showing the potential to be a true two-way stud.
A successful $10 bet on Dybantsa would net a $13.50 profit, with an implied probability of 42.55%.
⌛️ Past NBA draft No. 1 picks
| Year | Pick | Position | School/Former Club |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Cooper Flagg | F | Duke |
| 2024 | Zaccharie RIsacher | F | JL Bourg (France) |
| 2023 | Victor Wembanyama | C/F | Metropolitans 92 (France) |
| 2022 | Paolo Banchero | F | Duke |
| 2021 | Cade Cunningham | G | Oklahoma State |
| 2020 | Anthony Edwards | G | Georgia |
| 2019 | Zion Williamson | F | Duke |
| 2018 | Deandre Ayton | C | Arizona |
| 2017 | Markelle Fultz | G | Washington |
| 2016 | Ben Simmons | G/F | LSU |
| 2015 | Karl-Anthony Towns | C/F | Kentucky |
| 2014 | Andrew Wiggins | G/F | Kansas |
❓ NBA draft FAQs
Who is the favorite to be selected No. 1 in the 2026 NBA Draft?
Kansas freshman Darryn Peterson is the odds-on favorite (+115) to be selected first overall in the 2026 NBA Draft.
When is the 2026 NBA draft?
The 2026 NBA Draft is not yet scheduled but will take place in late June.
Who was the first pick in the NBA draft last year?
The Dallas Mavericks selected Cooper Flagg out of Duke with the first pick.
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