The 2025-26 NBA season hasn’t even started, but people are already thinking of who could be the top rookies in the league once it’s over.
According to DraftKings Sportsbooks, via Evan Sidery, Darryn Peterson is now the betting favorite to become the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA draft.
Peterson has +135 odds, followed by AJ Dybantsa with +145, and Cam Boozer with +220.
Which of these young men will have the best season this year and position themselves to be the top pick?
Darryn Peterson opens as the betting favorite to become the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, per @DKSportsbook:
Peterson (Kansas): +135
AJ Dybantsa (BYU): +145
Cam Boozer (Duke): +220
All three prospects are viewed as instant franchise-changers in 2026.pic.twitter.com/MY7cBoiWRM
— Evan Sidery (@esidery) August 4, 2025
Peterson and Dybantsa have been widely regarded as the greatest up-and-coming players who could be top draft picks.
They are repeatedly ranked as the No. 1 and No. 2 picks again and again, although they sometimes swap positions.
The bottom line is that unless something wild happens, one of these two will be the top pick in the 2026 draft.
Peterson comes from Canton, Ohio, and was the Naismith Prep Player of the Year and the co-MVP of the McDonald’s All-American Game in 2025.
He is just 18 years old, 6-foot-5, and can bring a lot to any team that takes him.
He has been hailed for his consistency and how dependable he can be.
Meanwhile, Dybantsa is a 6-foot-9 forward from Massachusetts who is versatile.
Some people might feel that it’s too soon to be talking about the next draft, but it’s never too early for certain teams.
The new season starts in October, and it’ll soon become clear which teams aren’t going to cut it and which will have the best odds of getting the No. 1 overall pick.
That means that these two names will be spoken about more and more in the months ahead.
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