2026 NBA Rookie Rankings: Top Performers from Summer League

Zach Kram – National NBA writer for ESPN.com, focusing on analytics and trends. Former contributor to The Ringer covering NBA and MLB.

Scouts, fans, and executives anticipate the 2026 draft, and the incoming rookie class has already made an impact in its early weeks.

Except for the injured No. 20 pick Jayden Quaintance and No. 21 pick Karim Lopez, each first‑round pick has appeared in multiple games at the Las Vegas Summer League.

It is therefore an appropriate time for early rookie rankings that assess potential and initial summer‑league performances. We will rank the top 11 selections from the 2026 draft who have shown promise, noting that the list ends at 11 because the No. 12 pick, Aday Mara of the Oklahoma City Thunder, still requires development before becoming a championship‑contending contributor.

This ranking reflects current quality rather than long‑term projection and is naturally subject to small‑sample variance. I observed each player at least once, with most appearing no more than twice, during the Las Vegas Summer League.

Before we begin, a few additional rookies merit brief mention for their performances: Meleek Thomas of the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Summer League scoring leader averaging 28.3 points per game; Labaron Philon Jr. of the Philadelphia 76ers, a smooth offensive operator; and Allen Graves of the Toronto Raptors, a prolific steals specialist who could become a defensive terror alongside Scottie Barnes, Collin Murray‑Boyles, and possibly Kawhi Leonard.

Proceeding to the top 11 rookies, with their draft order adjusted according to summer‑league performance.

2026 draft pick: 7

He appears poised as a lead creator, demonstrating nifty passes through traffic in Vegas and showing promise in pick‑and‑roll and handoff actions with Domantas Sabonis.

Conversely, Acuff exhibits notable shortcomings for a guard of his size. His defensive effort appears lackadaisical, particularly when not actively defending the ball, and his offensive efficiency is modest in most games. In the California Classic, he shot 35% from the field, 27% from three‑point range, and 70% from the free‑throw line.

2026 draft pick: 5

Wagler illustrates why summer‑league performances should not be overreacted to. Although he struggled through six quarters in Vegas and departed at halftime of his second game to catch a flight, he posted 18 points in the quarter that followed.

At 6‑5 and 188 lb, Wagler possesses a smooth three‑point stroke (35% in summer league) and adept pick‑and‑roll passing, positioning him as a potential lead creator at the NBA level. However, he tended to be overly passive during the Vegas stint, and his limited explosiveness reduced his ability to separate from defenders.

His 18‑point quarter was largely derived from three‑point attempts; he converted only 33% (7‑of‑21) of his two‑point shots, indicating a rookie season more akin to Egor Demin’s in Brooklyn than to a Rookie of the Year contender.

2026 draft pick: 8

Flemings emerged as the premier defender among the lottery guards at the Vegas Summer League, consistently hounding opposing guards and holding his own when matched against larger opponents. While Nets forward Danny Wolf is not a dominant post presence, Flemings’ theft of the ball from the 6‑11 Wolf after a late switch in a close game highlights his defensive acumen.

Offensively, Flemings raises questions. He demonstrated the ability to score at all three levels during a half of Summer League play and appeared composed under pressure. Nevertheless, he was reluctant to drive left and his overall shooting efficiency (32% from the field, including Salt Lake City Summer League play) fell short of expectations.

2026 draft pick: 9

Johnson stood out during Summer League despite appearing in only two games. He displayed advanced short‑roll reads and finished 75% (15‑of‑20) of his two‑point attempts, showing strong efficiency inside the arc.

On defense, he was highly active, recording six blocks and five steals across the two games. His intensity sometimes led to excessive fouls, as he accumulated six personal fouls by the third quarter of his debut.

2026 draft pick: 11

Lendeborg, a 23‑year‑old, is already NBA‑ready compared with many younger draftees. His skill set includes reliable passing, solid defense, and a developing three‑point jumper, all of which should aid his integration into a veteran‑heavy Warriors roster.

In transition, he proved dynamic, driving with power and finishing through contact around the rim. A notable example was a drive where he finished cleanly over Cameron Boozer, a play that quickly entered the Summer League highlight reels and recurred throughout Warriors games.

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Memphis Grizzlies vs. Golden State Warriors: Game Highlights

2026 draft pick: 6

Although Brown lacked the headline‑making moments of the No. 6 draft pick, he delivered a solid two‑way performance at Summer League. His defensive activity generated turnovers and he excelled in isolation defense.

Offensively, Brown appeared comfortable creating his own shots and moving fluidly to his preferred spots, suggesting he may possess the highest ceiling among the Nets’ young players.

Top 10 Draft Picks Ranked by Turnovers per Game in Las Vegas

The following table summarizes turnovers per game for the top 10 draft picks at the Las Vegas Summer League:

Turnover rates per game were: Brayden Burries (0.32), Morez Johnson Jr. (1.5), Keaton Wagler (1.7), AJ Dybantsa (2.0), Cameron Boozer (3.0), Mikel Brown Jr. (3.0), Kingston Flemings (3.5), Caleb Wilson (4.3), Darius Acuff Jr. (4.7), and Darryn Peterson (4.7).

Amid a field of inexperienced players making frequent errors, Burries distinguished himself by limiting turnovers. The 20‑year‑old guard averaged 22.3 points on 50% shooting (44% from three‑point range) and recorded 12 assists with only one turnover, marking him as arguably the premier rookie guard at the Summer League.

2026 draft pick: 4

While Wilson’s 48% three‑point tally in Summer League is encouraging, it does not reliably predict regular‑season performance.

His high volume of three‑point attempts — averaging 8.3 per game, up from 7‑of‑27 in college — indicates a developing perimeter skill set that could translate to the NBA.

Nevertheless, his other metrics are modest: he logged only five assists against 13 turnovers and made just 23% (3‑of‑13) of his free‑throw attempts. Although he recorded nine blocks over three games, his defensive influence was limited, and he was not consistently dominant in one‑on‑one situations.

2026 draft pick: 2

Peterson performed more consistently in the Salt Lake City Summer League than in Las Vegas, where turnovers and foul trouble limited his impact. His relatively shaky handle suggests that sharing ballhandling responsibilities with Keyonte George will benefit his efficiency as a rookie.

He also demonstrated a strong shooting range and moments of explosive athleticism, including a dunk over a defender after driving from beyond the three‑point line, indicating his potential as an NBA‑ready scorer.

Tying for the league lead in free‑throw attempts with the No. 1 pick, AJ Dybantsa, highlights his ability to attack the rim and generate points.

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Darryn Peterson highlights vs. LA Clippers

2026 draft pick: 3

Boozer does not rely on pull‑up three‑point shooting nor does he dominate the rim like Peterson or Dybantsa, yet he contributes solid statistical numbers, averaging 18.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 2.3 steals per game.

His size (6‑8, 253 lb) and speed, highlighted during May’s NBA combine drills, make him a formidable one‑on‑one defender capable of guarding quicker wings and holding his ground against larger opponents.

Although his jump shot was inconsistent in Vegas, it appeared clean, and his overall true shooting percentage exceeded 60%, supporting a strong Rookie of the Year candidacy despite a perceived lower ceiling than Peterson or Dybantsa.

2026 draft pick: 1

The No. 1 overall pick secured the top ranking despite taking an excess of low‑efficiency midrange jumpers during the Vegas Summer League. He generated the most headline‑making moments, including a confident reverse layup early in his debut, an inside‑out dribble that fooled a defender before an up‑and‑under finish, and an instinctive behind‑the‑back pass that resulted in a transition bucket.

Dybantsa penetrated the paint freely in both Summer League games, producing numerous points and drawing fouls. While he must improve his shot selection and refine his defensive positioning — occasionally appearing stiff on screens — his talent unmistakably suggests superstar potential.

A key question for Dybantsa moving forward is whether he will receive comparable on‑ball opportunities in the regular season. Though he served as the Wizards’ primary ball‑handler in Vegas, the franchise’s commitment to Trae Young for the next four years creates an intriguing dynamic to monitor in Washington.

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