A full first-round 2026 NBA mock draft before the NCAA Tournament, featuring AJ Dybantsa, Cameron Boozer, Darryn Peterson and more as teams position themselves for lottery selections.

The NBA has considered expansion for many years, but finally, it appears the league is ready to welcome one or two new franchises for the first time since the Charlotte Bobcats (now the Hornets) joined the league in 2004.

Here's where BYU Forward A.J. Dybantsa is projected to land in USA TODAY's latest 2026 NBA mock draft

There’s less than a month to go in the 2025-26 NBA regular season, and the MVP race appears to be decided. Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander i

Carmani, Cameron and Cayden Cameron Boozer #12 and Cayden Boozer #2 of the Duke Blue Devils in during an open practice on August 5, 2025 in Durham, North Carolina ; Cameron and Cayden Boozer with their dad Carlos and mom CeCe in May 2025.

While owners have voted before to explore expansion, this will be a major step forward, focusing on specific markets.

A potential first-round matchup in the NBA playoffs takes place on Thursday night, as the No. 2-seeded San Antonio Spurs take on the No. 7-seeded Phoenix Suns.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Pryce Sandfort and his brother, Payton, achieved two basketball firsts in a whirlwind 24-hour window. First, Payton Sandfort made his NBA debut and scored his first points on a 3-pointer for the Oklahoma City Thunder in a 121-92 win over the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday night.