After an extremely eventful night filled with potential franchise-altering picks, multi-team trades, and several suspenseful moments, round one of the 2026 NBA Draft is officially in the books. As the dust continues to settle, let’s break down the biggest winners and losers of the night.

2026 NBA Draft First Round’s Biggest Winners

Milwaukee Bucks

Milwaukee Bucks fans will have a much easier time sleeping tonight. In the deal that sent franchise icon Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Miami Heat, Milwaukee received the No. 13 overall selection in the trade package. The move ultimately gave them two picks in the lottery, and while still early, they appear to have capitalized.

At No. 10, the Bucks selected Arizona guard Brayden Burries, a high-upside guard who can impact both ends of the floor. Three picks later, they drafted a 6’9″ forward with a rare mix of length, mobility, and perimeter skill in Tennessee’s Nate Ament.

Burries, 20, and Ament, 19, were both standout one-and-done freshmen and possess spectacular long-term upside. Almost nobody can replace a two-time NBA MVP and 10-time All-Star in Antetokounmpo; however, these two prospects are an excellent start.

Dusty May and Morez Johnson Jr.

After being hired by the Dallas Mavericks less than 48 hours ago, the reigning national champion head coach has already made his mark. Dallas selected Michigan Wolverines big man Morez Johnson Jr. with the No. 9 overall pick, reuniting him with his college coach.

Described as a winner who has no problem doing the dirty work, Johnson is an excellent fit on this current Mavericks’ roster.

In addition to reuniting with May, he gets to play alongside 2025 No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg and soon-to-be fourth-year center Dereck Lively II in what is shaping into an impressive young core.

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“I was insanely shocked when I saw Dusty was going to be coach of the Mavs,” Johnson said after Dallas selected him. “I did not see it coming at all. And now for him to be my coach again, I’m excited. It’s insane. We just won a national championship together. I can’t wait to get there and go to work with him again and ultimately win again.”

Yaxel Lendeborg

Heading into draft night, there was a bit of uncertainty surrounding the Michigan forward and where exactly he would land in the first round. Thankfully for Yaxel Lendeborg, his name was called sooner rather than later.

The main concern regarding Lendeborg was his age since he’s 23 years old, but the Golden State Warriors clearly had no issue with it and drafted him at No. 11 overall. With the aim to contend in the Western Conference next season, drafting a three-year college star and an NBA-ready prospect simply makes sense.

“I’m not worried, because he’s not 38,” Warriors GM Mike Dunleavy Jr. joked after making the pick.

Lendeborg is a high-IQ, versatile forward with a relentless motor and outstanding defensive anticipation, so he should have no issue cracking the Warriors’ rotation and making an immediate impact alongside Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and Co.

Michigan ultimately had three players selected in the lottery, as center Aday Mara was also selected at No. 12 overall by the Oklahoma City Thunder.

2026 NBA Draft First Round’s Biggest Losers

Isaiah Evans

Entering Tuesday night, many mock drafts projected Duke wing Isaiah Evans to be drafted as high as the early 20s. Unfortunately for Evans and his camp, he fell out of the first round entirely.

The Philadelphia 76ers, Los Angeles Lakers, and New York Knicks each appeared to be potential suitors in the back half of the first round, but each organization decided to go in a different direction. It appears his slight frame and underwhelming athletic testing at the NBA Combine may have been what cost him a first-round spot.

Also, Evans still needs to get stronger and may take time to adjust to the NBA’s physicality. He will likely be one of the first players selected in the second round, but it’s safe to say Tuesday night didn’t play out how he hoped.

Bennett Stirtz

At first glance, Bennett Stirtz finds himself in a solid situation: drafted 16th overall to the Oklahoma City Thunder, earning an opportunity to play alongside back-to-back MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and arguably joining the league’s most well-rounded team.

However, it’s difficult to imagine Stirtz playing meaningful NBA minutes in the near future. Between Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, Ajay Mitchell, Jared McCain, Cason Wallace, and Nikola Topic, there is a major logjam in Oklahoma City’s backcourt.

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For years, the Thunder have been at the top of the NBA when it comes to developing young talent, but if Stirtz doesn’t see the court in his first couple of seasons, progression won’t come easily. Time will tell how GM Sam Presti and HC Mark Daigneault play this, but a destination like Milwaukee or Charlotte would have been more ideal for the 22-year-old.

Jaylen Brown and the Boston Celtics

For weeks, Jaylen Brown’s name was mentioned as a key piece in a potential trade package for Antetokounmpo as the Celtics and Bucks’ trade talks intensified. Now, after failing to complete the deal, Boston is left with an unhappy superstar.

Entering tonight, there was speculation that the Celtics would still move on from Brown, hoping to receive a valuable young asset along with a high draft pick. However, round one of the draft concluded, and Brown still remains with the Celtics.

“I’ll always keep our conversations private…” Celtics president Brad Stevens said. “I think it’s appropriate, regardless of what the content of those conversations are like, but I think what I said is really true. I don’t love the fact anytime it’s a big public thing, As you know, we try to keep things as close to the vest and quiet as possible, and at the same time, knowing that the rumor mills is the rumor mill, and there’s going to be a lot of noise out there, that’s why you meet and be upfront as possible. But listen, I can’t say enough good things about Jaylen… But I certainly am empathetic towards probably what that’s felt like.”

The situation will only become more awkward, and if Brown formally requests a trade, Boston likely won’t receive the same value it could have gotten had Stevens moved him earlier. The Celtics did redeem themselves by selecting Houston’s Chris Cenac Jr. at No. 27, but the Brown saga will likely overshadow tonight and the rest of the offseason.