The Indiana Pacers — at the moment — have as good of a chance as anyone to get the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
The teams with the four worst records at the end of the regular season each get a 14% chance of winning the draft lottery: Right now that’s the Pacers (8-32), New Orleans Pelicans (9-32), Sacramento Kings (9-30) and Washington Wizards (10-28).
Who will be the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft?
Three freshmen are at the top of most mock drafts: Darryn Peterson of Kansas, Cam Boozer of Duke and A.J. Dybantsa of BYU.
- Boozer: 22.9 points, 38.1% 3-point shooting, 9.5 rebounds, 1.8 steals.
- Dybantsa: 22.9 points, 7.1 rebounds, 3.9 assists.
- Peterson: 22.6 points, 41.5% 3-point shooting, 4.7 rebounds; he has missed some time with a hamstring injury.
NBA mock draft 2026: Who will the Indiana Pacers pick in the 2026 NBA Draft? When will the Indiana Pacers pick in the 2026 NBA draft?
“Darryn Peterson played his first game since Dec. 13 on (Jan. 3) — couldn’t finish it due to the lingering hamstring issue — and yet his No. 1 overall case may have gotten stronger.
“Again, decisive shotmaking fueled Peterson’s scoring, resulting in 26 points in just 23 minutes. Due to how he’s being used, almost all of his scoring has come from off the ball, a scary sign, considering the preseason No. 1 overall hype was mostly due to how dangerous he’d become creating offense and advantages with his handle and burst.
“His defensive upside also pops multiple times per game, mostly because of how his quickness, athleticism and hand-eye coordination lead to recovery plays and blocks.
“The fact that he’s producing like he is, despite having no chance to build any rhythm due to being forced in and out of the lineup, only helps further sell Peterson’s talent.”
NBA Draft Room: No. 1 pick, Darryn Peterson
“Peterson is one of the best guard prospects we’ve seen in the past decade. He’s as smooth and as polished as any big guard since Kobe and he can do it all on the court. He’s an effortless jump shooter and has the handle, frame and athletic ability to get wherever he wants on the floor.”
“A.J. Dybantsa is not the consensus No. 1 pick right now but that might not last long. … Dybantsa has notched at least 20 points eight games in a row, capable of throwing down windmill dunks in a half-court offense. The freshman is nearly as impactful and active on defense, too. Just one year removed from an appearance in the NBA Finals, the Pacers are now in a position to add one of the top prospects to their rotation once Tyrese Haliburton returns from his Achilles tendon injury. If he keeps playing at this level, given his versatility as a 6-foot-9 scorer and playmaker, he can become a superstar.”
FanSided: No. 1 pick, Cam Boozer, Duke wing
“Indiana gets the pick of the litter at No. 1 and has no shortage of franchise-altering options, but Cam Boozer — the best player in college basketball as an 18-year-old — gets the nod. The Pacers can (and should) expect to contend next season upon Tyrese Haliburton’s return. Boozer is the most polished of an elite freshman class, with a level of strength, IQ and footwork rarely seen at such a young age. He can help add wins to Indy’s record from day one.
“There are valid defensive concerns with Boozer, amplified by the Pacers’ current lack of depth up front, but he should handle his position fine enough. Especially if Indiana can add a proper rim protector via free agency or trade. On offense, Boozer’s finishing, connective passing and general well-roundedness should pair beautifully with fellow basketball genius Haliburton. Indiana will have two selfless hubs who can pressure and ultimately break a defense in different ways. The Pacers would be very scary, very quickly.”
“Boozer, Peterson, and Dybantsa are all worthy No. 1 overall picks, and I really believe they will all be key players on a USA Basketball Olympic team one day (yes, I know this was said about Zion Williamson and Ja Morant once upon a time, too). The only thing that would really surprise me out of this draft is if someone other than one of the big-three eventually turns into the best player in the class.”
Dustin Dopirak covers the Pacers all season. Get more coverage on IndyStarTV and with the Pacers Insider newsletter.
