New NBA Mock Draft 2026 Drops from AP, How Does It Compare to B/R with 1 Week to Go?

The start of the 2026 NBA draft is just a week away, and final predictions are starting to be unveiled.

The Associated Press released its latest mock draft on Tuesday, and the top 10 picks were almost identical to B/R's Jonathan Wasserman's most recent predictions. The top five selections were exactly the same before slight differences emerged:

Bleacher Report	Associated Press
1. Washington Wizards: AJ Dybantsa, F, BYU	1. Washington Wizards: AJ Dybantsa, F, BYU
2. Utah Jazz: Darryn Peterson, G, Kansas	2. Utah Jazz: Darryn Peterson, G, Kansas
3. Memphis Grizzlies: Cameron Boozer, F/C, Duke	3. Memphis Grizzlies: Cameron Boozer, F/C, Duke
4. Chicago Bulls: Caleb Wilson, F, UNC	4. Chicago Bulls: Caleb Wilson, F, UNC
5. Los Angeles Clippers (via IND): Keaton Wagler, G, Illinois	5. Los Angeles Clippers (via IND): Keaton Wagler, G, Illinois
6. Brooklyn Nets: Darius Acuff Jr., G, Arkansas	6. Brooklyn Nets: Nate Ament, F, Tennessee
7. Sacramento Kings: Kingston Flemings, G, Houston	7. Sacramento Kings: Darius Acuff Jr., G, Arkansas
8. Atlanta Hawks (via NOP): Mikel Brown Jr., G, Louisville	8. Atlanta Hawks (via NOP): Mikel Brown Jr., G, Louisville
9. Dallas Mavericks: Brayden Burries, G, Arizona	9. Dallas Mavericls: Kingston Flemings, G, Houston
10. Milwaukee Bucks: Nate Ament, F, Tennessee	10. Milwaukee Bucks: Brayden Burries, G, Arizona

Interestingly, the AP predicted that Tennessee forward Nate Ament would be the No. 6 selection by the Brooklyn Nets, while Wasserman projected him to land with the Milwaukee Bucks at No. 10. Wasserman predicted that the Nets would select Arkansas point guard Darius Acuff Jr., but the AP pointed out that Brooklyn's guard-heavy 2025 draft class likely would make the team look elsewhere.

"A monthlong run in the Southeastern Conference (22.8 points with 39.1 percent shooting on 3s from Jan. 10 to Feb. 20) highlighted his potential," the AP said of Ament, "and the Nets need some size after going guard-heavy when they had five first-round picks last year."

It will be fun to see how things play out when the NBA draft commences on June 23 and 24, as the next generation of stars will officially make the jump to the next level.