Five Players Who Could Have Gone No. 1. Instead, They Fell in the 2026 Draft.

The 2026 NBA Draft was supposed to be deep. Real deep. And for the most part, it delivered — but not without some serious surprises. A few names that should have gone much higher slipped through the cracks, and the teams that scooped them up might end up looking like geniuses in a couple years. Here are the four biggest steals from the first round.

Darius Acuff Jr. at No. 7

There was a real argument this draft had five guys who could have been the top pick in a weaker year. One of them was Darius Acuff Jr. The Arkansas point guard led the SEC in both scoring and assists — something only Pete Maravich had done before. That alone should have locked him into the top three. Instead, he fell to Sacramento at seven.

Acuff is basically a blur with a jump shot. He gets to the rim whenever he wants, and he shot 44 percent from deep as a freshman. His game draws comparisons to John Wall and Kyrie Irving, which is the kind of hype that usually gets a guy picked higher. The Kings have a long history of bad draft decisions, but this one could flip that script. They just have to actually keep him — which, given the Tyrese Haliburton trade, is not something fans take for granted.

Nate Ament Falls to Milwaukee at No. 13

Most analysts had a clear top nine in this draft. Nate Ament was supposed to close that group out. Then Dallas threw a curveball at pick nine, and suddenly Ament was sliding. The Bucks grabbed him at 13 with the pick they got in the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade, which is maybe the best consolation prize a rebuilding team could ask for.

Ament is listed at nearly 6-foot-10 and apparently still growing. He shoots over defenders like they’re not there and can score from anywhere. Consistency was an issue at Tennessee, but Milwaukee is not in a hurry. They’re rebuilding. They can afford to let him figure it out. Ament has said himself he thinks his ceiling is the highest in this class, and after taking Brayden Burries at 10, the Bucks could afford to swing on potential at 13.

Chris Cenac Jr. at No. 27

Chris Cenac Jr. was once talked about as a late-lottery pick. Then the pre-draft noise started, and some scouts questioned whether he’d contribute right away. Apparently that was enough to push a 6-foot-10 Houston big man all the way down to the Celtics at pick 27.

Boston needed size, and Cenac can play both the four and the five. He rebounds well on the offensive end, blocks shots, and has shown some touch from range. The numbers at Houston were not flashy, but he might be closer to ready than people think. A lot of teams at the end of the first round traded back for future picks. The Celtics just sat there and took the best player available. That move could pay off fast.

Cameron Carr Lands With the Lakers at No. 24

The Lakers traded up from 25 to 24 to grab Cameron Carr. All it cost them was cash. That is a steal by itself. But Carr was a potential lottery pick before the draft. Getting him at the end of the first round for pocket change is borderline robbery.

Carr played a complete game at Baylor. Smooth shooter, elite athlete, good off the ball. He fits perfectly next to Luka Doncic, who loves kicking out to shooters and throwing lobs. Carr does both of those things well. Lakers fans are already feeling like they can get whatever they want after the Doncic trade, and this pick only adds to that feeling. A lottery-level talent at 24 for cash? Yeah, that’ll work.