NBA scouts, fans and executives eagerly awaited the 2026 draft, and the newest rookie class has impressed in its first few weeks in the league.

Aside from No. 20 pick Jayden Quaintance and No. 21 pick Karim Lopez, who are sidelined by injury, every first-round selection played in multiple games at the Las Vegas summer league.

That sets the stage for some early rookie rankings, based on the top newcomers' potential and their initial showings at summer league. Here we rank the top 11 selections from the 2026 draft who have shown promise or drawn notice on the court this summer. (The list ends at 11 because No. 12 pick Aday Mara of the Oklahoma City Thunder appears to need more time before helping a title contender.)

This ranking reflects the players' current quality rather than long-term outlook, and it is subject to small-sample variance. I watched each of these prospects play at least once in Las Vegas, though none more than twice.

Before the rankings, several other rookies merit mention for their summer showings: the Cleveland Cavaliers' Meleek Thomas, who led summer league with 28.3 points per game; the Philadelphia 76ers' Labaron Philon Jr., a fluid offensive player; and the Toronto Raptors' Allen Graves, a steals specialist who could thrive alongside Scottie Barnes, Collin Murray-Boyles and (perhaps) Kawhi Leonard.

Now, here are the top 11 rookies, with some reordering from their draft positions based on summer performances.

11. Darius Acuff Jr., Sacramento Kings

2026 draft pick: 7

Acuff shows clear ability as a lead creator. His nifty passes through traffic in Vegas created excitement about pairing him with Domantas Sabonis in pick-and-rolls and handoffs this season.

Yet he also displayed nearly every concern associated with undersized guards. His defense, particularly off the ball, remained a worry, and his offensive efficiency was inconsistent except in one outing. Counting California Classic games, Acuff shot 35 percent from the field, 27 percent from three and 70 percent from the line this summer.

Those numbers should improve with more regular-season minutes. Still, given his other limits, Acuff must become an elite offensive force to excel in the NBA, and early signs raise some doubts about that trajectory.

10. Keaton Wagler, LA Clippers

2026 draft pick: 5

Wagler illustrates why summer league results should not be overemphasized. I saw him labor through six quarters in Vegas before he exited at halftime of his second game to catch a flight, only to score 18 points in a quarter right after I departed the gym.

At 6-foot-5 and 188 pounds, with a smooth three-point stroke (35 percent at summer league) and smart pick-and-roll passing, Wagler projects as an NBA lead creator. However, he stayed too passive for stretches in Vegas, and limited explosiveness kept him from creating separation.

Even his 18-point quarter came mostly from beyond the arc; Wagler hit just 33 percent (7-for-21) of his two-point tries at summer league, pointing to a rookie campaign more like Egor Demin's in Brooklyn than a Rookie of the Year push.

9. Kingston Flemings, Atlanta Hawks

2026 draft pick: 8

Flemings ranked as the top defender among lottery guards in Vegas, staying with opposing guards and holding his own when switched onto bigs. Nets forward Danny Wolf is not the strongest post presence, but Flemings still stole the ball from the 6-foot-11 player after a late switch in a tight contest.

Questions remain about Flemings' offense. He scored at all three levels in one summer-league half and stayed composed under pressure, yet he seemed reluctant to drive left and posted modest efficiency (32 percent from the field, including Salt Lake City games).

8. Morez Johnson Jr., Dallas Mavericks

2026 draft pick: 9

Johnson stood out in summer league despite appearing in only two games. He made several advanced reads from the short roll and shot efficiently inside, converting 75 percent (15-for-20) of his two-point attempts.

His defense was even stronger, with six blocks and five steals across two games. (Johnson may have been overly aggressive at times, picking up six fouls by midway through the third quarter of his debut.)

His jump shot requires refinement, as many three-pointers were off to the side rather than short or long. Still, for a prospect viewed as a reach at No. 9 on draft night, Johnson made notable progress in Vegas.

7. Yaxel Lendeborg, Golden State Warriors

2026 draft pick: 11

Because this ranking measures present standing, it is logical that the 23-year-old Lendeborg would appear more NBA-ready than many younger players drafted ahead of him.

His NBA-ready tools include capable passing, solid defense and a promising three-point shot, all of which should aid his fit with a veteran Warriors roster.

Lendeborg shone most in transition, driving with power and absorbing contact at the rim. One such drive, finishing over Cameron Boozer with ease, appeared on summer-league highlight reels, and similar plays occurred often in Warriors games.

6. Mikel Brown Jr., Brooklyn Nets

2026 draft pick: 6

Brown lacked the flashy highlights of players picked above him at No. 6, but he delivered a balanced two-way showing at summer league. Defensively he created turnovers and held firm in isolation situations.

Offensively, Brown looked at ease creating his own shot and moved more smoothly to his spots than many guards in this class. He appears to hold the highest upside among the Nets' many young players.

5. Brayden Burries, Milwaukee Bucks

2026 draft pick: 10

Amid a setting filled with inexperienced players making rookie mistakes, Burries rarely erred in Las Vegas. The 20-year-old ranked among the best rookie guards at summer league, averaging 22.3 points on 50 percent shooting (44 percent from three) while posting 12 assists against just one turnover.

On a roster featuring Tyler Herro, Ryan Rollins, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kevin Porter Jr. and Kasparas Jakucionis, Burries' on-ball chances as a rookie remain uncertain. The No. 10 pick has earned an extended opportunity after his summer-league work.

4. Caleb Wilson, Chicago Bulls

2026 draft pick: 4

Wilson's 48 percent mark from three should not spark premature excitement, as summer-league three-point percentage shows almost no link to regular-season results.

Still, Wilson's 8.3 three-point attempts per game matter after he shot just 7-for-27 from deep in 24 college contests. The most reliable summer-league statistic is three-point attempt rate, and nearly half of Wilson's shots this summer came from beyond the arc. His offense may already feature a fresh dimension in the NBA compared with college.

Other signs are less encouraging, which is why Wilson ranks fourth rather than rising above his draft slot. He recorded just five assists to 13 turnovers in Vegas and shot a poor 23 percent (3-for-13) from the free-throw line. His nine blocks in three games were a clear positive, showing excellent recovery speed on one transition swat after a sloppy turnover, yet his defensive impact should not be overstated since he did not dominate as an every-possession one-on-one defender.

3. Darryn Peterson, Utah Jazz

2026 draft pick: 2

Peterson performed better in a pair of Salt Lake City summer-league games than in Las Vegas, where turnovers and foul trouble hindered him. His shaky handle was noticeable in person, so sharing ballhandling duties with Keyonte George rather than running the offense alone could boost his rookie efficiency.

Peterson still displayed shooting range and bursts of elite explosiveness that hint at his upside as an NBA-ready scorer. In one play versus the Clippers, he drove from the three-point line to the basket in an instant and finished with a powerful dunk over a defender.

He also matched No. 1 pick A.J. Dybantsa for the lead in free-throw attempts in Vegas, a positive indicator of his ability to reach the rim and create scoring chances.

2. Cameron Boozer, Memphis Grizzlies

2026 draft pick: 3

Boozer is not draining pull-up threes like Wilson or exploding past defenders like Peterson or Dybantsa, yet he fills the stat sheet with averages of 18.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.3 steals.

One trait that stands out in person is Boozer's size (6-8, 253) and speed, which was also clear during his NBA combine drills in May. Boozer looks imposing on one-on-one defense, where he is nimble enough to guard quicker wings and strong enough to challenge more physical bigs.

Boozer's jump shot did not always drop in Vegas, but it appeared smooth, and he posted a true-shooting mark above 60 percent on offense. He should contend for Rookie of the Year this season despite a perceived lower ceiling than Peterson or Dybantsa.

1. AJ Dybantsa, Washington Wizards

2026 draft pick: 1

The No. 1 pick earned the top spot even though he attempted too many low-efficiency midrange jumpers in Vegas. No other player created as many highlight sequences as Dybantsa: a confident reverse layup in the opening minute of his first game; an inside-out dribble that froze one defender, followed by an up-and-under to split two more for a layup; and an instinctive behind-the-back pass with his left hand that led to a transition bucket.

Dybantsa reached the paint at will in his two summer-league games, generating points and drawing fouls. He must refine his shot selection, and he occasionally appeared stiff in his defensive stance, getting caught on screens a couple times while guarding ball handlers, but watching Dybantsa makes his superstar potential immediately evident.

The biggest question after summer league is whether Dybantsa will receive comparable on-ball chances in the regular season. He often brought the ball up as the Wizards' primary initiator in Vegas, but the team is committed to Trae Young for the next four years. How those two stars mesh will be a compelling storyline to follow in Washington.