WDKB's 2026 NBA Draft Reactions
Welcome to the 2026 edition of Marisa’s WNBA draft reactions! You can read the 2025 edition in the WDKB archives.
Here are my uninformed pre-draft ‘fit predictions:
AJ Dybantsa has said that he’s wearing a black suit, which he says will go well with the black drafted team hats. This sounds boring.
From Khalil, back in March 2026: “I’m gonna guess Yaxel Lendeborg and AJ Dybantsa both wear something crazy. Good or bad crazy is yet to be seen.” History has more or less vindicated you, Khalil!
Lasting thoughts from last year:
I still believe that people should wear taller socks.
Tre Johnson more or less brought back draft shorts last year, so I can stop trying to predict that now.
Nique Clifford had one of the worst NBA draft outfits I’ve ever seen, and he followed it up with a fairly disappointing season also. Tough stuff all around.
Last year was a bad draft fashion year; I had an entire category in the power rankings titled “Thank you for pitching me on your timeshare options” which had seven players in it.
Outfit power rankings
Here’s a group photo (and a video) showing all 24 invitees.
S tier - Wow!
AJ Dybantsa’s tasteful floral suit
A tier - Great!
Cameron Boozer
Kingston Flemings
B tier - Adequate or boring or both
Nate Ament
Darryn Peterson
Caleb Wilson
Yaxel Lendeborg
Darius Acuff
Morez Johnson Jr.
Labaron Philon
Bennett Stirtz
Ebuke Okorie
Allen Graves
Karim Lopez (with and without coat)
Cameron Carr
C tier - Huh!
Dailyn Swain
Aday Mara
Christian Anderson
Isaiah Evans (didn’t get drafted today, poor guy)
Hannes Steinbach
Keaton Wagler
Brayden Burries
F tier - I am sorry, I didn’t like it at all
Mikel Brown Jr.
First round draft reactions
Lottery (1–14)
1 - WAS - AJ Dybantsa (BYU)
I really like this outfit as something a little different but still formal. (Bluesky 1, Bluesky 2 )
He said that it’s a custom charcoal grey suit by Kenzo, with floral embroidery. It has a side-tie instead of buttons, which he seems quite happy about; he’s talked about it multiple times. He’s also wearing pins to represent the countries his parents are from: Congo and Jamaica.
It looks like there are 30 people in the Wizards draft room. If I didn’t know it was the NBA draft, I’d have thought it was a corporate training of some kind.
The clock in the arena didn’t match the clock that the broadcast team was working from.
He was announced with his legal name (Anicet Dybantsa), which he said he requested as a homage to his father. (His father is alive and well and present at the draft.)
He looks very happy! His family also looks very happy.
The bedazzled/sequined Wizards draft hats are quite striking.
He’s doing the interview with Lisa Salters as a sit-down, crucially given Lisa’s height, and alongside his two sisters. His older sister has a very 90s look going on between her hair and her eyeshadow.
In a later interview, he said that he’s heard from Alex Sarr and Kyshawn George. He also says that he’s had three haircuts in two days to keep the lineup extra crispy.
2 - UTA - Darryn Peterson (Kansas)
“I stayed calm, I stayed myself” said the man wearing the most normal and classic combo of all time (Bluesky 1, Bluesky 2)
Black double-breasted suit, white shirt, black tie. He also has both a gold pocket square and a white pocket square.
His mom and his sister appear to be wearing matching (though not identical) silver blazers.
Not much was said in his sit-down interview with Lisa Salters. I suppose he is rumored to be a quiet guy.
3 - MEM - Cameron Boozer (Duke)
Very striking all-white suit, shirt, and tie. Light brown shoes. (Bluesky)
Carlos Boozer is wearing a perplexing grey checkered tux, but this writeup is not about him. Cam’s twin brother Cayden is there also, wearing an all-black ensemble. His older brother Carmani is there as well.
Lisa Salters seems extra excited for this interview. They did manage to get everyone in the family sitting back somewhat comfortably on the couch.
Oh, we’re talking about family trauma! Very Holly Rowe of her.
4 - CHI - Caleb Wilson (North Carolina)
5 - LAC (via IND) - Keaton Wagler (Illinois)
This video of his outfit is worth watching for the pile of jewelry on the side table. (Bluesky)
Grey suit, striped shirt, light coral. Orange pocket square, probably Illinois orange. You cannot see most of the jewelry from the video, which is too bad.
Really normal all-black outfits for his parents.
6 - BKN - Mikel Brown Jr. (Louisville)
White suit, baby blue lapels, baby blue vest. Huh. This is a fascinating suit. It has Adidas-esque stripes down the arms. The light blue pants. It’s also a very UNC-coded outfit.
I do like that his parents are wearing cream and navy blue respectively. Sort of coordinated, but not too matchy-matchy.
7 - SAC - Darius Acuff Jr (Arkansas)
Navy suit, white shirt. BIG chain. The pendant lays nicely over the tie. His shirt has some subtle texture that I can’t quite make out.
He and his family are wearing matching sunglasses, which is very cute.
8 - ATL (via NOP) - Kingston Flemings (Houston)
Burgundy suit with gold pinstripes, which is a bit of a subtle detail. (Bluesky)
“Deceptively athletic” is how ESPN described him, which is never the exact way that you want to be described.
His dad is wearing a navy suit with a burgundy tie, and his mom is wearing a red satin dress. Family color coordination!
Also, his sister is going to be a freshman at Duke!
9 - DAL - Morez Johnson Jr. (Michigan)
New Mavericks head coach Dusty May is also present at the draft. This is very convenient since Morez Johnson went to Michigan.
Here’s Morez Johnson on his suit arriving today before the draft.
His last-minute outfit is a burgundy suit, white shirt, no tie. Gold Michigan brooch.
He seems really happy and really excited! The opportunity to reunite with his college head coach seems exciting for him; “Michigan Mavs” is what he said.
10 - MIL - Brayden Burries (Arizona)
The Bucks green room took “green room” a little too literally; it’s Wicked in there.
Black suit, red satin shirt, red tie, red vest. Rather striking. (Bluesky)
I do feel like draftees have gone away from the accent color outfits over recent years, so I guess it’s a little bit of a throwback, but not to a particularly fashionable era.
His parents are both wearing all-black outfits. Apparently they met as student-athletes at Cal State Bernardino, which is cute.
Also, there’s a wall of framed photos behind the couch, and they change out the photos for each player.
11 - GSW - Yaxel Lendeborg (Michigan)
Well, I thought there were a lot of people in the room for the Wizards, but it looks like there are just as many people in the room for the Warriors. You can see Mike Dunleavy Jr. on the phone.
As many people predicted!
He’s wearing Express, a custom cream suit. Grey tie? Brown tie? Can’t quite tell the color. Sunglasses, naturally. (He did take the sunglasses off to cry, which I think he promised earlier on the broadcast that he would do.)
Family trauma mention. I hope his mom kicks cancer’s butt.
12 - OKC (via LAC via PHI) - Aday Mara (Michigan)
The concept of the Oklahoma City Thunder is being booed in absentia.
Tan suit, double-breasted, with what looks like a red tartan pocket square. Unsure of the brand, sounds French based on what he said during an interview earlier today.
Both of his parents also appear to be very tall; his dad is struggling to keep his butt on the sofa.
13 - MIA (to MIL, unfinalized) - Nate Ament (Tennessee)
Ament is wearing a black double-breasted suit with huge lapels, a black shirt, and black tie (Bluesky). He mentions in the video that the outfit is sponsored by Visit Rwanda, since his mom is from Rwanda. The combination of the double-breasted suit and the huge lapels makes for a striking neckline, a little villainous.
This is Miami’s pick that’s purportedly going to Milwaukee in the Giannis trade.
He’s on the phone! (He later said that he was on the phone with the Milwaukee front office.) His brothers look a lot like him.
Oh, a LOT of family trauma discussion.
He stood up at the end of the interview to hug Lisa Salters, and absolutely dwarfed her.
Adam Silver scared me when he said he had a trade to announce, but it was just the Giannis trade.
14 - CHA - Hannes Steinbach (Washington)
Navy suit, navy tie, white shirt. He looks like he is going to sell me an insurance plan.
He gets a special video message from Dirk, but the audio isn’t working, at least for those of us at home, so what he said will remain a mystery. The connection is that Steinbach’s dad was teammates with Dirk in their youth.
Rest of the first round (15–30)
15 - CHI (via POR) - Dailyn Swain (Texas)
Burgundy suit, burgundy shirt, no vest. Double-breasted. It’s completely monochromatic except for the shoes, which is unusual.
He looks quite emotional. Happy for him!
16 - MEM (to OKC, via PHX via ORL) - Bennett Stirtz (Iowa)
Cream suit, unbuttoned jacket, dark brown tie. He is wearing a lapel pin but I can’t tell what it is. (He did button the jacket to go on stage.)
Would it be too mean to call this outfit “stockbroker on vacation?”
Shams says that Memphis is trading Stirtz to Oklahoma City for the 17th pick and two second-round picks.
17 - OKC (to DET, via MEM via PHI) - Ebuka Okorie (Stanford)
Charcoal suit, charcoal vest, lavender shirt, purple tie, what looks like a lavender pocket square. Thanks for wearing Valkyries Violet on the big stage!
Shams is now saying that Ebuka Okorie is on the way to Detroit in exchange for even more second-round picks?
18 - CHA (via ORL via PHX) - Christian Anderson Jr. (Texas Tech)
Grey suit, white undershirt, no tie, diamond tennis necklace.
He has a nice moment with Hannes Steinbach’s dad on his way up to the stage, since Anderson plays for the German national team, presumably alongside Hannes Steinbach.
19 - TOR - Allen Graves (Santa Clara)
Black suit with grey pinstripes, white shirt, black vest, black tie. Pocketwatch?
He was drafted at the same position as fellow Santa Clara Bronco Brandin Podziemski, which is kind of funny.
20 - SAS (via ATL) - Jayden Quaintance (Kentucky)
Hearty boos for the Spurs in absentia.
Quaintance is not at the draft. Wikipedia says that his favorite anime is One Piece, which is elite taste.
21 - DET (to MEM, via MIN) - Karim Lopez (New Zealand Breakers/Mexico)
In this video from earlier today, he looks like he’s wearing a trench coat. He looks a bit like a cartoon villain. (Bluesky)
It turns out he’s actually wearing the coat over a regular suit jacket. Without the coat, it’s a pretty normal black suit with a white collared shirt. The jacket has a custom lining. Beautiful pearl and diamond brooch.
He’s being traded to Memphis, I guess.
22 - PHI (via HOU via OKC) - Labaron Philon Jr. (Alabama)
Adam Silver slipped a bit and said “the Philadelphia Seventy-selectors” which is a bit funny.
Cropped black suit jacket, white shirt, skinny black tie. BIG lapels. Unbuttoned to show the Gucci belt and the chain. Cool hexagonal glasses, too.
His family and entourage are all wearing all-black outfits.
He’s very emotional!
23 - ATL (via CLE) - Zuby Ejiofor (St. John’s)
He is not at the draft.
24 - NYK (to LAL) - Cameron Carr (Baylor)
The Knicks are trading this pick to the Lakers for the #25 pick.
Black double-breasted suit, black shirt, black tie. Not much to say about it.
25 - LAL (to NYK) - Sergio De Larrera (Spain)
The Lakers are trading this pick to the Knicks for the #24 pick.
He is not at the draft; he is embroiled in the Spanish league finals.
26 - DEN (to SAS) - Tarris Reed Jr. (UConn)
He is not at the draft.
This pick is being traded to San Antonio for the 35th pick and some other stuff.
27 - BOS - Chris Cenac Jr. (Houston)
Tan checkered suit, burgundy tie, very large burgundy pocket square.
The ESPN broadcast kept cutting to him and he kept looking increasingly sweaty. After seeing more footage of him though, I think that’s just how his face looks, a little doleful.
28 - MIN (to BKN via DET) - Joshua Jefferson (Iowa State)
Joshua Jefferson is in the crowd! Another burgundy suit, with a black shirt, black tie, and black pocket square. The suit jacket is way too tight, it’s gapping a lot in the chest.
29 - CLE (to SAC, via SAS via ATL) - Alex Karaban (UConn)
Purportedly this pick is going to the Kings.
He is not at the draft.
30 - DAL (via OKC via WAS via PHI) - Koa Peat (Arizona)
He is not at the draft.
Day 1 bonus fits:
Malika Andrews is wearing a sage green suit over a white satin draped shirt. She does have a very neat leopard-shaped gold brooch, which takes up about half of the lapel.
Adam Silver always looks like he’s wearing transition glasses even if he isn’t actually. He is wearing an extremely normal Adam Silver outfit, which is to say a navy blue suit with a white shirt and a navy blue tie with a very light texture that’s only visible up close.
Andraya Carter is wearing a black tuxedo-style blazer with black satin lapels. She has a lovely serpentine silver brooch. Big year for brooches all around.
That's it for today, and for this year’s draft coverage! I have very important things to do tomorrow (watching the Golden State Valkyries try to beat the Atlanta Dream) and I will never love an NBA second-round pick or their outfit as much as I love Gabby Williams and Veronica Burton.
Until next time!