Can the 2026 NBA Draft join basketball’s greatest classes?

DUBAI: The class of 1984 produced Michael Jordan, Hakeem Olajuwon, Charles Barkley and John Stockton. Twelve years later, the celebrated 1996 draft delivered Kobe Bryant, Allen Iverson, Steve Nash and Ray Allen. In 2003, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony and Chris Bosh entered the NBA together.

Now, the basketball world is asking where the class of 2026 might eventually fit.

Headlined by No. 1 overall pick AJ Dybantsa, the latest draft arrived with expectations rarely seen in recent years. Many scouts and analysts have described the 2026 class as one of the deepest and most talented groups to enter the league in more than a decade.

History, however, suggests draft classes are remembered for more than their headline names. Kobe Bryant was selected 13th overall in 1996, while Nikola Jokic slipped to the 41st pick in 2014 before becoming one of the defining players of his generation.

Dybantsa enters the NBA as the face of the class.

The 19-year-old forward was selected first overall by the Washington Wizards after averaging 25.5 points per game at BYU and breaking the program’s freshman scoring record. Standing 6-foot-9, he combines size, athleticism and scoring ability in a way that has made him one of the most coveted prospects in recent memory.

Last summer, Dybantsa led the US to gold at the FIBA U-19 World Cup and was named the tournament’s MVP. Widely viewed as a potential franchise cornerstone, he has earned praise for his ability to impact the game on both ends of the floor.

The Brockton, Massachusetts native, whose father is Congolese and mother Jamaican, has frequently spoken about the sacrifices his family made throughout his journey. Following his selection, Dybantsa paid tribute to his father,