The Association: Caleb Wilson, Cameron Boozer provide preseason progress report
The crew breaks down Caleb Wilson and Cameron Boozer, discussing their Friday night performances and what stood out.
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Welcome to the 2026-27 NBA Kia Rookie Ladder.
Headed into the 2026 NBA Draft, this year’s rookie class was considered deep – especially in the lottery and among the top four draft picks, each of whom made a case they could have been the No. 1 overall selection.
The Washington Wizards selected AJ Dybantsa with the No. 1 overall pick, the Utah Jazz took Darryn Peterson at No. 2, the Memphis Grizzlies went with Cam Boozer third and the Chicago Bulls drafted Caleb Wilson at No. 4.
In this season’s initial Rookie Ladder, we’re going to take a look at the lottery picks and what’s been said about them as the start of the regular season approaches. Be assured, though: rookies, regardless of draft position, will be noted for their achievements in NBA.com’s Rookie Ladder throughout the season.
No. 14 Pick | Hannes Steinbach, Charlotte Hornets forward
The good words from Hornets coach Charles Lee: “You get to coach him. He wants to be coached, which is really exciting. … We want to continue to push him and his voice and his communication in defensive coverages because he’s capable. He’s got the strength. He’s got the foot speed to move laterally. It’s just the communication and how fast he can pick up on all these sets that are happening. Offensively, we got to see he’s got a great motor. He’s rim-running. He’s able to seal. He’s got really good hands [and] touch around the basket. Really excited about the versatility that Hannes brings.”
No. 13 Pick | Nate Ament, Milwaukee Bucks forward
The good words from Bucks general manager Jon Horst: “I thought he played on a team, respectfully a very good [Tennessee] team, but where he could clearly have been the best player every single night and played in a way in which he would go dominate. And he has an assertiveness to himself and a belief and a confidence, but he did what Coach (Rick) Barnes asked him. … He was really trying to be a great teammate. And then, to me, once he found his grounding, his comfort, you saw him explode.”
No. 12 Pick | Aday Mara, Oklahoma City Thunder
The good words from Thunder guard Alex Caruso: “Aday’s just a monster, obviously. There are times where you think you have it and he just grabs the ball. He puts it in or shoots a floater. No one is touching it. He can pass, he can dribble (and) has a good understanding of how people are moving off of him. You don’t see that watching him play in college just because it’s a different game.”
No. 11 Pick | Yaxel Lendeborg, Golden State Warriors
Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg getting buckets in preseason action vs. Kings
Highlights from Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg in preseason action at home vs. the Kings
The good words from Warriors coach Steve Kerr: “Yaxel had a great summer not only in Summer League, but in our building – pick-up games, individual work. He’s clearly going to play a ton. He gives us the size and the versatility that we need. He can guard bigs. He can guard wings. He’s a connector on offense, a really good passer, ball handler. I always try to check boxes with guys – dribble, pass, shoot, process. He checks all those boxes.”
No. 10 Pick | Brayden Burries, Milwaukee Bucks
The good words from Bucks coach Taylor Jenkins: “There’s a responsibility that really comes with being a guard in our system and in our program. There’s different ways to be a leader on a team, but obviously when you’re on the court, when you’re a lead guard and that opportunity earned, you got to take on the responsibility, not just offensively from organization and setting up your teammates but within our style of play. What I love about Brayden is his ability to impact on both sides of the floor. This guy wants to be a point-of-attack defender. He wants to be a team defender. It’s infectious.”
No. 9 Pick | Morez Johnson Jr., Dallas Mavericks
The good words from Mavericks coach Dusty May: “I know one of the things that makes him so valuable is he checks a lot of boxes. Whatever that moment needs, or that game needs, or what the team needs, he is adaptable. He transformed his game last year for us (at Michigan) because of his adaptability, but the things that make ‘Rez, ‘Rez, are his tenacity, his heart, his physicality (and) doing whatever it takes to win and assist his teammates.”
No. 8 Pick | Kingston Flemings, Atlanta Hawks
The good words from Hawks guard CJ McCollum: “He’s super smart. Very ahead of his time in terms of his demeanor, how he approaches the game, his work ethic. … He’s very responsive. He asks questions. He cares. That’s really important. A lot of people ask me, ‘Well, what do you think?’ First, you have to draw a line in the sand. Do they care or do they not care? Do they like it or do they love it? The work ethic is there. The caring factor is there. The talent is through the roof. Now, it’s about processing the game.”
No. 7 Pick | Darius Acuff Jr., Sacramento Kings
Darius Acuff Jr. pours in 25 against Warriors in preseason action
Highlights From Kings' rookie Darius Acuff Jr.'s 25-point game in preseason action vs. Golden State.
The good words from Kings coach Doug Christie: “When you are young like that, finding a routine early, it’s paramount because it dictates how everything goes from that point. It’s like the roots in the ground. And if you get solid roots, you can weather all the storms. And he’s that in a lot of ways already. I’m in early and I look down and I see him, and I smile, and he’s in late. I’m super excited for him, but a routine is a big one. I was not what I see in him athletically. He’s very polished. He wants to be really good, and we want to make sure that we put around him everything that helps him accomplish that.”
No. 6 Pick | Mikel Brown Jr., Brooklyn Nets
The good words from Mikel Brown Jr.: “I feel like I fit in well just because they see the work that I put in. They see that I’m a savant when it comes to this stuff. I’m watching a lot of film and just constantly trying to learn their game, learn Julius’s (Randle) game, learn Egor’s (Demin), everybody’s game, just to try to put them in the best position to be successful. That just goes a long way in itself. And they’ve told me, ‘We need you to speak up more. We need you to be more communicative. We need that this year.’ And Julius has pushed me to that, and Julius has been on me about it, and I’m rolling with him.”
No. 5 Pick | Keaton Wagler, Los Angeles Clippers
The good words from Clippers coach Ty Lue: “Just the first thing … to embody winning and playing hard competing, and he did that in college and now this is a whole new level, whole new experience for him. But he’s been here since day one. We’re talking about one of those guys (who’s) been here for two or three months just trying to get better, trying to soak it all in. And he’s been phenomenal. He’s gotten a lot better. We understand how we need to use him early on to help him develop. … We’re going to have fun. We’re going to enjoy it.”
No. 4 Pick | Caleb Wilson, Chicago Bulls
Caleb Wilson takes over with 12 points in the third
Caleb Wilson finds his rhythm and pours in 12 points in the third quarter.
The good words from Bulls executive vice president of basketball operations Bryson Graham: “The expectations are probably pretty high because Caleb is pretty outspoken, but internally we know it’s a season of growth, of development. We have to be OK with giving him grace because he’s doing to have some ups and downs. There is going to be some progress, and there is going to be some regression. But are we going to be like, ‘Caleb, get out of the game, you turned the ball over.’ No. That’s where we are. That’s the building phase.”
No. 3 Pick | Cameron Boozer, Memphis Grizzlies
The good words from Grizzlies coach Tuomas Iisalo: “His passing is already at a very, very high level, and that’ll be something that we definitely utilize. It is really more like pruning certain things, not starting with everything but going step by step, because we have to understand that, even though he is very developed for his age both mentally and physically, he is a 19-year-old going into his first NBA year, and there will be an adjustment period for him.”
No. 2 Pick | Darryn Peterson, Utah Jazz
Darryn Peterson pours in 23 points in Utah
Highlights of Darryn Peterson's preseason game against the Nuggets in Utah.
The good words from Jazz president of basketball operations Austin Ainge: “He has brought intensity, work ethic, and maturity that is unique. The NBA is hard on rookies, and he’s going to have some ups and downs this year, but we believe in his character and approach and think he will handle all the ups and downs and figure it out.”
No. 1 Pick | AJ Dybantsa, Washington Wizards
Highlights from Wizards' rookie AJ Dybantsa's preseason game vs. Detroit
Top plays from Wizards rookie AJ Dybantsa in preseason action against the Detroit Pistons.
The good words from Wizards forward-center Anthony Davis: “He’s ready for it. He’s got all the tools to be successful in this league. He’s a very special talent – can defend, can make any shot. You’ve seen a little bit in Summer League and throughout his tenure in college, but AJ has a special talent, and he wants it. He works very hard. He listens, he’s dedicated and motivated. I try to not give him too much and kind of stay out of the way but try to give him enough where he can go in a game and do what he has to do.”
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Jeff Zillgitt has covered the NBA since 2008. You can email him at jzillgitt@nba.com, find his archive here and follow him on X.
