Allen Graves mock draft: Final prediction for Santa Clara star on draft day

Follow along for live rumors and news from around the league on NBA draft day.

It's almost time for Allen Graves to learn where he'll begin his professional career. The 2026 NBA Draft begins on Tuesday night and Santa Clara fans will be paying close attention.

Following the NBA draft combine and weeks of pre-draft workouts , front offices will finalize their decisions this evening. After extensive conversations with folks around the league, we have more intel on when each prospect might hear their name called during draft nights at Barclays Center for the first round on June 23 and and the second on June 24.

Our mock draft includes data from CBB Analytics . We also spoke with P3 , a sports science and athletic training company that uses biomechanical data and movement profiling to evaluate players and project NBA outcomes, to better understand how certain prospects translate physically to the next level.

While news of two big trades broke late night on Monday, June 22 - one involving Giannis Antetokounmpo and the other involving Julius Randle - neither can be executed until July 6 at 12:01 p.m. ET, which is the start of the new league year. So, those 2026 picks remain with their current teams in our mock draft, although those teams will be selecting players on behalf of their trade partners.

Following conversations with decision-makers around the league and other trusted reporting, here are our latest prediction for the New York Knicks.

Allen Graves 2026 NBA Draft prediction: Pick No. 24 overall, New York Knicks

Kalbrosky's Analysis:

The Knicks have prioritized scrappy, high-motor players capable of winning the possession battle through rebounds and turnovers like Santa Clara freshman Allen Graves. That's an area where Graves stands out among the best in this class and is likely one of the reasons he chose to turn pro rather than return to college. The WCC Rookie of the Year and Sixth Man of the Year turned heads after posting 30 points, 13 rebounds, four assists and two steals on Feb. 7 against Washington State. The only players under 21 with a higher box plus-minus, per Bart Torvik, were Cameron Boozer and Caleb Wilson. All teams that prioritize analytical modeling in the pre-draft process will have this prospect ranked highly, which is why he is often linked even higher than this to teams like the Spurs.

See USA TODAY's final, two-round mock draft here

Allen Graves player profile

• Position: Forward
• Previous Team: Santa Clara
• 11.6 points per game
• 6.5 rebounds per game
• 1.8 assists per game
• 51.7 field goal percentage
• 41.6 three-point field goal percentage

2026 New York Knicks mock draft roundup

• April 6: Chris Cenac Jr.
• April 13: Chris Cenac Jr.
• April 28: Allen Graves
• May 8: Allen Graves
• May 10: Allen Graves
• May 19: Allen Graves
• May 28: Allen Graves
• June 8: Allen Graves
• June 15:Allen Graves / Zuby Ejiofor / Rafael Castro

Slashes indicate multiple first round selections

2026 NBA Draft first round order

1. Washington Wizards
2. Utah Jazz
3. Memphis Grizzlies
4. Chicago Bulls
5. Los Angeles Clippers (via IND)
6. Brooklyn Nets
7. Sacramento Kings
8. Atlanta Hawks (via NOP)
9. Dallas Mavericks
10. Milwaukee Bucks
11. Golden State Warriors
12. Oklahoma City Thunder (via LAC)
13. Milwaukee Bucks (via MIA)
14. Charlotte Hornets
15. Chicago Bulls (via POR)
16. Memphis Grizzlies (via PHX)
17. Oklahoma City Thunder (via PHI)
18. Charlotte Hornets (via ORL)
19. Toronto Raptors
20. San Antonio Spurs (via ATL)
21. Detroit Pistons (via MIN)
22. Philadelphia 76ers (via HOU)
23. Atlanta Hawks (via CLE)
24. New York Knicks
25. Los Angeles Lakers
26. Denver Nuggets
27. Boston Celtics
28. Brooklyn Nets (via DET)
29. Cleveland Cavaliers (via SAS)
30. Dallas Mavericks (via OKC)