Denver Nuggets mock draft round up: Final prediction for No. 26 pick on draft day

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

It's officially time for the NBA's next generation to make their grand entrance. With just a few hours left until the 2026 NBA Draft , fans will soon know exactly where each prospect will begin their professional careers.

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 Denver Nuggets.

Denver Nuggets 2026 draft picks

• No. 26 and No. 49 (via ATL)

Denver Nuggets 2026 NBA Draft prediction: Pick No. 26 overall, Meleek Thomas, G, Arkansas

Kalbrosky's Analysis:

The Denver Nuggets tend to look for players with a strong assist-to-usage ratio because they rely on high-efficiency passing and off-ball movement. Arkansas freshman Meleek Thomas averaged 16.0 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.5 steals per game while shooting 43.2 percent on 3-pointers during his 21 games as a starter last season. He was efficient using off-ball screens and handoffs and occasionally showed some on-ball flashes as a pick-and-roll ball handler as well. He led the SEC in corner 3-pointers made (32) last season, per CBB Analytics, and his plus-four wingspan gives him solid length as a young guard who is still improving on both sides of the court. Thomas answered one of the biggest questions in college basketball when he decided to turn pro rather than return to the NCAA.

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

Meleek Thomas player profile

• Position: Guard
• Previous Team: Arkansas
• 15.6 points per game
• 3.8 rebounds per game
• 2.5 assists per game
• 43.5 field goal percentage
• 41.6 three-point field goal percentage

2026 Denver Nuggets mock draft roundup

• April 6: Thomas Haugh
• April 13: Thomas Haugh
• April 28: Isaiah Evans
• May 8: Cameron Carr
• May 10: Cameron Carr
• May 19: Christian Anderson
• May 28: Christian Anderson
• June 8: Christian Anderson
• June 15: Christian Anderson

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)