The Dallas Mavericks hold the #9 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, and ESPN's draft-eve mock has them taking Nate Ament of Tennessee. Here's why, plus the alternates worth watching.
The Projected Pick: Nate Ament (Tennessee)
ESPN's draft-eve mock has the Dallas Mavericks taking Nate Ament with the #9 pick. Plaque is ready and waiting — when Nate Ament's name gets called Tuesday night, the listing updates to reflect the Dallas Mavericks.
The Team's Other First-Round Picks
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Pick #30: Sergio de Larrea (Valencia)
The Full First-Round Mock
Here's how the rest of the first round projects, with quick links to the plaque for every prospect:
- AJ Dybantsa (BYU) → Washington Wizards
- Darryn Peterson (Kansas) → Utah Jazz
- Cameron Boozer (Duke) → Memphis Grizzlies
- Caleb Wilson (North Carolina) → Chicago Bulls
- Keaton Wagler (Illinois) → LA Clippers
- Mikel Brown Jr (Louisville) → Brooklyn Nets
- Darius Acuff Jr (Arkansas) → Sacramento Kings
- Kingston Flemings (Houston) → Atlanta Hawks
- Nate Ament (Tennessee) → Dallas Mavericks
- Brayden Burries (Arizona) → Milwaukee Bucks
- Aday Mara (Michigan) → Golden State Warriors
- Morez Johnson Jr (Michigan) → Oklahoma City Thunder
- Karim Lopez (New Zealand Breakers) → Miami Heat
- Hannes Steinbach (Washington) → Charlotte Hornets
- Yaxel Lendeborg (Michigan) → Chicago Bulls
- Christian Anderson (Texas Tech) → Memphis Grizzlies
- Bennett Stirtz (Iowa) → Oklahoma City Thunder
- Cameron Carr (Baylor) → Charlotte Hornets
- Allen Graves (Santa Clara) → Toronto Raptors
- Dailyn Swain (Texas) → San Antonio Spurs
- Labaron Philon Jr (Alabama) → Detroit Pistons
- Ebuka Okorie (Stanford) → Philadelphia 76ers
- Chris Cenac Jr (Houston) → Atlanta Hawks
- Henri Veesaar (North Carolina) → New York Knicks
- Isaiah Evans (Duke) → Los Angeles Lakers
- Koa Peat (Arizona) → Denver Nuggets
- Jayden Quaintance (Kentucky) → Boston Celtics
- Meleek Thomas (Arkansas) → Minnesota Timberwolves
- Tarris Reed Jr (UConn) → Cleveland Cavaliers
- Sergio de Larrea (Valencia) → Dallas Mavericks
How to Watch
Round 1 begins Tuesday June 23 at 8 PM ET on ABC and ESPN, live from Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Round 2 follows Wednesday June 24 at 8 PM ET.