Los Angeles Lakers Set to Pick 25th in 2026 NBA Draft

The Los Angeles Lakers’ draft position for the 2026 NBA Draft has been officially confirmed following the NBA Draft Lottery. Los Angeles will select 25th overall after finishing fourth in the Western Conference during the regular season.

The Washington Wizards won the lottery and are widely expected to select BYU standout forward AJ Dybantsa with the No. 1 overall pick. This positions the Lakers toward the latter portion of the first round, where strategic selections can still provide depth and developmental talent.

The Lakers will not have any second-round picks in this draft, having previously traded away their second-round selection. The 2026 NBA Draft is scheduled to take place on June 23-24 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

This draft class is highlighted by several standout prospects, including Kansas’ Darryn Peterson, Duke’s Cam Boozer, UNC’s Caleb Wilson, and Arkansas’ Darius Acuff Jr. These players, among others, are expected to make significant impacts in their rookie seasons and beyond.

For the Lakers, picking at 25th offers the opportunity to target players who can contribute immediately as role players or develop into future rotation pieces, complementing the team’s core as they aim for competitiveness in the Western Conference.