Noam Yaakov Rises to New High in 2026 NBA Draft Projections

Draft analyst Sam Vecenie of The Athletic has given Israeli guard Noam Yaakov his highest placement yet in a major 2026 NBA draft board, ranking him 47th among the top 100 prospects and labeling him a player who should get a Two-Way contract. Vecenie published the list on Sunday night, and it marked a jump from the 51st spot he assigned Yaakov a few weeks earlier. ESPN’s ranking has Yaakov at No. 59.

Vecenie wrote that Yaakov is “one of the most exciting players in the draft,” but said he has benefited from playing in a league where no one has the athleticism to stop him. He described Yaakov as very creative but still not fully developed, saying he needs to create easier shots for himself. Vecenie added that Yaakov’s ball-handling gives him long-term upside, which matters in a draft he views as lacking depth after the first round.

If Yaakov is not selected in the draft and does not land a contract through the Summer League, he is expected to play next season at the University of Utah. Emmanuel Sharp was ranked 33rd by Vecenie. At this stage, there is broad agreement among analysts that Yaakov should go early in the second round, with the New York Knicks, who hold the 31st pick, mentioned as one of the leading possible destinations.