One of the top names being discussed in the 2026 NBA Draft class has been compared to Kobe Bryant, and there are even some who believe he’s further along than Bryant was at this stage.
With the 2025 NBA Draft now finished, attention is already shifting towards the next group of prospects hoping to make their mark over the coming year.
This year, Cooper Flagg stood out as the clear #1 pick in a group loaded with talented players.
But next year looks like a different story. Quite a few experts are backing Darryn Peterson to go #1 ahead of AJ Dybantsa.
And leading up to the draft, Peterson is drawing comparisons to one of basketball’s all-time greats: Kobe Bryant.
ESPN’s Paul Biancardi made it clear that he doesn’t think those comparisons are far off at all. In fact, he went so far as to say that Peterson is ahead of where Kobe was at this point in his career.
Kobe Bryant vs Darryn Peterson
The comparison between Darryn Peterson and Kobe Bryant isn’t just about skills but also about mindset and approach to development. Both players showed early on that they had the kind of drive you can’t teach – always looking for ways to get better and accepting any role needed within their teams without fussing about stats or playing time.
Peterson’s not trying to be another Kobe clone – he’s doing things his own way, trusting what he’s learned through hard work rather than copying someone else. It’s still early days for him, but everything points towards a bright future if he keeps developing like this – just as many expected from him coming out of high school.
Darryn Peterson drawing early Kobe Bryant comparisons ahead of 2026 draft
Brooklyn Nets outlet NetsKingdom recently shared a podcast clip focusing on the 2026 NBA Draft class, highlighting the growing comparisons between Darryn Peterson and Kobe Bryant.
The hosts pointed out that while Peterson shares many of the skills seen in Kobe and his followers like Devin Booker and Jayson Tatum, he also brings a passing ability that wasn’t part of Kobe’s game at the same age.
“When you think about Kobe Bryant, his disciples – Tatum and Booker – those are the guys we saw that were inspired by Kobe the most, and understood his tutelage…”
“With Darryn, he has those pivots, that three-level scoring, that mid-range. He can post-up and have fadeaway shots, clean.”
“But why he separates is because he’s still so young, and he’s so much more polished than most of those guys were.
“You think about when Kobe was his age, and this is evolution at its finest. Kobe didn’t have that playmaking bag that Darryn has.”
Kansas will be key for Darryn Peterson’s development
Darryn Peterson is set to play for the Kansas Jayhawks, a programme with a rich basketball tradition. It’s an environment that should give him every opportunity to round out his game.
The main areas for improvement are clear: playmaking, shooting, and defense – all crucial skills in today’s NBA landscape.
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If he manages to show growth in those areas at the college level, it should put him in a strong position to be the top pick in the draft.
From there, his path will depend on which organisation lands the number one pick and how they choose to build around their selection.
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