Toronto Raptors Select Allen Graves in the First Round of the 2026 NBA Draft

Allen Graves arrives for the first round of the NBA basketball draft Tuesday, June 23, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

With the No. 19 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, the Toronto Raptors selected former Santa Clara standout Allen Graves. 

Graves becomes the third Santa Clara player chosen in the first round in the last five years, joining Oklahoma City Thunder guard Jalen Williams ’22, selected in 2022, and Golden State Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski, selected in 2023. 

This past season at Santa Clara, Graves started just four of 35 games, but averaged 11.8 points and 6.5 rebounds in 22.6 minutes per game while shooting 51% from the floor and 41% from 3-point range. 

He played a key role in leading Santa Clara to its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1996. In the Broncos’ first-round matchup against the University of Kentucky, Graves scored 17 points and grabbed seven rebounds, including a clutch 3-pointer with 2.4 seconds remaining. 

That performance helped elevate Graves’ draft stock late in the season. Shortly after his standout finish, he entered his name in the NBA draft while retaining his college eligibility.   

Graves told ESPN’s Jeff Borzello that Louisiana State University and Duke University were among the schools that reached out to him during the transfer portal process. According to Forbes, Graves could have made more than $5 million if he had stayed in college, but he ultimately decided to remain in the NBA draft. 

Graves leaves Santa Clara as one of the program’s latest success stories, ready to begin his professional career with the Toronto Raptors.