Houston traded up and took Bruce Thornton with the 31st overall pick on June 24, putting the Ohio State guard in the first pick of the second round of the 2026 NBA Draft. Thornton was in attendance at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn when Mark Tatum called his name.
Bruce Thornton and Houston
Thornton said the moment carried the weight of every step that got him there: "Just to hug my mom, just to say we made it, all the sacrifices were definitely worth it". He added, "I'm just trying to be a winner. I'm just trying to win games and impact winning as much as I possibly can."
He also said, "I know it's going to be tough, but I'm built for the moment." That is the profile Houston bought at No. 31: a player projected in the second round, but taken a slot earlier in the round after the trade up.
Ohio State and Bruce Thornton
The pick made Thornton the 57th Ohio State player selected in the NBA draft and the first Buckeye taken since Brice Sensabaugh went No. 28 in the 2023 draft. It also closed his college career with the men's all-time scoring record at Ohio State, a marker he set in a senior day win.
Thornton arrived at Ohio State as a four-star prospect and the No. 51 national player in the 2022 class, then became the first four-time captain in school history. He played 136 career games and started all 136, missing only one game because of a migraine during his junior season.
Jay Bilas on the pick
Jay Bilas called Thornton "a good bet" to be an NBA rotation player and described him as a winner who gets things done. He also said, "He's one of the most respected players and competitors in college basketball, not only for the last four years but for a long, long time. He's tough and efficient."
That view lines up with Thornton's Ohio State numbers: 15.9 points, 4.0 assists and 3.7 rebounds in his career, plus shooting splits of 48.6% from the floor, 38.1% from 3 and 82.9% from the free-throw line. As a senior, he averaged 19.9 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.9 assists while helping Ohio State return to the NCAA Tournament after a three-year absence.
Jake Diebler said during Vet Week that he told NBA scouts and decision-makers, "there's not a lot of guarantees in this but I can guarantee you your coach is going to love Bruce Thornton". He added, "He’s going to work hard every single day and he’s going to impact winning every single day."
For Houston, the choice brought in a guard with a long record of production and a clean role definition: efficient offense, steady leadership and a history of handling pressure. The unanswered part is the exact NBA role he will play, but the draft slot and the trade up made one thing clear — Houston wanted him before the second round settled.
