Jordan Swain Goes No. 15 to Bulls in 2026 NBA Draft

From Houston to Austin, NBA Draft night always lands with extra juice in Texas, and Thursday brought a big moment for the Longhorns. Jordan Swain heard his name called at No. 15 when the Chicago Bulls made him a first-round pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, giving the University of Texas another player on the league stage.

That matters across the state because Texas basketball keeps producing pros, and Swain now joins that pipeline as one of the top 15 selections in his class. For UT, a first-round draft spot is a clear marker of where the program stands nationally and a reminder that its roster can develop players for the next level.

Jordan Swain gives Texas another first-round draft pick

Swain’s selection at No. 15 puts him in a strong spot with a franchise that has been searching for young talent to build around. Chicago used a mid-first-round pick on a player Texas supporters watched grow into an NBA prospect, and that draft position comes with expectations right away.

The University of Texas Athletics announcement centered on the basic headline: Swain is headed to the Bulls. The school’s release highlights another draft-night milestone for the program, and it gives Texas a fresh recruiting and development talking point as future prospects weigh their college options.

Chicago lands a guard with proven college production

Getting picked 15th means Swain was firmly in the first-round conversation before the draft began, and Chicago decided he fit its board better than the players still available. That slot also brings guaranteed attention during Summer League, training camp, and the early part of the Bulls’ roster build.

For readers in Houston following college basketball around the state, this is one of those results that travels beyond Austin. Texas, Houston, and the rest of the state continue to feed talent into the NBA, and Swain’s name now moves from the college game to a league market that expects immediate growth from its young pieces.

What comes next for Swain and the Bulls

The next steps are concrete. Swain will enter the Bulls’ offseason program, then move into Summer League action as Chicago starts evaluating how fast he can help the rotation. Draft status gives him a clear runway, but the work shifts quickly from draft boards to roster competition.

Texas will also carry this night forward on the trail and in program messaging. A top-15 pick gives the Longhorns another recent proof point as they sell player development, and Swain now starts the next chapter in a Bulls uniform.

This article is a summary of reporting by University of Texas Athletics. Read the full story here.