Swain is on his way to the Windy City.
Former Texas Longhorns guard Dailyn Swain has been drafted No. 15 overall in the 2026 NBA Draft by the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday in Brooklyn, New York.
Swain joins No. 4 overall pick Caleb Wilson and a Bulls front office that has undergone a complete remodel, which hopes to bring a bright future to one of the league's most notable franchise brands in a major market.
Swain becomes the third Longhorns player to be drafted in the first round since 2021. Overall, Swain is the 22nd Texas Ex to enter the NBA as a first-rounder.
Last year, sharpshooter Tre Johnson was a high lottery pick before carving out a nice role with the Washington Wizards, who chose BYU's AJ Dybantsa first overall on Tuesday.
After following coach Sean Miller from Xavier to Texas in 2025, Swain's breakout year in Austin saw him post 17.3 points and 7.5 rebounds per game, which guided the Horns to a Sweet 16 berth and now makes him a first-round draft pick.
According to ESPN's Jeff Borzello, Swain was "two feet in" to the process after a strong showing at the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago.
Swain's measurements tell the story of why he's taking his career into the professional ranks.
This year's SEC Newcomer of the Year was listed at 6-6.5 without shoes and possessed a noteworthy 6-10 wingspan. At 211 pounds, he can fill out his frame to better handle the NBA's physicality, but his skills are expected to translate easily.
"I think I'll be pretty comfortable," Swain said about likely playing off the ball as a shooting guard or small forward.
"Like, my first two years in college was more off the ball, being a really good cutter, having a good feel for the game ... I think with the improved shooting, how I've improved every single year in college with that, I'll be able to impact more off the ball at the next level, for sure."
In his lone season with the Longhorns, Swain shot 54 percent from the field, routinely showing that he knows how to finish at the rim and rise up from his spots in the midrange. Though he's never been known as a knock-down 3-point shooter, the improvements, as he mentioned, are drastic.
He shot under 20 percent in limited opportunities as a freshman. In Year 2 at Xavier, he rose to 25 percent on less shot attempts, then at Texas hit 34.4 percent of his triples on over two and a half attempts a night.
Overall, he aims to bring a well-rounded repertoire that impacts winning.
"Honestly, just being able to play team ball, play together with players from all across the country, just building chemistry in one day," Swain said about what his game provides.
"Definitely athleticism, defensive versatility, being able to grab the ball on the defensive rebound, push it up the court, make plays for myself and others."
