The VBA Rookie Draft 2026 has selected 6 rookies to join professional basketball teams competing in the national championship.

The Rookie Draft 2026 event took place. This is the final activity in the nationwide athlete selection series for Vietnam’s professional basketball clubs.

According to the results of a random draw, the VBA Rookie Draft 2026 selected 6 rookies (from 24 candidates) including Lam Binh Duy, Le Trung Bao Khang, Nguyen Hong Son, Tran Minh Tien, Nguyen The Dang, and Lee Ha Hoon (of Korean origin).

The athletes will join 6 clubs: Cantho Catfish, Danang Dragons, Ho Chi Minh City Wings, Nha Trang Dolphins, Saigon Heat, and Hanoi Buffaloes.

After the event, clubs and athletes have a 3-day deadline to negotiate and sign competition contracts. Athletes who sign contracts will receive rewards of up to 20 million VND.

Entering its 11th season, VBA continues its mission of elevating Vietnamese basketball through its athlete selection activities from universities.

The rigorous selection process, based on skills and competitive challenges, chose the final 24 athletes.

VBA 2026 is scheduled to commence in May, with prizes yet to be announced.

This year marks the first time VBA has partnered with FPT Play in organizing the National Professional Basketball Championship. It will pilot the production of high-quality VBA matches with modern, state-of-the-art equipment.

The 2026 National 5×5 Basketball Championship for top teams officially opened, gathering over 200 athletes from 12 top teams across the country, promising exciting and dramatic matches.

VBA Rookie Draft 2026

“VBA Rookie Draft 2026” is not a traditional place or cultural site, but a scheduled event in the world of esports. It refers to the upcoming draft for new players (rookies) entering the Vietnam Championship Series (VCS), Vietnam’s top professional league for the game *League of Legends*, which will take place in the year 2026. This event is part of the modern cultural phenomenon of esports, where teams select emerging talent in a process that mirrors professional sports drafts, reflecting the growth and formalization of competitive gaming in Vietnam.

Cantho Catfish

The “Cantho Catfish” is not a specific cultural site, but a famous local specialty dish from Cần Thơ, a major city in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta. The dish features basa fish (a type of catfish) from the Mekong River, typically prepared in a hot pot (*lẩu cá*) or grilled, reflecting the region’s rich aquatic resources and culinary traditions. Its prominence is tied to the area’s history as a vital agricultural and fishing hub, where river life has deeply influenced the local cuisine and culture.

Danang Dragons

The Danang Dragons are a professional basketball team based in Da Nang, Vietnam, and a founding member of the Vietnam Basketball Association (VBA) established in 2016. While not a historical site, the team has quickly become a significant part of the city’s modern sports culture, helping to popularize basketball nationwide. Their name and dragon mascot draw inspiration from the mythical and cultural symbolism of the dragon in Vietnamese tradition.
<h3 class

VBA Rookie Draft 2026

“VBA Rookie Draft 2026” is not a traditional place or cultural site, but rather a scheduled event in the world of esports. It refers to the upcoming draft for new players (rookies) in 2026 for the Valorant Champions Tour (VCT) Americas league, part of the global competitive circuit for the video game *Valorant*. This event represents the modern cultural phenomenon of professional gaming, where teams select emerging talent in a process that mirrors traditional sports drafts.

Cantho Catfish

The “Cantho Catfish” refers to the iconic floating markets of Cần Thơ, a city in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta. Historically, these vibrant markets emerged as central hubs for trade, particularly for agricultural products like fish, fruits, and vegetables, where boats large and small gather to buy and sell. Today, they remain a vital part of local commerce and a major cultural attraction, symbolizing the river-based life and rich culinary traditions of the region.

Danang Dragons

The Danang Dragons are a professional basketball team based in Da Nang, Vietnam, and are a founding member of the Vietnam Basketball Association (VBA), established in 2016. They are notable for being the first VBA team from central Vietnam and have built a strong regional fanbase, though they are still seeking their first league championship title.

Ho Chi Minh City Wings

“Ho Chi Minh City Wings” is not a historical or cultural landmark, but rather the name of a professional basketball team based in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Founded in 2019, the team competes in the Vietnam Basketball Association (VBA) and is named to symbolize the dynamic and aspirational spirit of the city. Its history is tied to the recent growth of professional sports in Vietnam rather than to the ancient or colonial past of the location.

Nha Trang Dolphins

Nha Trang Dolphins is a professional basketball team based in Nha Trang, Vietnam, competing in the Vietnam Basketball Association (VBA). Founded in 2016, the team is named for the friendly dolphins commonly associated with the coastal city’s marine culture and tourism. They won their first and only VBA championship in the 2017 season.

Saigon Heat

The Saigon Heat is a professional basketball team based in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, and was founded in 2011 as the first Vietnamese franchise in the ASEAN Basketball League (ABL). It has played a significant role in popularizing professional basketball in the country and has been a consistent contender, winning its first ABL championship in the 2022-2023 season.

Hanoi Buffaloes

The Hanoi Buffaloes are a professional basketball team in the Vietnam Basketball Association (VBA), founded in 2016. As one of the league’s inaugural clubs, they represent the capital city and have become known for their competitive spirit and role in promoting the sport’s growth in Vietnam.

National Professional Basketball Championship

The National Professional Basketball Championship is not a specific place or cultural site, but rather the name for the top-tier professional league in several countries, most notably in France where it is known as the *Ligue Nationale de Basket* (LNB). Historically, these national championships, like France’s which began in 1921, were established to organize and crown the premier professional club team in the country. Today, they represent the highest level of domestic basketball competition, operating under a league structure separate from international tournaments.