The Washington Wizards have placed their future in the hands of AJ Dybantsa after selecting the highly touted forward with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Widely regarded as one of the most anticipated prospects in recent years, Dybantsa was chosen ahead of Kansas guard Darryn Peterson and Duke forward Cameron Boozer, who were selected second and third overall by Utah and Memphis respectively.
“Making the NBA has been a dream of mine since I was a young kid so I can’t wait to get to work and start the journey,” Dybantsa told NBA.com following his selection.
The 6-foot-9 wing entered the draft as the consensus top prospect after a standout season at Brigham Young University. In doing so, he also made history by becoming the first player from BYU to be selected first overall in the NBA Draft.
Dybantsa’s decision to attend BYU was influenced heavily by head coach Kevin Young, whose decade-long experience in the NBA helped create a professional environment designed to prepare players for the next level.
“After they hired Kevin Young, they hired a strength coach from the Milwaukee Bucks, a dietitian from the Suns, analytics from the Suns,” Dybantsa said. “He just started stacking prototypes around us and I wanted to learn in the best environment to prepare for the league.”
The freshman star rewarded that faith with an exceptional campaign. He led the nation in scoring at 25.5 points per game and delivered several memorable performances, including a 43-point outing against Utah and a 40-point display against Kansas State in the Big 12 Tournament.
His postseason performances further elevated his draft stock. Across three games in the Big 12 Tournament, Dybantsa scored 93 points, breaking Kevin Durant’s conference scoring record and impressing NBA executives in attendance.
“I thought his game really matured over the season,” Young said. “The game slowed down for him. He figured out how to attack all different kinds of defensive coverages.”
The Wizards, who last held the No. 1 pick in 2010 when they selected John Wall, view Dybantsa as a foundational piece in their rebuilding project. He joins a young roster that already includes recent draft picks Tre Johnson and Will Riley.
Dybantsa is also expected to form a promising partnership with Trae Young, who reportedly plans to sign a four-year contract worth $212 million to remain in Washington.
“I feel like I could play with Trae really well,” Dybantsa said. “He’s a great facilitator and great point guard and we could play off each other for sure.”
After finishing last season with a 17-65 record, the Wizards hope Dybantsa’s arrival signals the beginning of a brighter future. His first opportunity to showcase his talent at the professional level will come during the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas from July 9-19.
