BYU forward AJ Dybantsa is expected to be the No. 1 overall pick by the Washington Wizards in the 2026 NBA draft on Tuesday, according to Shams Charania of ESPN.
Dybantsa was a consensus first-team All-American, averaging 25.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.1 steals while shooting 33.1% from 3-point range. He led the country in scoring after totaling 894 points, the third-most by a freshman in history.
The 19-year-old only met with the Wizards and the Utah Jazz (No. 2 pick) throughout the predraft process as a projected top pick. Washington initially narrowed its focus on drafting Dybantsa or Kansas guard Darryn Peterson, but it has made its decision, Charania said on “NBA Today.”
The league-wide belief that I garner is that the Wizards are locking in on AJ Dybantsa with that No. 1 overall pick. (President) Michael Winger and (general manager) Will Dawkins, the Wizards’ executives, have done research on Cam Boozer and on Darryn Peterson, obviously, at that No. 1 slot. They are going to do their due diligence, but when you look at AJ Dybantsa at the wings, they look at him as a natural fit next to Trae Young, who just got a massive $212 million max contract. They got Anthony Davis in the middle, and so a natural wing for them is what they’re targeting.
The league-wide belief that I garner is that the Wizards are locking in on AJ Dybantsa with that No. 1 overall pick. (President) Michael Winger and (general manager) Will Dawkins, the Wizards’ executives, have done research on Cam Boozer and on Darryn Peterson, obviously, at that No. 1 slot. They are going to do their due diligence, but when you look at AJ Dybantsa at the wings, they look at him as a natural fit next to Trae Young, who just got a massive $212 million max contract. They got Anthony Davis in the middle, and so a natural wing for them is what they’re targeting.
Dybantsa revealed last week that he didn’t work out for either the Wizards or Jazz and only visited the cities and met with their front offices. Meanwhile, Peterson previously met with the Wizards and just spoke with the Jazz over the weekend.
The 6-foot-9 Dybantsa is highly regarded because of his physical tools, athleticism and ability to seemingly score at will from everywhere on the floor. He showcased his athleticism last month at the combine, recording a 42-inch max vertical jump, the fourth-highest mark.
Dybantsa entered the season as the front-runner to be the No. 1 overall pick, and it appears that he will soon earn that distinction from the Wizards on Tuesday (8 p.m. EDT; ABC, ESPN).
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