After much suspense leading up to the 2026 NBA Draft, BYU forward AJ Dybantsa delivered on his promise after being drafted by the Washington Wizards with the first overall pick.
On a night with several talented young players competing for the top spot in the draft, AJ Dybantsa shone the brightest. During his media availability, Dybantsa had to give credit to those who supported him on his journey, especially his father.
While speaking about his father’s impact on his life and how it helped him get to where he is, AJ Dybantsa shared:
“He means the world,” Dybantsa began. “I don’t know how to explain it. So many sacrifices that he’s made. He quit his job just to retire and move in with me at Utah Prep so I’d be safe. Sending me over to California by myself to go get a better basketball experience.”
“All the little stuff that I didn’t notice he was doing at a young age, obviously, it’s paying off now. But he’s my dad. I mean, he acts as my manager. He does a whole bunch of stuff that he doesn’t have to do. But I just give him the utmost thanks.”
In a follow-up question, a reporter asked the Wizards‘ rookie whether the name “Anicet” was part of a rebrand before starting his NBA career. To this, AJ Dybantsa shared another heartfelt response, stating:
“We’re going to stick with AJ, but I wanted Adam to call me Anicet because I wanted to also honor my dad. He is Anicet Dybantsa Sr. It’s his name. I mean, it’s my day today, but without him, I wouldn’t be here. So, obviously, I wanted to honor his name.”
It is beyond evident that Dybantsa’s father holds a special place in the forward’s heart. While it is a common sight for parents to sacrifice their well-being for their children’s, the Wizards’ rookie seems grateful for the love and support he received.
In an interesting coincidence, Father’s Day fell on Sunday, just a day before the draft. In honor of the occasion, AJ Dybantsa even took to social media to share a heartwarming tribute to his father. In the caption, he wrote:
“My dad got ts out the mud. Congo, to France, to Brockton, to where we are right now. He built that so I wouldn’t have to start from scratch. That’s all I ever needed. Happy Father’s Day, pops.”
The 19-year-old was asked about this post during his media availability, too. With specific reference to a childhood photo of him being held by his father outside the White House, Dybantsa commented:
“True story, I was going to post another picture. But it was like me as a baby, and I was naked. So I was like, I can’t post that. And the next picture was me in the White House, and I just posted it, and then I saw a whole bunch of stuff on Twitter. I was like, oh, I mean, that’s a coincidence.”
At the time, many speculated that this post was Dybantsa’s way of indirectly revealing that he was going to Washington. Although the forward clarified that this was merely a coincidence, the result doesn’t necessarily change.
With AJ Dybantsa headed to the Wizards, Washington has added another notable asset to its star-studded core. As fans gear up to see the 19-year-old suit up for the Wizards, there will be greater expectations from him to deliver at the next level.
