Tonight, we saw the lives of 30 young athletes drastically change in the 2026 NBA Draft. While there were many talented players who heard their name called, AJ Dybantsa was the first, and all eyes are in D.C., where he’ll spend (at minimum) the first few years of his career.
While it’s still too early to tell how Dybantsa will fit into the Wizards‘ roster, he certainly has the right approach, and he just demonstrated that in his first NBA press conference. Moments ago, after being asked about his big night, the former BYU star opened up about his future and his immediate feelings about being the No. 1 overall pick.
“I know I have a lot of work to do,” said Dybantsa. “But this night is just a celebration of all the hard work I’ve done in the past. But I gotta get on a plane tomorrow morning, and I’ll probably work out tomorrow if they’ll let me. Being the number one pick meant a lot to me. Throughout my High School career, I definitely wanted to be the number one pick in the NBA draft and be in the same conversation as guys like LeBron James and Cooper Flagg.”
Next season, AJ will be in an unusual position for a No. 1 pick. The Wizards, despite landing the top draft pick this year, also have win-now veterans on the team, including Trae Young and Anthony Davis. As a fierce competitor, AJ is looking forward to playing with proven All-Stars, and they’ve already given him a challenge.
“Having Trae, having AD, I can score in different ways, score in transition, score off the catch, score off the dribble,” Dybantsa said. “They challenged me when they talked to me, saying if we pick you, we want you to play defense 94 feet and pick up.”
With Trae Young in particular, Dybantsa will have to adjust his game. Fortunately, while he was used to having the ball at BYU, AJ says he’ll have no problem taking a back to let the vets take control. In the meantime, he’s going to learn what he can as he gradually climbs the hierarchy.
“I think I can definitely find a balance,” Dybantsa added. “I can play off-ball. Not a lot of people have seen that, obviously, going to BYU. But I can play off-ball. I’ve been playing off-ball with Prolific Prep. I played with Tyran Stokes and other No. 1 guys. When I go to USA Basketball, I’m not the No. 1 option. So I can definitely play off-ball. Obviously, I have to pave my way. Obviously, I’m walking in with some vets. So definitely gotta earn my spot.”
With averages of 25.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game this season, there’s no doubt that Dybantsa has the talent to be a generational athlete in the NBA. And while he still has so much to prove, he also has the fortune of getting drafted by a Wizards team that’s equipped to be competitive for years to come.
As it stands, Dybantsa has a bright future ahead of him, but it will require a lot of work to reach his ultimate potential. That’s why, months before playing his first NBA game, AJ is already making plans to start hitting the gym and show his teammates what he’s all about.
