You’re a Wizard, AJ: Dybantsa fulfills dream as No. 1 NBA draft pick
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- BYU’s AJ Dybantsa answers questions after being selected No. 1 in the 2026 NBA Draft by the Washington Wizards at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., on Tuesday, June 23, 2026.
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- BYU’s AJ Dybantsa answers questions after being selected No. 1 in the 2026 NBA Draft by the Washington Wizards at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., on Tuesday, June 23, 2026.
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- BYU’s AJ Dybantsa answers questions after being selected No. 1 in the 2026 NBA Draft by the Washington Wizards at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., on Tuesday, June 23, 2026.
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- A photo of the ball on the table where BYU’s AJ Dybantsa awaits the start of the 2026 NBA Draft at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., on Tuesday, June 23, 2026.
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- BYU’s AJ Dybantsa does an interview before the start of the 2026 NBA Draft at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., on Tuesday, June 23, 2026.
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- Former BYU player Egor Demin (left) chats with Cougar head coach Kevin Young at the 2026 NBA Draft at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., on Tuesday, June 23. Demin was selected No. 8 by the Brooklyn Nets in the 2025 draft.
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- Former BYU players Egon Demin (left) and AJ Dybantsa answer questions before the 2026 NBA Draft at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y, on Tuesday, June 23, 2026.
About the time AJ Dybantsa was celebrating with family and friends in New York after being picked No. 1 by the Washington Wizards, BYU assistant coach Brandon Dunson shared a story on social media.
Last year, Cougar freshman Egor Demin was drafted No. 8 by the Brooklyn Nets. Less than five minutes after the pick, Dybantsa — who was with the USA team at the U19 World Cup — was on a video call with Dunson.
“It was 3:04 a.m. in Switzerland and all he could talk about what how the draft motivated him to be No. 1,” Dunson said. “A year later … here we are.”
When his name was called Tuesday night at the Barclays Center by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver — AJ went with “Anicet Dybantsa Jr.” to honor his father — it was a larger-than-life moment shared with all of Cougar Nation.
BYU has a No. 1 NBA Draft pick in the family.
“It means a lot,” Dybantsa said. “They welcomed me with open arms and I just give my most thanks to BYU, KY (Kevin Young) and the whole staff who believed in me. I knew I wanted to come there when I had that visit. I saw Egor today too so it’s big BYU family all around and I just give them all the thanks.”
BYU has had two No. 2 picks (Mel Hutchins in 1951 and Shawn Bradley in 1993) but overall a pretty spotty NBA Draft history. In fact, it was 14 years between Jimmer Fredette going No. 10 and Demin’s selection last season.
Young vowed to change all that when he took the head coaching job in Provo two years ago. Last year, Demin was just the appetizer.
Dybantsa came to BYU, lived up to the hype, and finds himself on top of the world and the No. 1 pick in what is considered one of the best draft classes ever.
“He’s got the mentality of a true pro,” Jay Bilas said on the ESPN broadcast. “He averaged 25 points a game and he’s the first freshman to lead the nation in scoring in a quarter century. He’s built for the NBA. He has all the measurements. He’s six-foot-eight, he’s got a seven-foot wingspan and all the athletic tools. He had the fourth-best max vertical at the combine. He attacks downhill and he’s a three-level scorer that continuing to improve his 3-point accuracy.
“But where he’s devastating is at the mid-range. With those long strides, he can make NBA level shots right now, over size. He can post, he can back in, and shoot over the top. His mid-range game is elite and he’s also got open court abilities. He’s excellent in transition and he can get to the foul line. He led the NCAA in free throw attempts.”
The Wizards finished last in the Eastern Conference last season with a 17-65 record. They recently signed four-time All-Star guard Trae Young to a four-year, $212 million contract and also acquired veteran center Anthony Davis.
Washington owner Ted Leonsis told ESPN that his franchise is moving quickly in their rebuilding process.
“We’re on the plan that we articulated,” he said. “We actually are a year ahead of the plan because I thought it would take four or five years and this really was the third offseason where we were developing young players, deconstructing, looking to add to go forward.”
As for Dybantsa, he’s getting a big pay raise: His rookie deal in the NBA is expected to be worth $69 million.
“Obviously, this is a stepping stone,” Dybantsa said. “I have a lot more work to do. But this is a testament to all my hard work and discipline and sacrifices that I made.”
Dybantsa is the fourth Big 12 player to go No. 1 in the draft, following Oklahoma State’s Cade Cunningham (Detroit Pistons, 2021), Kansas’ Andrew Wiggins (Cleveland Cavaliers, 2014) and Oklahoma’s Blake Griffin (Los Angeles Clippers, 2009). He is also the first player to lead the NCAA in scoring and be selected with the top pick of the NBA Draft since Purdue’s Glenn Robinson (1994).
Young was in attendance at Barclays Center to watch his former player’s big night.
“No. 1, I’m just super happy for AJ and his family,” he told BYU Sports Nation. “It’s been a long journey. To just be a part of their story in a small way is amazing. I’m also really happy for all of Cougar Nation to have someone represent the university the way he does. He’s not just the No. 1 pick. I think he’s got a chance to be a marque superstar in the NBA.”
Dybantsa spent most of Wednesday in the nation’s capital meeting Wizards brass and conducting interviews with DC media. After a short break, he’ll be back to work trying to become what he’s always dreamed he could be.
“Being the No. 1 pick, it meant a lot to me,” he said. “Obviously, me being No. 1 throughout all my high school career, I definitely wanted to be the No. 1 pick and be in the same conversation with Lebron James, Cooper Flagg, Allen Iverson, guys like that. I’m Brockton bred, 508, I do everything for them. I like helping my community and giving kids hope. There are a lot of kids that play basketball out there and think that they can’t make it, but once they see me, they might have some hope.”
Next up for BYU might be five-star freshman Bruce Branch III, who will wear No. 3 just like Demin and Dybantsa. Branch was the No. 1-ranked player in the Class of 2027 but decided to reclassify to the the Class of 2026 and play college basketball for the Cougars this season.
