From our friends at the Washington Wizards...
Wizards Select AJ Dybantsa with First Overall Pick in 2026 NBA Draft
Dybantsa Becomes Fifth Number One Selection in Franchise History
The Washington Wizards selected AJ Dybantsa with the first-overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Dybantsa, a 6-9, 212-pound wing from Brockton, Massachusetts, spent his lone collegiate season at Brigham Young University. He was a consensus first-team All-American after leading the nation in scoring at 25.5 points per game, and adding 6.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game. He shot .510 from the field and topped double-figure scoring in all 35 games, including 28 20-point, eight 30-point, and a pair of 40-point performances. He became just the fourth freshman in NCAA history to average 25+ points per game while shooting .500+ from the field (Michael Beasley, Harry Kelly, Bernard King).
The Big 12 Freshman of the Year also led the nation in total points (894), field goals made (308), and free throws made (229). He became the first player in Big 12 history to post a triple-double of 30+ points (33), 10+ rebounds (10), and 10+ assists (10), doing so against Eastern Washington on Dec. 22.
Dybantsa set BYU’s freshman single-game scoring record with 43 points against Utah (Jan. 24), the Big 12 Tournament freshman scoring record previously held by Kevin Durant with 40 points vs. Kansas State (March 10), and was the first freshman with 30+ points in his NCAA Tournament debut (35 vs. Texas on March 19) since Stephen Curry in 2007.
Dybantsa has won Gold Medals internationally with Team USA at the 2025 FIBA U19 Men's World Cup, where he earned tournament MVP honors, 2024 FIBA U17 World Cup, and 2023 FIBA Americas U16 Championship.
Dybantsa becomes Washington’s fifth number one draft pick in franchise history and the first since the selection of John Wall in 2010.
