Wizards Win the 2026 NBA Draft Lottery, Projected to Select AJ Dybantsa
The Washington Wizards may not be competing for a championship in the 2026 NBA playoffs, but they landed quite the prize that could one day result in a Larry O'Brien Trophy of their own.
Washington won the 2026 NBA draft lottery on Sunday, giving it the first pick in one of the most anticipated drafts in years.
It ends a surprising trend from the draft lottery where the worst teams don't always pick early:
After all, headline names such as AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, Cameron Boozer, Caleb Wilson, Darius Acuff Jr. and more could end up being franchise cornerstones for a number of teams throughout the league in the coming years.
But the thought here is Dybantsa will go No. 1 overall to the new lottery victors.
B/R's Jonathan Wasserman projected the BYU star as the top pick in his most recent mock draft and listed Boston Celtics playmaker Jaylen Brown as a pro comparison. Wasserman also pointed out "Dybantsa's case right now has the fewest holes" even though Peterson and Boozer are also in discussions to be the No. 1 pick.
It is not difficult to see the parallels between Dybantsa's game and Brown's game.
The BYU wing uses his combination of power and athleticism to beat defenders in a number of ways with the ability to attack the rim off the bounce, finish through contact, hit from the midrange and extend beyond the arc if needed.
Dybantsa is just 19 years old, but he is no stranger to the spotlight. He arrived at BYU as a 5-star recruit and the No. 1 player in the 2025 class, per 247Sports' composite rankings, and immediately became the team's go-to option.
He finished his one collegiate season averaging 25.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.1 steals per game while shooting 51 percent from the field and 33.1 percent from deep. The numbers underscored his ability to impact the game in a variety of ways on both ends, but the scoring is what immediately stands out.
The wing was a threat to put up 30-plus points every time he stepped on the floor even though he was always the primary focal point of the opposing defense.
That offensive ability should serve Dybantsa well at the next level, as he figures to have more space to operate alongside NBA teammates. Defenses won't be able to solely focus on preventing him from taking over games, which should lead to cleaner looks at the basket even if he takes fewer shots as a rookie.
This will be the first time that the Wizards have the No. 1 pick since they selected John Wall first overall in 2010. Washington hasn't made the playoffs since 2021, so adding a player like Dybantsa would certainly help turn things around quickly.
The Wizards added a pair of All-Stars by trading for point guard Trae Young and big man Anthony Davis. If Dybantsa is Washington's pick, the team could be in the mix for playoff contention next season.
