AJ Dybantsa Reacts to Wizards Getting No. 1 Pick in 2026 NBA Draft After Lottery Results

AJ Dybantsa found out Sunday he will be going to the Washington Wizards if he ends up being the No. 1 overall pick of the 2026 NBA draft, and he said his initial reaction while watching the lottery unfold was thinking about how his "versatility" will help him fit into the team.

He also said he has been watching potential new teammates Anthony Davis and Trae Young for years before revealing the process didn't really sink in until the end of the lottery.

"Me, confidently, I wasn't really worried about 14 through three," Dybantsa said. "I was kind of just letting it play out. When all the guys sat there for the top four, I was like, 'yeah, it's getting real.'"

In what is expected to be a loaded draft with plenty of potential franchise cornerstones, the BYU star is the headliner.

B/R's Jonathan Wasserman projected Dybantsa as the No. 1 overall pick in his pre-lottery mock draft and highlighted Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown as a pro comparison. That is quite a lofty pro comparison, but it's hard to argue with Dybantsa's game.

Wasserman said his case to be the top pick "has the fewest holes" given his combination of size (6'9"), athleticism, "high-level shotmaking skill" and ability to fill up the stat sheet.

AJ Dybantsa Scores 34 Points vs. Texas Longhorns

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Dybantsa played just one collegiate season and was a consensus All-American, the Big 12 Rookie of the Year and a dominant playmaker who averaged 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 three-point shooting averages don't immediately stand out, but he was also the primary focal point of every opposing defense he faced. That led to plenty of double teams and shaded coverage, which he likely won't see in his rookie year in the NBA.

After all, he could be playing alongside two top options in Davis and Young on a Washington team that could be primed to make a leap in 2026-27.

The conversation with Davis always starts with his health, but he is still a dominant big man when on the floor and someone the Wizards can turn to in the biggest moments. Young also attracts additional defensive attention because of his shooting range, and Dybantsa should see plenty of space playing alongside both of them.

That could lead to more efficiency from the potential No. 1 overall pick and a run at the Rookie of the Year.