AJ Dybantsa Compares 2026 NBA Draft Class to LeBron, Dwyane Wade, Carmelo, Bosh's 2003 Draft Class

The 2026 NBA draft is loaded, and arguably the best player in the class believes it will more than live up to the hype.

"I think at least 10 of us will probably still be playing, let's say, eight years down the road," AJ Dybantsa told ESPN's Malika Andrews. "I think that's how deep we are. But it can be more. I think it's going to be one of the most talked about draft classes since Lebron's."

Few classes in history are as memorable as that 2003 one that saw LeBron James go No. 1, Carmelo Anthony go No. 3, Chris Bosh go No. 4 and Dwyane Wade go No. 5. In all, that class had nine total All-Stars and is widely considered one of the best in NBA history.

In addition to James, Anthony, Bosh and Wade, Josh Howard, Chris Kaman, Kyle Korver, David West and Mo Williams also made at least one All-Star Game from that class.

That is quite the bar for the 2026 group to clear, but it is loaded with potential difference-makers in Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, Cameron Boozer, Caleb Wilson, Keaton Wagler, Darius Acuff Jr., Mikel Brown Jr., Brayden Burries and more.

The biggest question is who will go No. 1 overall between Dybantsa, Peterson and Boozer.

A.J. Dybantsa Highlights

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B/R's Jonathan Wasserman projected the Washington Wizards to select Dybantsa with that first pick in his final mock draft even though he ranked Boozer at No. 1 and Peterson at No. 2 in his big board of prospects.

That would put Dybantsa in the same position as James was in the 2003 draft as the headliner of a group of headliners.

It's safe to say James lived up to the hype as one of the greatest players in basketball history. While it is unfair and unrealistic to expect Dybantsa to follow in the King's footsteps, the Wizards will surely count on him to be a franchise cornerstone for years to come if they do make him the first choice.

Ideally for all the teams picking near the top of Tuesday's draft, this class will mirror the 2003 one in terms of the number of impact players and All-Stars. If it does, the Wizards won't be the only team happy with the 2026 group.