AJ Dybantsa was the No 1 pick in the 2026 NBA draft on Tuesday night. The Washington Wizards selected Dybantsa over Kansas guard Darryn Peterson and Duke forward Cameron Boozer, who followed at No 2 and No 3 respectively for Utah Jazz and Memphis Grizzlies. Dybantsa is a forward who led the nation in scoring in his one season at Brigham Young University. He averaged 25.5 points, highlighted by a 43-point effort that broke BYU’s freshman scoring record, and was the first of a record-tying
eight straight college freshman taken to begin the draft. Antetokounmpo traded to Heat in blockbuster NBA dealNot got Sky? Get Sky Sports or stream with no contractChoose the Sky Sports push notifications you want At 6ft 9in and 217lbs Dybantsa, who grew up in the Washington area, has drawn comparisons to Kevin Durant, who happens to be his favourite player. “I was just super confident. I’ve been betting on myself for a while now,” Dybantsa said. “Since about ninth grade I’ve been No 1, so
I didn’t really plan on dropping in the draft.” Dybantsa’s full name is Anicet Francois Dybantsa Jr. He wore flag pins Tuesday for Jamaica and the Republic of Congo, where his mother and father are from. Dybantsa was announced at the draft as Anicet in honour of his father. “Making the NBA has been a dream of mine since I was a young kid so I can’t wait to get to work and start the journey,” Dybantsa told NBA.com. “He is a special person,” Wizards
general manager Will Dawkins said. “I can’t wait for the city to really embrace him. He’s already started his own foundation giving back to people back in Massachusetts, Jamaica, Africa. He really is about where he wants to be. “He’s just a competitor,” Dawkins added. “He sees a challenge and he attacks it. I’ve seen that from a very young age to where he is now. He has a humility about him that he knows how good he is, but he wants to keep working
so he can reach the highest level.”
AJ Dybantsa, Washington Wizards, 2026 NBA draft, Darryn Peterson, Utah Jazz, Cameron Boozer, Memphis Grizzlies, Brigham Young University, Kevin Durant
Peterson was right there tho, idk why Wizards didn’t go with him.
43 points?? That’s wild. Also flags pins stuff is cool but can he actually play defense like… ever?
It says he’s compared to Kevin Durant which means Wizards are gonna trade him immediately right? Like that’s how it always goes in Washington. Congrats either way.
So they pick him No 1 over that Duke guy and then the Kansas guard went to Jazz? I might be mixing it up but I swear I saw Cameron Boozer’s name in some other draft thing. Anyway his full name being Anicet?? That’s kinda confusing but good for him. Hopefully he doesn’t get injured the first week, seems like the hype always jinxes people.