Wizards win – The Washington Wizards won the NBA Draft Lottery and hold the No. 1 pick for the 2026 NBA Draft, beginning on Monday, June 23. With a young core already in place and veterans Trae Young and Anthony Davis added before this season’s trade deadline, there’s a ser
For the Washington Wizards, the rebuild’s next move may hinge on a single name. By winning the NBA Draft Lottery, the franchise secured the No. 1 pick overall for the upcoming 2026 NBA Draft, which begins on Monday, June 23. And while the front office will have the option to select any prospect available first. there’s a serious belief that BYU Cougars forward AJ Dynantsa — listed as AJ Dybantsa in multiple references — could be the choice at the top.
Washington hasn’t been in the playoffs since the 2020-21 campaign. Since then. the organization has spent years building with high-upside prospects: Alex Sarr. Tre Johnson. Bilal Coulibaly. Kyshawn George. and Bub Carrington. If the Wizards use the No. 1 overall pick on AJ Dybantsa, he would join that group and become part of the roster’s young core.
But the Wizards’ situation has changed in a way that could matter for a rookie. Before this season’s trade deadline. the front office acquired both Trae Young and Anthony Davis. giving the team two veteran playmakers to share the floor with its younger talent. If Young and Davis are going to remain part of the plan. that kind of mix can reshape the expectations placed on a No. 1 overall pick — not by lowering the ceiling, but by making the path to it feel more workable.
There’s also a straightforward football-type logic basketball fans understand instantly: playing next to proven scorers and creators can take pressure off a newcomer. The belief around AJ Dybantsa is that he wouldn’t be asked to carry everything from the start. Instead. Trae Young and Anthony Davis could help create space for him to grow. while he earns his role as a reliable scoring option from the wing.
Dybantsa’s college résumé is already built for production. In 35 games at BYU as a true freshman, he led the nation in average points per game with 25.5. He also averaged 6.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.1 steals per contest. His shooting line was just as eye-catching: 51.0% from the field and 33.1% from beyond the arc. The 6-foot-9 First-Team All-American profile adds another layer. suggesting that Washington isn’t just buying potential — it’s looking at a prospect already comfortable impacting games.
The Wizards’ new core, as it’s being framed, leans into the idea of development through proximity. Young’s career average of 9.8 assists per game hints at how quickly Dybantsa could see the ball early and often next season. Davis. meanwhile. brings a reputation as a great two-way player. and the expectation is that Dybantsa could learn from him in ways that go beyond scoring — including strengthening his postgame and defensive presence.
Put together. the appeal is simple: Dybantsa has shown he can score at a high level in college. and the Wizards now have two established stars on the roster to help him settle into the rhythm of the NBA. If Washington pulls the trigger and selects him with the No. 1 overall pick of the 2026 NBA Draft, his first season won’t just be about adjusting to a higher pace. It would be about stepping into an environment designed — at least on paper — to reduce the worst parts of rookie turbulence.
Washington Wizards NBA Draft Lottery 2026 NBA Draft No. 1 pick AJ Dybantsa BYU Trae Young Anthony Davis Alex Sarr Tre Johnson Bilal Coulibaly Kyshawn George Bub Carrington