Washington Wizards select AJ Dybantsa with first pick in 2026 NBA Draft
Jun 23, 2026, 6:13 PM | Updated: Jun 24, 2026, 10:12 am
BROOKLYN, N.Y. — With the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, the Washington Wizards selected BYU wing AJ Dybantsa.
After attending Utah Prep and then college in Provo, Dybantsa makes his move to the nation’s capital.
View this post on Instagram
Washington Wizards Select AJ Dybantsa With First Pick In NBA Draft
Dybantsa joins a Washington team on the up-and-up to be paired with Trae Young, Anthony Davis, and an increasing pool of young talent.
Last year, Washington finished with the worst record in the NBA at 17-65. The Wizards have now picked first overall three times since the NBA-ABA merger. They’ve selected Kwame Brown, John Wall, and now Dybantsa with No. 1 picks.
In his lone year with the Cougars, Dybantsa averaged 25.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 3.7 assists on 51.0/33.1/77.4 shooting splits.
About AJ Dybantsa
In his freshman campaign at BYU, Dyabantsa was arguably the best scorer in college basketball inside of 22 feet.
40 percent of Dybantsa’s field goal attempts came at the rim, and he shot an outstanding 69 percent from close range.
His comfort extended to the second level, where 34 percent of his shots came last season. He shot just under 45 percent from the mid-range, a solid number, especially considering his usage.
Looking at play types rather than shot types, the scoring is just as spaced out. He scored over 100 points last season in five different ways: as the pick-and-roll ball handler, in transition, spotting up, in the post, and in isolation.
AJ Dybantsa is so fun to watch. Footwork and inside-the-arc scoring is just 🤌.
— Chandler Holt (@CHoltSports) December 14, 2025
One of the biggest questions for Dybantsa on offense is his three-point shooting. He shot 33.1 percent from behind the arc, which isn’t a bad number. But questions about consistency and portability to the next level are definitely relevant.
It is worth noting that his jumpshot form looks good. In the NBA, there will be more space around him, and he will also likely be tasked with less on-ball duties, both of which bode well for improving his three-point shot.
Dybantsa has No. 1 on a championship team upside; it’s now on the Wizards to help elevate him to his potential.
Dybantsa Joins Elite No. 1 Overall Pick Company
The selection makes Dybantsa the highest-drafted player out of BYU. He joins Shawn Bradley (2nd), Egor Dёmin (8th), Rafael Araújo (8th), and Jimmer Fredette (10th) as Cougars to be drafted in the top 10.
He also joins elite company as a No. 1 overall NBA draft pick. Some of the greatest basketball players of all time, like LeBron James, Tim Duncan, Shaquille O’Neal, and Magic Johnson went No. 1 overall in their draft class.
