The Washington Wizards selected forward AJ Dybantsa with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft on June 23, 2026 [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]. Dybantsa, a 6-foot-9, 217-pound forward, played one season at Brigham Young University (BYU) where he led the nation in scoring, averaging about 25.5 points per game while also recording 6.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.1 steals per game, shooting roughly 51 percent from the field [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6].
Before college, Dybantsa played high school basketball in Utah and led the United States to the 2025 FIBA Under-19 World Cup title, earning MVP honors [3, 7]. He was ranked as the top prospect in the CBS Sports NBA Draft Prospect Rankings [8, 4]. Analysts have compared him to stars such as Kevin Durant, Tracy McGrady, and Paul George. Former NBA player John Wall described him as "like a young Tracy McGrady" with great athleticism and skill [1, 4, 5].
The Wizards aim to boost a core featuring Trae Young and Anthony Davis with Dybantsa’s addition, believing he will help make the franchise a playoff contender [4, 5]. Wizards owner Ted Leonsis said the team is "a year ahead of plan," praising the young talent assembled over recent offseasons [5].
The second overall pick went to the Utah Jazz, who selected forward Darbyn Peterson from Kansas. Peterson averaged 20.2 points per game in college but missed 11 games due to injury and illness [1, 2, 3, 7]. The third pick was Duke’s Cameron Boozer, taken by the Memphis Grizzlies. Boozer averaged 22.5 points per game [1, 2, 3, 7].
There was speculation the Jazz might try to trade up to the No. 1 spot to draft Dybantsa, but the Wizards kept their pick [7, 9, 4]. Following his selection, Dybantsa said, "It means a lot. Obviously, I have a lot more work to do. But it’s a testament to all my hard work and discipline and the sacrifices that I’ve made" [3].
The Wizards have had only two previous No. 1 overall picks: Kwame Brown in 2001 and John Wall in 2010 [1, 2, 4, 5]. Dybantsa starts a new chapter for the franchise. He appeared in 35 games for BYU last season and posted strong all-around stats for a first-year player [3]. Training camps and the upcoming season will test how quickly he can make an impact at the NBA level.
