The Washington Wizards selected AJ Dybantsa of BYU with the first overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. The selection met expectations, as Dybantsa was widely considered the top prospect in a draft class featuring numerous highly-rated players.
Dybantsa, a 6-foot-9, 217-pound forward, spent one collegiate season with the Cougars. During his time at BYU, he averaged 25.6 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.1 steals per game. He also demonstrated strong shooting efficiency, converting 51% of his field goal attempts. Dybantsa's performance made him one of five Division-1 players in the last 40 seasons to achieve an average of at least 25 points per game while shooting 50% or higher from the field in a single season.
The draft commenced Tuesday night with the Wizards making their anticipated choice to bring the BYU standout to the nation's capital.