Wizards Guard Admits Team Tanked Season to Draft AJ Dybantsa
Bub Carrington stated the team intentionally held back to secure the top pick, a claim that surfaces after the NBA implemented stricter rules against tanking.
Washington Wizards guard Bub Carrington has stated that the team intentionally "held back" during the previous season to improve their chances of acquiring the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA draft, a pick they used to select BYU forward AJ Dybantsa. Carrington, speaking in an interview, acknowledged that the goal of securing Dybantsa was an open secret within the team.
"We've all, in a way, been held back just because, like you said, we were trying to get AJ Dybantsa. That's no secret," Carrington told WUSA's Marshall Kramsky. He added that with the "handcuffs" now off, and with the team's coaching and veteran presence, they are positioned to be a playoff team.
The Wizards concluded the last season with the league's worst record at 17-65, which gave them a 14 percent probability of winning the draft lottery and a 40.1 percent chance of securing a top-three selection. Dybantsa, a 6-foot-9 prospect, averaged 25.5 points and 6.8 rebounds per game during his freshman year at BYU.
During the previous season, the Wizards acquired injured All-Stars Anthony Davis and Trae Young through trades. However, these additions resulted in limited game appearances, with only Young playing in a few games for Washington.
Despite the NBA's introduction of stricter rules and fines for teams accused of tanking last season, reports indicate that Carrington and the Wizards are not expected to face penalties. Both Davis and Young are currently healthy and participating fully in Wizards training camp.
Carrington, who has played in all 82 games in each of his first two seasons, averaged 10.7 points and 4.6 assists per game in 27.7 minutes during the 2025-26 season.
