Washington Wizards Select AJ Dybantsa With No. 1 Pick in the 2026 NBA Draft

June 23, 2026 | D.M. Fashion Book | Sports and Entertainment

A new era has officially begun in Washington.

The Washington Wizards selected BYU freshman sensation AJ Dybantsa with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft on Tuesday night at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. Widely regarded as the top prospect in this year’s class, Dybantsa heard his name called first after a dominant freshman campaign that cemented his status as one of basketball’s brightest young stars.

Entering the draft, Dybantsa and Kansas freshman guard Darryn Peterson were considered the consensus top two prospects. In the end, Washington chose the versatile 6-foot-9 forward as the centerpiece of its rebuilding efforts and the player it believes can help lead the franchise back to relevance.

“I was just super confident. I’ve been betting on myself for a while now,” Dybantsa said after being selected. “Since about ninth grade I’ve been No. 1, so I didn’t really plan on dropping in the draft.”

Dybantsa arrives in the nation’s capital following a stellar season at BYU, where he averaged 25.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.1 steals per game while shooting 51 percent from the field. His scoring ability, athleticism, and all-around game made him the consensus favorite to go first overall throughout the draft process.

The selection marks just the third time in franchise history that Washington has owned the No. 1 overall pick, joining John Wall in 2010 and Kwame Brown in 2001.

After finishing last season with a disappointing 17-65 record, the Wizards are entering the next phase of a long-term rebuilding plan orchestrated by Monumental Basketball president Michael Winger and general manager Will Dawkins. With a young core already featuring Alex Sarr, Bilal Coulibaly, Kyshawn George, Tre Johnson, Will Riley, and Bub Carrington, the addition of Dybantsa gives Washington another cornerstone talent to build around.

Dybantsa is eager to embrace the opportunity.

“Obviously they have a great young core, and the potential is there,” he said. “Them adding me, I think I can help them a little bit. Them re-signing Trae Young, them having A.D. and having good vets along with our young core. I think we can do big things.”

Before taking the stage and beginning the next chapter of his career, Dybantsa made a statement off the court as well. The projected No. 1 pick arrived at the draft in a tailored Kenzo suit paired with a Hublot timepiece, delivering one of the night’s standout fashion moments.

Now, with the pressure and expectations that come with being the top overall selection, Dybantsa becomes the face of Washington’s future. The Wizards are betting that his elite talent, confidence, and leadership can accelerate their rebuild and help transform the franchise into a playoff contender sooner rather than later.