Wizards select AJ Dybantsa with No. 1 overall pick in NBA draft
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jun 24, 2026, 10:00 PM
Last updated Jun 24, 2026
On June 23, 2026, the Washington Wizards selected BYU star AJ Dybantsa with the first pick in the NBA draft. Dybantsa's arrival is seen as pivotal for the franchise, which has struggled for nearly 50 years. He will meet fans at a pep rally on June 25. Wizards GM Will Dawkins expressed confidence in Dybantsa's talent and versatility as the team attempts to rebuild from a history of misfortune and poor performance.
- •Dybantsa led college basketball in scoring last season.
- •Wizards fans celebrated his selection at various draft parties.
- •Washington has not won 50 games in a season since 1979.
- •Dybantsa will participate in a fan event on June 25.
- •Wizards have compiled the most losses in the NBA since 1978.
- 8:15 PMYahoo Sports — Top draft pick AJ Dybantsa arrives in Washington, ready to work on turning the Wizards around
- 10:00 PMYahoo Sports — Can AJ Dybantsa help to free the Washington Wizards from nearly 5 decades of misfortune?
"Before basketball became such a big part of AJ Dybantsa's life, he was like any other kid — growing up as a fan of a fictional superhero. When he was about five, his father bought him a Spider-Man basketball hoop that went on the back of his door. The Washington Wizards are certainly glad Dybantsa took up the sport and committed himself to it.
"The BYU star drafted by Washington with the No. 1 overall pick isn’t shying away from the challenge of lifting the Wizards back to NBA relevance.
Sources
External links- Yahoo SportsJun 25, 2026, 8:15 PMTop draft pick AJ Dybantsa arrives in Washington, ready to work on turning the Wizards around
Before basketball became such a big part of AJ Dybantsa's life, he was like any other kid — growing up as a fan of a fictional superhero. When he was about five, his father bought him a Spider-Man basketball hoop that went on the back of his door. The Washington Wizards are certainly glad Dybantsa took up the sport and committed himself to it.
- Yahoo SportsJun 24, 2026, 10:00 PMCan AJ Dybantsa help to free the Washington Wizards from nearly 5 decades of misfortune?
The BYU star drafted by Washington with the No. 1 overall pick isn’t shying away from the challenge of lifting the Wizards back to NBA relevance.
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