AJ Dybantsa reacts to No. 1 overall pick in 2026 NBA Draft

On Tuesday night, 19-year-old AJ Dybantsa, who dazzled in his freshman year at BYU, was selected by the Washington Wizards as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. With his family at his side the next morning, Dybantsa reflected on the moment: “It was super surreal.

Obviously you see it for years and years on TV, and for your name to get called, it’s ridiculous.” Many experts had projected he would be the first pick and a potential revitalizer for the struggling Wizards, but Dybantsa faced stiff competition from Darryn Peterson of Kansas and Cameron Boozer of Duke.

Then NBA Commissioner Adam Silver called his full name, in honor of his father and manager, and Dybantsa said, “I was just kind of replaying all the memories in my head. All the sacrifices I made, all the practices, late nights, crying, all the blood, sweat and tears.” Now he begins his career as a Wizard, preparing for Summer League games arriving in just a few weeks.

aj dybantsa, washington wizards, nba draft, first pick, 2026 draft, byu freshman, darryn peterson, cameron boozer, adam silver, summer league