Wizards take AJ Dybantsa No. 1 in the 2026 NBA Draft

The Washington Wizards selected Brigham Young forward Anicet Dybantsa Jr., known as AJ Dybantsa, with the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. The move places a BYU standout at the center of a rebuilding effort and indicates the kind of offensive player Washington wants to prioritize as it resets its long-term roster plans.

Dybantsa, 19, comes into the NBA as a forward with a reputation for scoring skill, athleticism, and what the draft write-up frames as elite upside. In his lone season at BYU, he established himself as a key piece of the Cougars’ attack, and the draft selection reflects Washington’s belief that his skill set can translate quickly to the professional level.

Born in Massachusetts, Dybantsa’s path to BYU ended with a season that made him a first-overall consideration. Washington’s top-pick decision underscores the premium teams place on wings who can create offense, particularly prospects who are perceived to have the size, movement, and shot-making profile to impact a game in multiple ways.

From BYU’s perspective, the decision is a major recruiting-and-brand moment, even as it comes with the practical challenge of replacing a player who was central to the program’s recent NBA pipeline. For the NBA, the pick sets up an immediate storyline around how Dybantsa adapts to the league’s pace and physicality, especially after arriving as a one-and-done type of prospect profile.

Because this is a draft-night announcement reported through a media account rather than an official NBA transaction page in the materials available here, the exact framing of Washington’s internal evaluation is best understood as a projection based on the write-up’s description of his tools and ceiling. The core fact remains that the Wizards used the top pick on Dybantsa and now control the next stage of his development in a highly visible role.

What to watch next is how quickly Washington structures an on-court role for Dybantsa. The first full look in team workouts, summer basketball, and then training camp will likely determine whether the Wizards try to emphasize primary shot creation early or keep him within a narrower set of responsibilities while he adjusts to NBA spacing and defensive coverage.