The Washington Wizards opened the 2026 NBA Draft on Tuesday, June 24, by selecting BYU forward AJ Dybantsa first overall — a pick that landed exactly where nearly every projection had placed it for months.
Dybantsa, a 6-foot-9, 217-pound forward, spent one season with the BYU Cougars and made it count. He averaged 25.6 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.1 steals per game while shooting 51% from the field. That combination puts him in rare company: he became just the fifth Division I player in the last 40 seasons to average at least 25 points per game while shooting 50% or better from the floor in the same season.
Washington’s brass didn’t hesitate. The Wizards held the top pick and used it on the player widely considered the class’s safest bet at the position — a forward with size, scoring range and playmaking ability that set him apart from a draft loaded with highly regarded prospects.
Additional picks and Washington’s subsequent selections had not yet been announced at the time of this report.
