AJ TO DC: WIZARDS PICK BYU’S DYBANTSA NO. 1 OVERALL IN NBA DRAFT
As the clock ticked down to the announcement of the NBA draft’s first pick on Tuesday night, AJ Dybantsa’s phone was in his father’s possession.
There was no tip-off call coming to prepare him for the news. He was just waiting for NBA commissioner Adam Silver’s voice to inform him whether the Washington Wizards were selecting him with the top choice.
“When they said the pick was in, I was hoping it was me,” Dybantsa said on ESPN’s broadcast.
The news was what Dybantsa envisioned as Washington indeed selected the BYU forward with the No. 1 overall pick ahead of Kansas guard Darryn Peterson, who went second overall to the Utah Jazz during the festivities in New York.
The 6-foot-9 Dybantsa led the nation in scoring at 25.5 points per game in his one college campaign and should be ready to make an immediate impact.
“This means a lot,” Dybantsa said going first in the draft. “It’s a stepping stone. Obviously, I have a lot more work to do.”
This is the third time Washington has held the No. 1 overall pick. The Wizards selected Kwame Brown in 2001 and John Wall in 2010.
Dybantsa is the first BYU player to go first overall.
He made it clear he wants to be a difference-maker for a Washington franchise that has victory totals of 17, 18 and 15 the past three seasons and missed the playoffs for five consecutive campaigns.
“They are getting a super versatile player,” Dybantsa said of himself. “I’m willing to play multiple positions and guard multiple positions and do whatever it takes to win.”
The Jazz are a team stacked with frontcourt players, so adding Peterson bolsters the backcourt.
Peterson said his father repeatedly told him he would someday be a top NBA draft choice.
“Honestly I didn’t, but my pops always knew,” Peterson said. “Once I got older, I started to believe it well. All the work paid off.”
Peterson averaged 20.2 points last season but missed 11 of the Jayhawks’ 35 games and left early in others due to apparent injuries, including cramping.
Dybantsa and Peterson began a run of eight straight freshmen to start the draft.
Duke forward Cameron Boozer went No. 3 overall to the Memphis Grizzlies. He averaged 22.5 points and 10.2 rebounds last season for the Blue Devils.
“As it happens, just enjoy,” Boozer said. “This is my whole life in a couple seconds. It’s amazing for sure.”
Boozer’s dad, Carlos, was a former star for Utah and now works in the team’s front office. The focus of his duties for the Jazz is evaluating NBA draft prospects.
The Chicago Bulls chose forward Caleb Wilson of North Carolina fourth. Wilson averaged 19.8 points and 9.4 rebounds in his lone college season.
“That kid got here by hard work, believing in himself and having a great support system,” Wilson said of going No. 4.
The next four picks were guards, beginning with the Los Angeles Clippers grabbing Keaton Wagler of Illinois.
Wagler averaged 17.9 points, 5.1 rebounds and 4.2 assists as a star freshman after being greatly undervalued as a high school prospect.
“I think it’s just all the hard work I put in,” Wagler said. “I didn’t worry about what anybody said and just stayed true to myself.”
The Brooklyn Nets tabbed Mikel Brown Jr. of Louisville at No. 6. Brown averaged 18.2 points and 4.7 assists but played just 21 games due to injuries and shot 34.4% from 3-point range.
Arkansas point guard Darius Acuff Jr. went seventh overall to the Sacramento Kings. He averaged 23.5 points and 6.4 assists and joined LSU legend Pete Maravich (1969-70) as the only players to lead the Southeastern Conference in both scoring and assists in the same season.
The Atlanta Hawks took Houston point guard Kingston Flemings at No. 8. He averaged 16.1 points and 5.2 assists.
The Dallas Mavericks formally announced the hiring of Dusty May as head coach Tuesday afternoon and then selected forward Morez Johnson Jr., one of the key players on May’s championship team at Michigan. Johnson averaged 13.1 points and 7.3 rebounds.
“It’s his second day,” Johnson, the first non-freshman pick, said of May. “I think it had a little bit to do with it, but not too much. … It’s insane. We won together this past season, looking forward to winning with him when I get there.”
The Milwaukee Bucks reportedly traded two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Miami Heat for four players and three first-round draft picks, including this year’s 13th overall pick, giving them two selections in a four-pick span. The Bucks tabbed Arizona guard Brayden Burries at No. 10 with its own pick. Burries averaged 16.1 points and 4.9 rebounds.
Two other Michigan stalwarts went at No. 11 and No. 12. Forward Yaxel Lendeborg went to the Warriors, followed by center Aday Mara to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Milwaukee was back at No. 13 and used the pick from Miami to take Tennessee forward Nate Ament. The Charlotte Hornets selected Washington rebounding dynamo Hannes Steinbach (national-best 11.8 boards per game) at No. 14 and the Bulls took Texas guard Dailyn Swain at No. 15.
The Memphis Grizzlies made two trades in the middle of the round to move back five spots and secure five future second-round draft picks.
The Oklahoma City Thunder moved up one spot by enticing Memphis with two second-round picks in the deal and the Thunder ended up with Iowa point guard Bennett Stirtz at No. 16.
The Grizzlies then traded the No. 17 pick to the Pistons for the No. 21 spot and acquired three second-round selections. Detroit drafted Stanford guard Ebuka Okorie with that pick.
At No. 21, Memphis took the top international prospect, forward Karim Lopez of Mexico. Lopez has played professionally for the New Zealand Breakers.
Among late-round picks, Alabama guard Labaron Philon Jr. went to the Philadelphia 76ers at No. 22, Iowa State forward Joshua Jefferson went 28th to the Minnesota Timberwolves, UConn forward Alex Karaban was chosen 29th by the Cleveland Cavaliers. Arizona forward Koa Peat was the 30th and final pick of the round.
The second round is Wednesday night.
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TOP AVAILABLE PROSPECTS ENTERING SECOND ROUND
Thirty picks are in but the NBA draft resumes with the second round on Wednesday night.
The NBA’s shift to a two-night primetime event could make for a restless 24 hours for a few of the players remaining on the board in the 2026 draft.
Here’s a look at the top talent still available:
G Meleek Thomas, Arkansas
C Henri Veesaar, North Carolina
G Richie Saunders, BYU
F Baba Miller, Cincinnati
G Jack Kayil, Alba Berlin (Germany)
F Trevon Brazile, Arkansas
G Jaden Bradley, Arizona
F Izaiyah Nelson, South Florida
F Felix Okpara, Tennessee
F Darrion Williams, NC State
G Isaiah Evans, Duke
G Emanuel Sharp, Houston
C Ugonna Onyenso, Virginia
G Ryan Conwell, Louisville
G Otega Oweh, Kentucky
G Braden Smith, Purdue
G Bruce Thornton, Ohio State
G Nick Martinelli, Northwestern
G Kylan Boswell, Illinois
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