The Washington Wizards have their newest centerpiece: former BYU star AJ Dybantsa, the franchise’s first No. 1 overall pick since John Wall in 2010. Introduced Thursday at a hotel near the Potomac River, Dybantsa is already embracing the challenge of helping turn the Wizards’ fortunes around.
Basketball wasn’t always Dybantsa’s dream—at age five, he was just a kid obsessed with Spider-Man, shooting hoops with a toy basket on his bedroom door. “Spider-Man is the reason I love basketball,” he laughed, recalling those early days and YMCA league games that sparked his passion.
Now, after a record-breaking freshman season—averaging 25.5 points per game and becoming the first freshman to lead the nation in scoring since new teammate Trae Young—Dybantsa is the face of a Wizards team eager for a new era. The franchise hasn’t won 50 games in a season since 1979, and has tallied just 50 in total over the last three years.
Dybantsa, who wore No. 3 in college (the same number now belonging to Young in Washington), will don No. 4 for the Wizards: “Previously wore No. 3, but I was the No. 1 pick. Add those up and we got four.”
More than just his talent, Dybantsa’s maturity and drive have already impressed Wizards management. He treated the NBA Draft Combine like a job interview—suit and tie for every meeting, media included. “It was like a job. My dad said, ‘This is your first job interview,’” he recalled.
General manager Will Dawkins praised Dybantsa’s curiosity and depth: “He’s just curious and mature and asked some really deep questions.”
Off the court, Dybantsa is committed to making an impact. He’s started a foundation to empower youth worldwide, beginning by sending students from his family’s native Jamaica and Congo to universities, with plans to expand globally.
As he settles into Washington, Dybantsa is clear about his mission: “Nothing comes easy, but I want to be a piece of the puzzle that is part of the rebuild. Wizards fans have been waiting for a long time.” Now, they have a new star ready to take up the challenge.
