The Washington Wizards hold the keys to the No. 1 overall pick and ultimately the right to select AJ Dybantsa with the top pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Many thought that the BYU standout could force the Wizards' hand after reports surfaced suggesting that the forward held out hope that the Utah Jazz would land the top selection in the NBA Draft Lottery.
However, Dybantsa's latest quote during an interview on the All The Smoke podcast suggests that the projected top prospect cares more about being the No. 1 overall selection than he does staying in the state of Utah.
AJ Dybantsa says going No. 1 is very important to him
When Stephen Jackson asked Dybantsa how important being the No. 1 pick was to him, the Boston native didn't hold back:
"Very important," Dybantsa said with a straight face. "I've been No. 1 since my first rankings came out. I mean, ESPN ranked me No. 1 in 9th grade, I was like 14 and I ain't drop so I don't plan on dropping in the draft."
Dybantsa's goal is clear: he wants to be the top pick, and that shouldn't come as a surprise, given nearly every competitor in the draft wants to prove they are the best prospect available.
Between the quote above and the Big 12 product already making it clear that his NBA Draft Lottery expression was blown out of proportion, it feels almost obvious at this point that whoever owns the top pick when the NBA Draft comes around is the team Dybantsa wants to play for.
Whether that's the Wizards, the Jazz, or any other team that manages to persuade Washington to forfeit the top pick, it doesn't matter.
Dyabntsa wants to go No. 1 and at this rate, it feels like that's the way things are heading.
Wizards will select Dyabntsa with the top pick
All indications suggest that Washington will be keeping their top pick, and after over a decade without the luxury of securing a cornerstone, that was the expected outcome all along.
The Wizards have yet to receive an offer that makes them feel like trading down is in their best interest, and even if they do, it's hard to see them passing on a prospect like Dybantsa.
All that to say, unless something drastic changes, the Wizards will select AJ Dybantsa with the top pick at the end of June.
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