The Washington Wizards future is finally here and he goes by the name AJ Dybantsa.
For years, Washington's front office made the best out of bad situations, salvaging poor NBA Draft Lottery luck with swings on high-upside talent they hoped could be the face of the franchise.
Those selections led them to construct a young core led by Alex Sarr, Bilal Coulibaly, Tre Johnson, Bub Carrington, and even Kyshawn George and Will Riley, who have proven to be late-round gems.
The optimism the young players above offered Washington's front office led the team to make bold swings for a pair of All-Stars in Trae Young and Anthony Davis, who many expected to lead the team to the next step as soon as next season.
That was before the team's good fortune finally returned, landing them the top pick to select AJ Dybantsa in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Now, it's become clear that this is Dybantsa's team, and the comments from NBA legend and current analyst Kenny Smith during Washington's Summer League battle against the LA Clippers should send a clear message to both Young and Davis.
Kenny Smith makes it clear that AJ Dybantsa is the Wizards guy NOW
Dybantsa's Summer League stretch made it clear just how impactful he's going to be from day one in the league.
The scoring upside is obvious, his feel for the game at such a young age is impressive in its own right, and what he offers as a two-way threat will allow him to see extended minutes from the jump.
When discussing the Wizards' playoff chances this upcoming season with Jeremy Lin during the broadcast, Kenny Smith had high praise for Dybantsa.
"It depends on their development and how fast that happens. And also how fast they acknowledge that he [AJ Dybantsa] is THE guy," Smith said.
Smith continued, revealing his expectations for the BYU standout in year one:
"It's gonna be the easiest 20 points per game in his life...He will never get doubled. He's going to shoot over 55%."
Lin quickly followed up, suggesting that Dybantsa should be the 1A option during his rookie campaign.
For Davis and Young, who've both been treated as the top options throughout their careers, being able to rely on a rookie will be new territory, but the reality is that Dybantsa is just THAT good, and if he's given the keys immediately, he could prove both Smith and Lin right.
Regardless of Davis and Young's resumes, while they are a focal piece of the Wizards' future, this team is without a doubt Dybantsa's moving forward.
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