Wizards earn high mark for selecting AJ Dybantsa in NBA Draft

The Washington Wizards were blessed to get the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. But it's stressful having that No. 1 option. They could have gone with any player. Plus, this year's draft class was rich with options.

Having the No. 1 pick comes with a lot of pressure. So, it's not all it's cracked up to be, but you'd still rather have No. 1 than anything else.

After weeks of guessing games and speculation, the Wizards went with the pick they were largely linked to: AJ Dybantsa of the BYU Cougars. Did they do the right thing? Nobody has a crystal ball for the future, but the Wizards are already getting high marks for their selection.

Wizards knocked it out of the park with AJ Dybantsa pick

In a piece grading the draft picks from USA Today, Bryan Kalbrosky gave the Wizards an "A" grade for selecting Dybantsa. First, he gives them props for doing their "due diligence" and looking at not only Dybantsa but also seriously considering Darryn Peterson and Cameron Boozer, who were among the strongest in the class.

"Ultimately, the front office opted for a player with a 6-foot-9 frame and 7-foot-1 wingspan who is one of the best self-creating scorers we have evaluated in a long time," Kalbrosky wrote.

Kalbrosky added: "In the modern NBA, size matters considerably, so Washington will have someone capable of putting the ball on the ground and getting a bucket when his team needs it most."

He also makes a point that Dybantsa will be able to train with veterans Trae Young and Anthony Davis. That should accelerate his growth.

Dybantsa also brings a solid 3-point percentage, shooting 33.1% from 3-point range during his freshman season, according to research from Sports Reference. He's only 19, too, so imagine how much he can grow in the NBA.