In what is considered 1 of the astir talented classes successful caller memory, the Washington Wizards selected BYU tiny guardant AJ Dybantsa with the No. 1 wide prime of the NBA Draft.
Heading into Thursday's draught astatine the Barclays Center successful Brooklyn, the Wizards were believed to beryllium deciding betwixt Dybantsa and Kansas phenom combo defender Darryn Peterson.
Dybantsa volition articulation a Wizards squad that has struggled to find its footing successful caller years, making lone 1 playoff quality successful the past 8 seasons owed to a bid of misfires connected the roster front.
AJ Dybantsa poses connected the reddish carpet anterior to the archetypal circular of the 2026 NBA Draft astatine Barclays Center connected June 23, 2026, successful New York City.
Arturo Holmes / Getty Images
But the Wizards volition beryllium looking for a caller commencement with a squad built astir Dybantsa, prima constituent defender Trae Young — who agreed to a four-year, $212 cardinal woody earlier this week — and large antheral Anthony Davis, who the Wizards traded for successful February.
The Wizards desperately request Dybantsa to beryllium helium tin marque them contenders successful a competitory Eastern Conference that conscionable saw the New York Knicks win their archetypal NBA title successful 53 years, and past saw superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo traded from the Milwaukee Bucks to the Miami Heat.
The past clip the Wizards had the No. 1 wide prime was successful 2010, erstwhile they took constituent defender John Wall. The five-time All-Star had a coagulated vocation that was yet derailed by injuries. Wizards fans volition beryllium hoping Dybantsa has a amended tenure.
Many experts judge immoderate imaginable chaos oregon surprises successful the draught volition commencement astatine the 5th prime oregon later, due to the fact that on with Dybantsa and Peterson, Duke guardant Cameron Boozer and North Carolina guardant Caleb Wilson are wide expected to circular retired the apical four. Boozer is pursuing successful the footsteps of his celebrated father, Carlos Boozer, who besides played astatine Duke earlier a palmy NBA career.
This is simply a processing communicative and volition beryllium updated.
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