{"id":5146,"date":"2026-06-25T20:37:17","date_gmt":"2026-06-25T20:37:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/?p=5146"},"modified":"2026-06-25T20:37:17","modified_gmt":"2026-06-25T20:37:17","slug":"top-draft-pick-aj-dybantsa-arrives-in-washington-ready-to-work-on-turning-the-wizards-around","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/?p=5146","title":{"rendered":"Top draft pick AJ Dybantsa arrives in Washington, ready to work on turning the Wizards around"},"content":{"rendered":"
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AJ Dybantsa, right, poses for a photo with NBA commissioner Adam Silver, left, after being selected by the Washington Wizards as the first pick in the first round of the NBA basketball draft, Tuesday, June 23, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo\/Yuki Iwamura)<\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n

WASHINGTON \u2014 Before basketball became such a big part<\/a> of AJ Dybantsa\u2019s life, he was like any other kid \u2014 growing up as a fan of a fictional superhero.<\/p>

Read more Chicago Cubs acquire left-hander David Peterson in a trade with the New York Mets<\/a><\/p>\n

When he was about five, his father bought him a Spider-Man basketball hoop that went on the back of his door.<\/p>\n

\u201cI loved Spider-Man growing up. So I just started shooting from my bed, started shooting from my bed with this miniature ball. Then I started playing in the YMCA leagues … ended up falling in love with the game,\u201d Dybantsa said. \u201cSo Spider-Man is the reason why I love basketball.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Washington Wizards are certainly glad Dybantsa took up the sport and committed himself to it. Two days after taking the 6-foot-9 star out of BYU with the top pick in the NBA draft, the team introduced him Thursday at a hotel overlooking the Potomac River, about 1 1\/2 miles south from where the Wizards play their home games.<\/p>\n

\u201cNothing comes easy, but I want to be a piece of the puzzle that is part of the rebuild,\u201d he said. \u201cObviously, Wizards fans have been waiting for a long time.\u201d<\/p>\n

This was the first time the Wizards have picked first<\/a> in the draft since 2010 when they took John Wall. Dybantsa joins a team that hasn\u2019t won 50 games in a season since 1979 \u2014 and more recently managed only 50 victories over the past three seasons combined.<\/p>\n

One issue of uncertainty was resolved at the news conference. Dybantsa wore No. 3 in college, but in Washington that belongs to Trae Young. Dybantsa will change to No. 4.<\/p>\n

\u201cPreviously wore No. 3, but I was the No. 1 pick,\u201d he said. \u201cWanted to add those up, and we got four.\u201d<\/p>

Read more Trump\u2019s legal wins on immigration<\/a><\/p>\n

Dybantsa averaged 25.5 points per game in college, becoming the first freshman to lead the nation in scoring since his new teammate, Young, did it at Oklahoma in 2017-18.<\/p>\n

Washington fans will have a chance soon enough to see what Dybantsa brings on the court, but Thursday\u2019s event was an opportunity to see the type of person they\u2019ll be investing so much hope in. Dybantsa was personable and confident, and he seemed eager to get down to business. That much was clear back at the combine before the draft.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was like a job. My dad was like, \u2018This is your first job interview,\u2019\u201d he said. \u201cSo we decided to dress up. I went to a suit and tie in every single interview. Media availability, that was in a suit and tie. So I just wanted to treat it like a real job.\u201d<\/p>\n

That made quite an impression on Wizards general manager Will Dawkins.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a pretty fun first introduction, just to learn the maturity that he brings,\u201d Dawkins said. \u201cWe allow opportunities to ask questions. Sometimes you get the standard questions from guys. We didn\u2019t get that from AJ. He\u2019s just curious and mature and asked some really deep questions.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dybantsa said he intends to graduate college, finishing his studies online, and he has big plans for how he can make a difference away from basketball. The 19-year-old has already started a foundation aimed at empowering young people.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy mom\u2019s from Jamaica, my dad\u2019s from Congo. We\u2019re going to start off just sending 20 kids from there to different universities,\u201d he said. \u201cIf that\u2019s universities in the continent of Africa, if that\u2019s different universities in Jamaica, if that\u2019s universities in the States, we\u2019re going to try that. But after those two, we\u2019re just going to expand all around the world. We just want to help kids all around the world.\u201d<\/p>

Read more Athletics place Zack Gelof on injured list with hand contusion<\/a><\/p>\n

___<\/p>\n

AP NBA: https:\/\/apnews.com\/nba<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Two days after taking the 6-foot-9 star out of BYU with the top pick in the NBA draft, the Washington Wizards introduced AJ Dybantsa at a hotel overlooking the Potomac River<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5144,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5146","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-interesting"],"yoast_head":"\nTop draft pick AJ Dybantsa arrives in Washington, ready to work on turning the Wizards around - Moving Insider USA<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/?p=5146\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Top draft pick AJ Dybantsa arrives in Washington, ready to work on turning the Wizards around - 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