It’s a very exciting time to be a BYU basketball fan. Sure, the team disappointed in the NCAA Tournament, losing in the first round to Texas. However, AJ Dybantsa is the most exciting basketball player to ever wear a BYU uniform. And he is on the precipice of BYU history, which could happen during the 2026 NBA Draft on Tuesday, June 23.
BYU has never had the NBA No.1 overall draft pick. Twice, they have gotten the second overall pick. First, Mel Hutchins in 1951. Shawn Bradley was taken No. 2 overall in 1993 by the Philadelphia 76ers.
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Last year, Egor Dёmin became the first BYU player to be taken in the first round since Jimmer Fredette in 2011 when he went eighth overall to Brooklyn.
Dybantsa will most certainly exceed Dёmin’s draft slot. In fact, it would be jaw-dropping if he falls below second overall.
The prediction exchange site Kalshi gives Dybantsa an 85% chance at being the No. 1 overall pick in this coming NBA Draft. That seems like a near certainty.
What is not certain quite yet is who will take the former BYU star at the top draft slot. Right now, the Washington Wizards occupy that spot and certainly could use a player like Dybansta. Understandably, the Utah Jazz sit at spot No. 2 and would love to keep the consensus All-American in Utah. However, Deseret.com says a trade up from two to one is “highly unlikely.” They cite the cost being too high and this draft class having several prospects with star potential.
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Those conversations are juicy, with both Jazz owner Ryan Smith and CEO Danny Ainge having strong BYU ties. The ticket sales would sell themselves. Jerseys. Fan buy-in. Dybansta to the Jazz would be one of the easiest sells of all-time.
However, looking at the business side of things, it does not make a lot of sense for the Jazz to shell out an eye-popping trade package to move up one slot to get him when someone like Darryn Peterson or Cameron Boozer falls right into their laps at no extra charge. Unless internally, they feel strongly that Dybantsa is head-and-shoulders the best player on the board with a chance to take them to a title.
If the Wizards somehow don’t take Dybantsa with the top pick, the Jazz will be tripping over themselves to get to the phone to make the pick for him.
It certainly looks like the most likely scenario is Dybantsa heading to the nation’s capital to join Trae Young, whom the Wizards just signed to a massive extension to stay in D.C. That could be one of the more exciting one-two punches in the NBA next season.
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