Superstars are hard to come by.
That’s because they possess a rare combination of skills, excitement and star power that turn good teams into contenders.
But acquiring one becomes easier when a team owns the No. 1 pick — like the Washington Wizards do in the 2026 NBA Draft.
AJ Dybantsa, who averaged a Division-I-best 25.5 points per game during his lone season at BYU, is the projected top pick. The 6-foot-10 forward is currently -450 to be the No. 1 pick, [according to FanDuel Sportsbook](https://sportsbook.fanduel.com/navigation/nba?tab=nba-draft), ahead of Darryn Peterson (+380) and Cameron Boozer (+1700).
Dybantsa’s rate combination of size, athleticism and scoring ability has made him the best prospect on most draft boards. Here are five plays that showcase his talent.
1. **Elite footwork and patience**
In this clip, Dybantsa catches the ball in the post, his back to the basket as the help defender surveys. Dybantsa creates separation with a dribble and a step back to the elbow and uses a savvy pump fake to get the initial defender in the air.
When a second defender helps, Dybantsa again pump fakes and again get the defender to bite, which creates a lane for him to step through and use his touch to bank an off-hand floater for a tough bucket.
1. **Can get to his spot and shoot over almost anyone**
With BYU trailing against No. 3 UConn, Dybantsa receives the ball near the left block and begins to back his defender down.
He doesn’t get rattled by Alex Karaban’s stunt and instead takes another dribble, steps to the free-throw line and drills a contested mid-range jumper through contact and over an incredible contest from 6-foot-7 Jaylin Stewart.
1. **Speed and power in the open court**
Numerous transition finishes showcase Dybantsa’s speed and finishing ability, but this one stands out.
Dybantsa skies for the rebound and takes it past several defenders to the basket for an emphatic dunk.
1. **Can get downhill and finish at the rim**
I know the title says “five plays,” but I couldn’t resist lumping these two clips together because they showcase Dybantsa’s ability to get into the lane and finish around defenders.
In the first clip, Dybantsa takes the ball in transition and uses a low pickup to blow past the initial defender before utilizing a mean euro step to get an easy layup.
The second clip shows his quick first step, which he showcases with a jab step to get past the on-ball defender. When the help comes, Dybantsa again uses a patient euro step to get to the bucket for another layup.
Dybantsa called himself an “exciting player” at the NBA Combine and said he should be selected with the No. 1 pick because he “fills seats.”
One of the reasons he can comfortably say that: His athleticism is absurd for a player his size. At 6-foot-10 in shoes with a 7-foot wingspan, Dybantsa recorded a 42-inch maximum vertical leap at the Combine — better than Zach LaVine’s 41.5 in 2014.
Dybantsa’s ability to produce highlight plays, such as this emphatic one-handed putback slam to ignite the crowd, will certainly fill seats inside Capital One Arena if he’s the Wizards’ pick come June 23.