AJ Dybantsa is going to enjoy being around Commanders star Jayden Daniels and the Washington community following the Wizards' draft selection of him during the 2026 NBA Draft on Tuesday night.
Dybantsa only spent one season of playing college basketball with the BYU Cougars. He shined as one of the best performing freshmen in the country, averaging 25.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.1 steals per game. His efforts earned him the scoring title, the Julius Erving Award, First Team All-American honors, and Big 12 Freshman of the Year honors.
The Wizards recognized his talents and wasted no time selecting him first overall in the draft. They are in a crucial point in its rebuilding period, having landed star talents and added young prospects to be an intriguing playoff contender.
One of Dybantsa's supporters appears to be Daniels. The star quarterback has been in contact with the young star, giving him a warm welcome to Washington, per reporter Alex Frum.
“It feels good. I mean, Jayden's been texting me since the lottery happened, talking about ‘Welcome to DC, welcome to DC, and I'm like, ‘Bro, we don't know yet,' but I'm sure he's happy,” Dybantsa said.
AJ Dybantsa says that since the NBA draft lottery, Jayden Daniels has been texting him a bunch saying "welcome to DC."
Now, AJ Dybantsa is officially a Washington Wizard and is adding to the new era of DC sports star power@DCNewsNow @AJ_Dybantsa @JayD__5 pic.twitter.com/N6sKZZE3B8
— Alex Flum (@AlexFlumTV) June 24, 2026
What's next for Wizards amid AJ Dybantsa's draft selection
AJ Dybantsa will look forward to bringing success to the Wizards franchise. It is something that Washington fans will anticipate in excitement when he makes his debut in the 2026-27 NBA season.
Washington hasn't returned to the playoffs since 2021, going through its rebuilding phase since then. This past season saw them finish with a 17-65 record, being at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings.
However, they have a chance to return to playoff basketball with the star talent they have on the roster. Trae Young and Anthony Davis will be ready for training camp, giving the team valuable experience and All-Star production they desperately need.
AJ Dybantsa is going to enjoy being around Commanders star Jayden Daniels and the Washington community following the Wizards' draft selection of him during the 2026 NBA Draft on Tuesday night. Dybantsa only spent one season of playing college basketball with the BYU Cougars. He shined as one of the best performing freshmen in the country, averaging 25.