As the Washington Wizards won the NBA Draft Lottery and will hold the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, there are many who believe the team will draft BYU star AJ Dybantsa. While people will make the case for the Wizards to use the No. 1 draft pick on others, Stephen A. Smith would throw major shots at the franchise after the lottery win.
On ESPN's “First Take,” Smith would give his thoughts on Dybantsa possibly going to Washington to start his NBA career as the team has the No. 1 pick, and let's just say the analyst wasn't thrilled. Smith would even say that he “felt sorry” for Dybantsa, expressing how much the Wizards are a “basketball abomination.”
“I looked at this, and I felt sorry for him. I felt sorry. I've interviewed AJ Dybantsa three times. He came on First Take and announced that he was going to BYU right here on this show. We got a lot of love for him, a lot of appreciation for him…and his family. The Washington Wizards have lost 64 games at least over the last few years. They are a basketball abomination,” Smith said.
"I felt sorry for him… They are a basketball abomination… They are horrible… I just don't believe in them organizationally."
Stephen A. Smith weighs in on AJ Dybantsa potentially heading to the Washington Wizards 👀
(via @FirstTake)pic.twitter.com/K79AoBWwKG
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) May 11, 2026
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Stephen A. Smith highlights the Wizards' dysfunction
Smith would continue on his thoughts on the Wizards, saying that the sole reason why their dysfunction isn't talked about more is because of the government in the nation's capital, with President Donald Trump in office.
“That's the only reason. If it was not for that, we'd be focused on them. They are horrible. And so when I look at him, yeah, you know, I know that he can play, but do you really believe in the word culture and growth and development when it comes to what's going on in the nation's capital? I'm not saying they don't have some players because I know they do. I just don't believe in them organizationally. That's my issue,” Smith said.
At any rate, it remains to be seen if Washington takes Dybantsa with the No. 1 overall pick, and if they do, if the team will prove Smith and develop his talent tenfold.
As the Washington Wizards won the NBA Draft Lottery and will hold the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, there are many who believe the team will draft BYU star AJ Dybantsa. While people will make the case for the Wizards to use the No. 1 draft pick on others, Stephen A. Smith would throw major shots at the franchise after the lottery win.