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Washington Wizards NBA draft grades for AJ Dybantsa 1st-round pick The Washington Wizards took BYU product AJ Dybantsa with the No.
1 pick in the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft on June 23.
Do NBA writers like the pick for Washington? Check out their early NBA draft grades for the Wizards' selection of Dybantsa, who impressed during his only season at BYU.
The 6-foot-9, 210-pound forward averaged 25.5 points per game, 6.8 rebounds per game and 3.7 assists per game as a freshman.
NBA writers have raved about Dybantsa's skills and his ability to quickly shine in the NBA.
Watch 2026 NBA Draft on FUBO (free trial)Yahoo Sports: Wizards land an A+ for AJ Dybantsa pick Kevin O'Connor writes: "The Wizards finally land their star.
Dybantsa could become one of the NBA's most unstoppable shot-creators.
At 6-foot-9, he has a special blend of athletic tools the way he bends, shifts, and explodes with the ball in his hands.
Dybantsa led the nation with 25.5 points per game while breaking Danny Ainge's 48-year-old BYU freshman scoring record with a 43-point eruption.
He gets to the rim at will, cooks in the midrange, draws fouls at a high rate, and displays point forward potential.
After weeks of deliberating between Dybantsa and Kansas guard Darryn Peterson, Dybantsa likely got the nod because he's significantly taller and comes with less baggage." CBS Sports: Wizards earn an A for AJ Dybantsa selection Adam Finkelstein writes: "Dybantsa is a prototypical big wing with positional size, length, athleticism, and an elastic build who can score from all three levels and create his own offense almost on demand.
He pressures the rim, understands how to get fouled, and is as polished of a scorer as we've seen in several draft cycles.
He will be a Day 1 scorer in the NBA and yet still has plenty of room to keep taking his game to new levels with the progression of his 3-point shooting, handle, and defense.
Dybantsa legitimately has the potential to lead the NBA in scoring one day, but also has to prove that he can consistently impact, and ultimately, drive winning." Bleacher Report: Wizards get an A for AJ Dybantsa at No.
1 Zach Buckley writes: "The Wizards either took their decision-making process down to the wire, or they did a tremendous job of masking their intentions.
Either way, they wound up doing the right thing and came away with the new central figure of their franchise.
AJ Dybantsa's physical tools are second to none in this draft class.
He has a penthouse-high ceiling, as well as a lofty floor that sits a lengthy elevator ride up from ground level." Sports Illustrated: Wizards receive an A for AJ Dybantsa pick Kevin Sweeney writes: "The Wizards endured three straight 64-plus-loss campaigns and eight straight losing seasons for a chance to add a prospect like Dybantsa.
He checks all the boxes of an elite prospect, from the measurables to the consistent track record of production.
He becomes the centerpiece of a promising young core with Alex Sarr, Kyshawn George, Bilal Coulibaly and Tre Johnson, and when paired with Trae Young and Anthony Davis should position the Wizards to get back to the postseason sooner rather than later." NBC Sports: Wizards get an A for AJ Dybantsa selection Kurt Helin writes: "This was not a no-brainer there were three players legitimately worthy of being the No.
1 at the top of the draft.
Washington, however, made the best choice for them.
Dybantsa is a 6'9" wing who can score from all three levels and lit up college basketball last season.
When I saw him play in person, what stood out was that he is a tough shotmaker, a skill needed by elite players in the league.
Dybantsa seems a natural fit between Trae Young at the point and Anthony Davis and Alex Sarr on the front line.
Washington nailed this." USA TODAY Sports: Wizards land an A for pick of AJ Dybantsa Bryan Kalbrosky writes: "The Washington Wizards did their due diligence and reportedly considered AJ Dybantsa and Darryn Peterson as well as Cameron Boozer before deciding on Dybantsa.
Ultimately, the front office opted for a player with a 6-foot-9 frame and 7-foot-1 wingspan who is one of the best self-creating scorers we have evaluated in a long time.
In the modern NBA, size matters considerably, so Washington will have someone capable of putting the ball on the ground and getting a bucket when his team needs it most.
Expect the Wizards to play through Dybantsa, who should benefit from playing alongside veterans Trae Young and Anthony Davis." For The Win: Wizards receive an A+ for AJ Dybantsa draft pick It writes: "A rare physical talent at a position of need, Dybantsa was the obvious pick here.
He'll slot in perfectly on the wing with Anthony Davis down low and Trae Young running the point.
Dybantsa led the nation in scoring as a freshman and he's only beginning to scratch the surface of what he can do on that end.
He's also a better playmaker than you'd expect.
This is a franchise-changing pick for Washington." Reach Jeremy Cluff at [email protected].
Follow him on X, formerly Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.
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