AJ Dybantsa is widely projected as a top-two pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. Many experts have placed him No. 1 overall because of his offensive prowess and physical presence. Either way, Dybantsa will be one of the main highlights of this year’s draft.
The biggest question surrounding Dybantsa is which team he’ll go to. Nearly every team in the NBA could benefit from a talent like him.
On The Colin Cowherd Podcast, Doug Gottlieb was asked about Dybantsa’s draft projection. Before Cowherd could finish his question, Gottlieb made a strong claim.
“First thing everybody should know is that if the Utah Jazz have the number one pick, they’re taking AJ Dybantsa. How do I know? He went to Utah Prep, which is funded by Ryan Smith. He went to BYU, which is funded by Ryan Smith. Ryan Smith owns the Utah Jazz,” he said.
Gottlieb outlined the pattern with Dybantsa’s career and how Ryan Smith has been involved every step of the way.
“There has never been a person that has ever been tampered with more than AJ Dybantsa to end up with the Utah Jazz,” he added.
Gottlieb claimed that “everybody knows” about the alleged tampering and the moves Smith has been making over the years to eventually add Dybantsa to the Jazz roster.
“Jesus Christ could be getting ready to walk on water and turn water into wine, they’re [Utah] drafting AJ Dybantsa,” Gottlieb said, adding a more dramatic touch to his claim.
The NBA Draft will take place next month.
AJ Dybantsa Wants to Play With Victor Wembanyama
While the debates around Dybantsa’s NBA future will go on for at least another month, the 19-year-old has been telling people where he wants to go. Dybantsa is a big fan of Victor Wembanyama and wants to be his teammate.
In January 2025, Dybantsa traveled to Paris for the NBA’s Global Games and to get an up-close look at Wembanyama. In an interview with ESPN, he expressed his wish to play alongside Wemby.
“I think Victor is just ridiculous; the things he does are just crazy,” he said. “I just think we would’ve been a crazy duo. Now the odds of that happening are very slim. But I mean, it was just a thought that came up in my mind when he got drafted.”
The prospect of Wemby and Dybantsa joining forces in San Antonio will be exciting for Spurs fans, and terrifying for other teams in the league.
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