The NBA Draft is less than 24 hours away, and for the first time in years, there is no consensus No. 1 Overall pick. BYU star AJ Dybantsa and Kansas standout Darryn Peterson are both in contention to be picked by the Washington Wizards.
While Peterson has made his intentions very clear about playing for Washington by rejecting pre-draft interviews with any other franchise, Dybantsa has been much more open during the formalities leading up to the big night.
However, Peterson’s refusal to interview with teams might not be the only concern, according to Stephen A. Smith. On Monday’s edition of First Take, the ESPN host said:
“My point is, you owe those fans something to cheer about and something that’s going to be a model of consistency. I have zero questions about Darren Peterson’s game. My question is, can I trust him to be that dude over the course of an 82-game regular season and a postseason, assuming you get there again one day? Can I trust you to be that dude and the face of a franchise?”
Darryn Peterson previously missed an extended amount of time for Kansas due to injury, sitting out for a total of 11 games for hamstring issues, ankle sprains, and illness.
Darryn Peterson Projected to Land In Utah in the 2026 NBA Draft
While Peterson has exclusively offered himself to the Washington Wizards, according to a mock draft by ESPN’s Jeremy Woo, the top prospect can end up going second-overall to the Utah Jazz instead.
According to Woo, Dybantsa would be the missing piece in the Wizards’ offense alongside Anthony Davis and Trae Young, should he extend with Washington. On the other hand, despite the concerns in the media, Peterson’s injuries have not been an obstacle for NBA teams.
Peterson clarified his decision not to work out with the Jazz, despite them holding the second-overall pick, saying:
“Just a decision that was made. I’m definitely not dodging any team.”
With multiple trades expected to happen during or before the NBA Draft, including the Bucks moving Giannis Antetokounmpo to possibly the Heat or the Celtics, there is still a chance for the NBA Draft order to shake up before the first pick is in on Tuesday night.
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