Leading up to the 2026 NBA draft, the race for the No. 1 pick has boiled down to AJ Dybantsa and Darryn Peterson. According to insider Brett Siegel, the Washington Wizards have made up their mind on the top overall selection.
Siegel reported that the Wizards have essentially reassured Dybantsa that he (and not Peterson) will be the first in this year’s draft class to shake hands with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver.
“Dybantsa recently worked out for the Wizards and met with the team’s leadership at the end of last week, and everything went ‘perfect,’ according to one source close to the situation. The BYU forward and his camp got strong signals from his time with the Wizards that he would be the first pick in this year’s draft.”
Siegel added that Peterson refuses to be deterred and that the Kansas star “wants to fight for the Wizards” so that he can have the honor of being selected first overall.
While Dybantsa has publicly stated that he’s perfectly fine with playing anywhere, Peterson has been more vocal about his preferences, refusing to meet with any team other than the Wizards. The Jazz could scoop him up at No. 2 if Dybantsa is indeed the top pick.
From the looks of it, Dybantsa, an athletic forward out of BYU, is set to join a roster highlighted by All-Star talents in Anthony Davis and Trae Young, as well as young prospects like Kyshawn George and Alex Sarr.
AJ Dybantsa’s Dad Sends Interesting Text to NBA Insider Ahead of 2026 Draft
With the NBA draft just days away, the families of this year’s prospects are getting caught up in the hype as well.
On an episode of “The Hoop Collective” podcast this week, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said AJ Dybantsa’s father Ace had texted him a photo of a Jazz shirt and a Wizards shirt side by side.
As Windhorst continued to discuss the draft with recurring guests Tim Bontemps and Tim MacMahon, the trio agreed that Dybantsa would not fall past the No. 2 pick.
READ MORE: NBA Draft Rumors: Darryn Peterson Makes Intentions Clear On Going First Overall With Bold Decision
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