Wizards Select AJ Dybantsa First Overall in NBA Draft

BYU's AJ Dybantsa was selected No. 1 overall by the Washington Wizards in the 2026 NBA Draft, with Giannis Antetokounmpo's trade to Miami also reshaping the league's landscape on draft night.

The Morning Brief Desk · June 24, 2026 · Based on reporting by ESPN · Updated July 13, 2026

The Washington Wizards selected BYU forward AJ Dybantsa with the first overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, choosing him over Kansas guard Darryn Peterson. Dybantsa was the consensus top prospect heading into the draft, and the selection could be a turning point for one of the league's rebuilding franchises.

The financial stakes were enormous. The No. 1 pick will earn nearly $70 million on his rookie contract -- a figure propped up by the NBA's record-breaking television deals. Sliding just a few spots in the draft order can cost a prospect roughly $30 million in guaranteed earnings. CBS Sports analyst Adam Finkelstein called this one of the best drafts in recent memory.

Sources

ESPN — Wizards opt for BYU's Dybantsa with No. 1 pick
The Wizards ushered in a new era by drafting AJ Dybantsa with the first pick, selecting him over Kansas' Darryn Peterson to help turn around the franchise.
Read at ESPN →
CBS Sports — 2026 NBA Draft Grades: Analysis for AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, Cameron Boozer, rest of first-round picks
Adam Finkelstein has the breakdown of each pick in one of the best drafts in recent memory.
Read at CBS Sports →
MarketWatch — The No. 1 NBA draft pick will make nearly $70 million as TV deals keep money flowing into the NBA
There's so much money at stake in the NBA draft that falling a few slots could cost a player $30 million.
Read at MarketWatch →

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