No. 1 Draft Pick AJ Dybantsa Targets Doncic

BYU star AJ Dybantsa, selected first overall by the Washington Wizards in the 2026 NBA Draft, appeared on the "Road Trippin' Show" podcast alongside Allie Clifton, Channing Frye and Richard Jefferson, where he revealed the stars he's eager to face in his rookie campaign. The young forward shared his dream of matching up against future Hall of Famers like LeBron James, Steph Curry and Kevin Durant, but singled out Luka Doncic as one of the players he's most curious about.

Dybantsa said he specifically wants to guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Luka Doncic, players he's watched live, explaining that as a "student of the game" he wants to see up close how the two superstars get their shots off so easily. He expressed a similar curiosity about Nikola Jokic, saying: "This sounds crazy, but I want to be on an iso island and see if he's moving that slow." After Richard Jefferson confirmed that Jokic really is that slow, Dybantsa jokingly replied, "I mean, it works."

Dybantsa impressed during this summer's NBA Summer League with the Wizards, averaging 25 points, seven rebounds, 2.5 steals, two assists and 1.5 blocks across two games. On the podcast, he made clear his primary goal isn't individual accolades but leading his team to the playoffs. The 6-foot-9 rookie said: "If I make it to the playoffs, I think Rookie of the Year will come, Rising Stars will come — all that good stuff. My main goal is to make the playoffs."

Source: Road Trippin' Show
Image: Eurohoops