BYU freshman basketball phenom AJ Dybantsa made a big announcement Thursday.
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The 6-foot-9 wing will enter the 2026 NBA Draft. He posted a short video on his YouTube channel. Dybantsa posted a post on social media that said “Tomorrow.” The caption was followed by an image that read: “Big news tomorrow. 11:45 am ET. IG Live at 12:00 pm ET.”
AJ Dybantsa’s NBA Draft Announcement Press Conference on Instagram
This was a difficult decision for Dybantsa, who said her mother wanted her to stay in school. He said he plans to remain academically at BYU and graduate in the next four years. Dybantsa also thanked his coaches, including Kevin Young, for their support.
While Dybantsa left the door open to speculation, this was the right decision. The projected top pick averaged 25.3 points to lead the nation last season. Dybantsa was named to the All-Big 12 Tournament Team, All-Big 12 First Team and was named the Big 12 Freshman of the Year in his likely only season in Provo.
The 2026 NBA Draft is scheduled to begin on June 23. The April 24 deadline for draft eligibility will cause many players like Dybantsa to announce their intentions. The NBA Draft Lottery will take place on May 10. Here’s a look at the 14 teams trying to secure the top pick.
The 14 teams that did not make the playoffs are eligible for the lottery, although two teams swapped their lottery picks. Here are the odds of getting the top pick based on how each team finished the regular season, according to ESPN.
1. Washington Wizards: 14% chance of picking No. 1
2. Indiana Pacers: 14%
3. Brooklyn Networks: 14%
4. Utah Jazz: 11.5%
5. Kings of Sacramento: 11.5%
6. Memphis Grizzlies: 8.0%
7. Atlanta Hawks (via New Orleans Pelicans): 6.8%
8. Dallas Mavericks: 6.7%
9. Chicago Bulls: 4.5%
10. Milwaukee Dollars: 3%
11. Warriors of the Golden State: 2%
12. Oklahoma City Thunder (via LA Clippers): 1.5%
13. Miami Heat: 1%
14. Charlotte Hornets: 0.5%
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