AJ Dybantsa : The portrait of a prodigy

Published on November 9, 2026 7 min. reading

“ With the first pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, the Washington Wizards select… Anicet Dybantsa Jr ”

A new star has now joined the NBA constellation. Selected first overall by the Washington Wizards, AJ Dybantsa has seen years of hard work and sacrifice come to fruition following a historic evening in Brooklyn. More than just a dream, here is a profile of a prodigy whose sole aim is to be number one.

Discover Paris Basketball

FROM A FORCED MARRIAGE TO A ROMANCE

A few weeks before the Draft, AJ Dybantsa was still strolling along the boulevards of Paris, a world away from Brooklyn. Between the Champions League final, a detour to Roland Garros to support his compatriot Frances Tiafoe, and a Betclic ÉLITE match between Paris and Cholet, the future number one was making the most of his last moments of peace and quiet in a city he knows well. For AJ, Paris is not just any destination.

When he was younger, he regularly spent time in the Paris region with his sisters, particularly in Trappes. He owes his connection to France to his father. Born in the Congo, Anicet Dybantsa lived in the Paris region before settling in Boston. But whilst Anicet shared his son’s fondness for the tricolour, he passed on to him, above all, a passion for basketball : “ My dad put a ball in my hands, and I’ve been playing ever since, ” says AJ.

To tell the truth, basketball was far from a given for the Brockton native. As a child, AJ spent most of his time playing with his sisters. And even though his father insisted at the time on introducing him to the sport he loved so much, nothing worked. Then one day, a miracle happened. Whilst Anicet was wandering the aisles of the shops doing his shopping, he came across a Spider-Man-themed basketball hoop. It was a sudden revelation for AJ: “I didn’t necessarily like basketball to begin with, but my dad bought me a Spider-Man hoop because I was hooked. It’s always been hanging behind my door. I’ve been in love with basketball ever since,” says the new Wizards player today.

The years go by. The passion grows. At the age of 11, AJ tells his father he wants to become an NBA player. The response is blunt and comes straight away : “ Stop daydreaming. There are more doctors and lawyers than NBA players in this world. I’ll help you, but you’ve got to get A’s and B’s. If you get a C, that’s it. ” For whilst Anicet is delighted today to see that his son can’t bring himself to leave the sports hall once he’s gone in, it’s also thanks to him and the sacrifices he made. “ I try to take the best things from every continent and instil them in my children. Europe and France have taught us hard work, respect for our elders and helping others, ” he explains. A former police officer in Boston, AJ’s father doesn’t mess about when it comes to the rules.

Little by little, the Spider-Man basket became too small for AJ. In 2020, in the midst of the pandemic, something clicked for AJ and his father. Like millions of other teenagers, AJ spent his days cooped up at home. With one difference: he spent his time training. Over three months, he grew by nearly ten centimetres. His body changed. So did his game. His passion grew.

THE PATH TO THE ELITE

In the spotlight from a very early age and watched wherever he goes, AJ Dybantsa never seems to buckle under the pressure. His focus remains the same: to play, to improve and to win. Whilst still at secondary school, AJ left Massachusetts to join Hurricane High School in Utah. When the time came to choose a university, the country’s top programmes were all vying for his attention. Nearly 30 offers in two years: Duke, North Carolina, Kansas and even Alabama… Yet AJ opted for a different path. He headed for BYU, also in Utah. More than just a prestigious programme, AJ was looking for an environment already tailored for the elite. On the Cougars’ bench sat Kevin Young, a former assistant coach with the Phoenix Suns. For someone who had always envisaged himself playing at the very highest level, it was hard to imagine a better setting.

It’s proving to be a winning bet. AJ Dybantsa is establishing himself as one of the main attractions in American university basketball. As the NCAA’s top scorer, averaging over 25 points, the forward is putting in a performance that no freshman has matched since Trae Young in 2018. He is thus cementing his status as a favourite for the Draft. The arenas are filling up, defences are adapting to him and comparisons with the greatest prospects of recent years are rife. As his stock rises, so do his team’s successes. Notably whilst representing Team USA, where he has won the U16, U17 and U19 World Championships.

At just 19, AJ Dybantsa is no longer just a prospect. He has become the face of a generation. A rising superstar whom the NBA is now eagerly awaiting.

A NEW STAR IN WASHINGTON

By selecting AJ Dybantsa with the first pick in the draft, Washington has handed the reins to this 19-year-old player. Since their sole NBA title in 1978, the Wizards have been waiting to return to the forefront. Having languished at the bottom of the Eastern Conference in recent seasons, the franchise nevertheless seems to have found a clear direction since the start of its rebuild.

However, it took a few weeks before he could pull on the Wizards’ jersey. Having suffered a sprained ankle towards the end of pre-season, AJ Dybantsa missed his new team’s opening fixtures. But on his debut against the Cleveland Cavaliers, the number one pick in the 2026 Draft reminded everyone why Washington had backed him. 19 points, 2 rebounds and 2 assists in just 27 minutes. Despite the defeat, the young forward made a successful entry into the big league.

Closer to the game…

Closer to the light !

A standout player

Standing 2.06 metres tall and weighing 95 kilos, AJ has an impressive physique for his age. Powerful, agile and with particularly quick footwork, he can take the hits, change pace and find his way to the basket. When he can’t get to the basket, his mid-range game allows him to find other solutions. An already very well-rounded offensive game, which partly explains why he seems so unfazed by the step up to the next level.

Nothing is perfect, however. His outside shooting remains inconsistent. With a 27.3 per cent success rate from behind the arc, the rookie still needs to improve his consistency in this area. But in a team that already boasts several established players, Dybantsa has all the makings of a future franchise player.

Fifteen years after that famous Spider-Man basketball hoop was hung behind his bedroom door, AJ has swapped his favourite superhero’s cap for a Wizards jersey. His dreams haven’t disappeared; they’ve simply grown in scale. Because this time, it’s no longer a basketball hoop waiting for him behind a door. It’s the NBA opening its doors to him.

Article by Ferdinand Pierre