AJ Dybantsa Poised to Make History as No. 1 Overall Pick in 2026 NBA Draft

Brigham Young University standout AJ Dybantsa is virtually certain to be selected with the first overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, scheduled for Tuesday, June 23, 2026. According to DraftKings odds, Dybantsa is listed at -550 to go No. 1, and the prediction exchange Kalshi gives him an 85% chance of achieving that feat. If selected first, he will become the first BYU player ever to be taken with the top pick in the NBA Draft, surpassing the program's previous highest selections — Mel Hutchins (second overall in 1951) and Shawn Bradley (second overall in 1993).

While Dybantsa's status as the top prospect is nearly set in stone, the identity of the team that will select him remains the primary source of intrigue. The Washington Wizards hold the No. 1 overall pick, and they recently signed star guard Trae Young to a major extension, potentially creating an exciting scoring duo in the nation's capital. The Utah Jazz own the second pick, and despite strong ties between the Jazz organization and BYU — including owner Ryan Smith and CEO Danny Ainge — a trade up from No. 2 to No. 1 is considered highly unlikely by most analysts. The Deseret.com report cited the high cost and the overall depth of this draft class as reasons a trade is improbable.

With Dybantsa effectively locked in at the top, betting and team strategy interest shifts heavily to the remainder of the first round. Darryn Peterson and Cameron Boozer are the favorites to be the No. 2 overall pick, with DraftKings listing Peterson at -225 and Boozer at +270. Boozer is also the favorite to go at No. 3 overall (-250), and Caleb Wilson leads the odds for the No. 4 pick at -750. The odds begin to spread out significantly starting at the No. 5 pick, with Keaton Wagler (+145) as the frontrunner, followed by Mikel Brown Jr. (+240) and Darius Acuff Jr. (+450).

DraftKings sportsbook director Johnny Avello told ESPN that one of the most popular bets among customers is the exact order of the top three picks, with the long-shot combination of Dybantsa, Boozer, and Caleb Wilson attracting the most action. Avello noted that while the NBA draft will generate a fair amount of betting handle, it should not be confused with the NFL draft in terms of scale or spectacle.

Should the Wizards ultimately select Dybantsa, he would join Trae Young in what many analysts believe could be one of the most exciting one-two punches in the NBA next season. If Washington were to pass on him, the Utah Jazz would likely "trip over themselves" to draft him, according to the Vanquish The Foe report, given his immense local popularity and the business windfall such a selection would bring.