AJ Dybantsa, left, a BYU commit and projected 2026 NBA draft choose, sits within the stands earlier than a 2025 Paris Video games NBA basketball recreation between the Indiana Pacers and the San Antonio Spurs in Paris, on Saturday January 25, 2025. (AP Photograph/ Thibault Camus)Supply: submit
PARIS (AP) – AJ Dybantsa is acknowledged at NBA Video games NOW. It makes what might occur to him in about 18 months just a little extra actual.
Dybantsa — the BYU-related phenomenon who could possibly be the No. 1 choose within the 2026 NBA draft – was at San Antonio-Indiana video games in Paris this week. His presence made sense for a number of causes: he made no secret that he wish to play for Spurs sooner or later, and his father, Ace Dybantsa, performed professionally in Paris.
“I have been enthusiastic about 2026 for the reason that day I began dribbling,” Dybantsa stated Saturday, sitting courtside earlier than the second of two Spurs-Pacers video games in France. “It’s nearer now, nevertheless it’s nonetheless the identical. It is nonetheless the dream.
Dybantsa – a five-star recruit who turns 18 on Wednesday – introduced his dedication to BYU in November, turning down gives from a few of the nation’s largest packages like Kansas, North Carolina, UConn, Auburn and extra. He has change into one of many faces of title, picture and likeness (NIL) success, with studies indicating that Dybantsa will be capable of flip his rumored one-year stint at BYU into an revenue of a minimum of $7 million.
The upper-scoring 6-foot-8 wing is not positive of the true quantity. “Solely my father is aware of,” Dybantsa stated.
He insists BYU wasn’t chosen for the cash. He stated he selected it for the individuals, and what BYU coach Kevin Younger is being realized.
Younger got here to the Cougars from the NBA; he spent practically a decade as an assistant on the staffs of Philadelphia and Phoenix earlier than make the transfer again to varsity. Dybantsa totally believes that what Younger is doing might be nice preparation for the NBA. And when Suns star Kevin Durant sang Younger’s praises, it resonated much more with Dybantsa through the decision-making course of.
“He’s my favourite participant,” Dybantsa stated.
It wasn’t simply Durant who seen. Shaquille O’Neal is inquisitive about Dybantsa’s future and tries to present him recommendation when he can. Paolo Banchero is aware of Dybantsa’s recreation. LeBron James, Chris Paul and plenty of others do it too.
“The blokes I look as much as, like their idols, discover my recreation,” Dybantsa stated. “Guys like Kevin Durant, Paul George, LeBron, they understand it. It is loopy that I might doubtlessly play towards these guys, on this flooring.
There’s some symmetry in Dybantsa being in Paris for these video games, since his father performed within the metropolis – dwelling not removed from the world the place the Spurs and Pacers performed. Anicet Dybantsa Sr. is initially from Congo; AJ’s mom, Chelsea, is Jamaican. The backgrounds are distinctive and AJ believes this has helped him expertise the world via a number of prisms.
“I’ve good genes,” he stated. “I believe I can converse for 90% of kids of African descent once I say that African dad and mom are very strict. So I see the world actually in a different way. I’ve dad and mom who’ve taught self-discipline since I used to be born. So, I simply have the concept every part needs to be earned, not given.
Again residence, Dybantsa awaits the rest of his highschool season at Utah Prep. He is hoping to attempt his luck on the Chipotle Nationals in April and was simply introduced as considered one of USA Basketball’s chosen gamers for this yr’s Nike Hoop Summit.
After which, in June 2026, there’s the NBA draft. He hopes so anyway.
“I’m not there but,” Dybantsa stated. “I’m not within the NBA but. I’ve to proceed working.
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