AJ Dybantsa said he does not feel the pressure typically associated with being the No. 1 overall pick as he prepares for his rookie season with the Washington Wizards.
Speaking during Wizards media day on Monday, September 28, Dybantsa said the veteran talent around him has allowed him to focus on learning rather than immediately carrying a major offensive burden.
“I feel like there’s not a lot of pressure on me because I have such a great team around me,” Dybantsa said. “A lot of number one picks come into the situation where they are the guy. Everything’s kind of centered around them, but I have All-Stars and Hall of Famers on my team that I can really vet under and get some knowledge from.”
Dybantsa specifically named Anthony Davis, Trae Young, Khris Middleton and Deandre Ayton as players he can learn from as he adjusts to the NBA.
“I don’t have to come in and carry this huge load,” Dybantsa said. “I think I can just kind of bond in with these guys and learn it slowly and learn how to play the right way instead of just getting put into a situation where I have a lot on my back.”
The 19-year-old forward is the Wizards’ first No. 1 overall selection since John Wall in 2010. He averaged 25.5 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists in 35 games for BYU during the 2025-26 season, shooting 51.0% from the field, 33.1% from three-point range and 77.4% from the free-throw line.
Dybantsa said the transition to the NBA has been largely what he expected, although he has noticed differences in the pace and physicality.
“Nothing surprised me yet,” Dybantsa said. “Obviously, the obvious is the pace of the game, better players, better IQ, stronger guys, but hasn’t been too much of a surprise. Kind of expected it all.”
He also said his Summer League experience helped him return to game action after several months away from basketball.
“It was fun,” Dybantsa said. “Summer League was definitely fun. I hadn’t played basketball from Summer League. It had been months. So to get back on the court and get up and down with some guys and run some plays and win some games, it felt good.”
Dybantsa is also looking forward to playing alongside Young, whose playmaking could allow the rookie to spend more time operating away from the ball.
“For the past, my whole basketball career, I’ve been playing with the ball in my hands a lot,” Dybantsa said. “So it’d be a lot, I think, easier for me to play off the ball, get screens from guys, be a screener for guys.”
He added that Young’s passing ability should create opportunities for him and Washington’s other players.
Dybantsa also addressed the expectations of a fan base that has endured a 17-65 season and has not seen sustained playoff success in recent years. His goal is straightforward.
“A little bit of everything, but definitely, like, a lot more wins,” Dybantsa said. “We want to play competitive basketball this year. This is a season of growth, so we definitely want to add some wins to the book. And we’re here to win games.”
Dybantsa said he believes his personal goals will follow the team’s progress.
“As long as we win games, I’m gonna be alright,” he said.
