AJ Dybantsa goes viral on social media for reaction to Wizards winning NBA Draft lottery

AJ Dybantsa goes viral on social media for reaction to Wizards winning NBA Draft lottery originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The odds weren’t in the Washington Wizards’ favor heading into the 2026 NBA Draft lottery.

The rebuilding Eastern Conference organization only boasted a 14% chance of landing the No. 1 overall pick, but it surprisingly landed the top selection. One of the primary storylines of the event was BYU star AJ Dybantsa's reaction to the Wizards winning the draft lottery.

Essentially, Dybantsa, who was in attendance and is the consensus No. 1 pick in this year’s draft, didn’t show any emotion upon finding out the news. Some interpreted Dybantsa’s stoned-faced reaction as the 19-year-old's determination to start his career in Washington and change the narrative surrounding the subpar franchise.

However, others immediately claimed that Dybantsa was sick to his stomach, realizing he likely wouldn’t get his ultimate wish: getting drafted by the Utah Jazz. Dybanstsa spent his final high school season with Utah prep and one season with BYU, making it clear that there’s a clear connection between the NCAA scoring champion and Utah that can’t go unnoticed.

If Dybantsa truly wants the Jazz to draft him next month, he’ll appreciate the that the Wizards will consider trading down, leaving the door open for the Jazz to swap picks with Washington.