Brewers' Blake Perkins delivers big hit in his first Mother's Day since his mom's death
Blake Perkins delivers a big hit on Mother's Day, honoring his late mother.
AJ Dybantsa's potential move to the Utah Jazz raises concerns about NBA rigging allegations. The Jazz owner, Ryan Smith, has been a strong supporter of Dybantsa's career.
Mentioned in this story

NBA won't beat rigging allegations if AJ Dybantsa goes to Utah Jazz originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Before AJ Dybantsa made his college commitment, there was one man who was pulling hard for him to be the face of the BYU Cougars men's basketball. Utah Jazz owner Ryan Smith has been loud and proud about investing in the program and being able to bring Dybantsa to Provo.
"If they need my help, I'm going to help them," Smith told ESPN months before Dybantsa committed to the Cougars. "I owe everything to BYU and I'm not going to say no. And they know that."
Now that the generational talent is moving into the NBA, the record NIL deal Smith once helped secure for Dybantsa might have a true return on investment with a full-circle move. Utah holds the No. 2 overall pick after Sunday's 2026 NBA Draft Lottery. There's a real possibility the former BYU star might not be moving too far after all.
Given the pre-existing relationship between Smith and Dybantsa, and the tech billionaire turned sports owner backing his NIL portfolio, would it be a good look for Dybantsa to end up in Salt Lake City?
On the surface, you take the best player available. There are many who believe that Dybantsa is on almost everyone's board at the top. But make no mistake about it. If the Jazz end up landing the 6-foot-9 wing, there will be many saying the NBA Draft is "rigged." Of course, that's not a new opinion with evidence to support several claims over the years.
The rigging allegations suggest that the NBA may manipulate outcomes, particularly concerning high-profile players like AJ Dybantsa.
Ryan Smith, owner of the Utah Jazz, has publicly supported Dybantsa and previously helped secure a significant NIL deal for him.
The Utah Jazz holds the No. 2 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, increasing the likelihood of drafting AJ Dybantsa.
Dybantsa's transition to the NBA could strengthen his ties with BYU, as Ryan Smith has expressed a commitment to supporting the program.
Blake Perkins delivers a big hit on Mother's Day, honoring his late mother.
The 2026 NCAA softball tournament bracket is set! Alabama earns No. 1 seed.
Tennessee softball to face Northern Kentucky in NCAA regional opener on May 15 at 5:30 p.m. ET.
Oklahoma State softball earns No. 13 seed and will host the Stillwater Regional!
Michigan State's Spartan Stadium redevelopment set for 2029 completion.
Belmont softball set to play Southeastern Louisiana in NCAA Tournament on May 15!
See every story in Sports — including breaking news and analysis.
However, this one is new in the NIL era for college basketball. When did an NBA owner become a mega donor for a program to later turn around and draft a player he was already paying in college? This all seems to be cooked, right?
Dybantsa has maintained a close relationship with the Jazz front office since being at BYU. He was working out on Utah's practice court before the 2025-26 season. Not to mention, these pickup games were alongside Smith and Jazz CEO Danny Ainge. It's easy to evaluate a pick when he's basically in an undefined farm system for the team.
After Mark Pope left for Kentucky, Smith and Ainge have been key to rebuilding BYU.
“When (Pope) decided to go to Kentucky, Ryan and Danny were like, ‘All right, this is our chance to reboot basketball,'” a BYU source told On3. “Those two are super passionate about BYU basketball.”
If Dybantsa is there at No. 2, you can guarantee the Jazz will waste no time making him the franchise's pick of the future. Considering all he has to do is blow off one team, the Washington Wizards, who hold the No. 1 pick, this becomes more clear on what might be in the works for next month's draft.
The top three in the 2026 NBA Draft will no doubt be Dybantsa, Kansas' Darryn Peterson, and Duke's Cam Boozer. There's also consideration for UNC's Caleb Wilson and Arkansas' Darius Acuff Jr., but most analysts see this year as a three-player battle for the top pick.