BYU’s AJ Dybantsa declares for the 2026 NBA draft: Live updates originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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BYU basketball freshman phenom AJ Dybantsa made a big announcement on Thursday.
The 6-foot-9 wing will be entering the 2026 NBA Draft. He dropped a short video on his YouTube channel and is expected to go live on Instagram.
Dybantsa dropped a social media post saying “Tomorrow.” The caption was followed by an image reading, “Big news tomorrow. 11:45am ET. IG Live at 12:00pm ET.”
While Dybantsa has left the door open for speculation, this was the right move. The projected top pick averaged 25.3 points to lead the nation last season. Dybantsa was named to the Big 12 All-Tournament Team, All-Big 12 First Team and was named the Big 12 Freshman of the Year in his likely one-and-done season in Provo.
Tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/F2W8ly8TQX
— AJ Dybantsa (@AJ_Dybantsa) April 22, 2026
The 2026 NBA Draft is scheduled to start on June 23. The April 24th deadline for eligibility in the draft will cause many players like Dybantsa to announce their intentions. The NBA Draft Lottery takes place on May 10. Here’s a look at the 14 teams trying to secure the No. 1 pick.
Got a good workout in with the young killa AJ Dybantsa yesterday morning! Special to say the least. Keep grindin fam 🏁🏁🏁
— Isaiah Thomas (@isaiahthomas) April 22, 2026
The 14 teams that did not make the playoffs are eligible for the lottery, though two teams traded away their lottery picks. Here are the odds to get the No. 1 pick based on how each team finished the regular season, according to ESPN.
Is AJ Dybantsa a lock to Chicago? 🔒@KevinOConnor‘s latest mock draft if the lottery brings us chaos 👀
More: https://t.co/vLhoalKZCbpic.twitter.com/UeesqUGiNF
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) April 23, 2026
1. Washington Wizards: 14% chance to pick No. 1
2. Indiana Pacers: 14%
3. Brooklyn Nets: 14%
4. Utah Jazz: 11.5%
5. Sacramento Kings: 11.5%
6. Memphis Grizzlies: 8.0%
7. Atlanta Hawks (via New Orleans Pelicans): 6.8%
8. Dallas Mavericks: 6.7%
9. Chicago Bulls: 4.5%
10. Milwaukee Bucks: 3%
11. Golden State Warriors: 2%
12. Oklahoma City Thunder (via LA Clippers): 1.5%
13. Miami Heat: 1%
14. Charlotte Hornets: 0.5%
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