The 2026 NBA Draft is helmed by franchise-changing prospects. One of those prospects is BYU forward AJ Dybantsa, who is widely regarded as one of the best wings in the draft. He has demonstrated himself to be an elite scorer who has an exciting combination of physical tools and athleticism. Plus, Dybantsa has also shown tremendous growth over the course of the season, which shows his upside as the “star wing” every rebuilding team would like to build around. With that being said, let’s dive into an evaluation of AJ Dybantsa in this 2026 NBA Draft profile.
AJ Dybantsa 2026 NBA Draft Profile
College Career
After playing for Utah Prep in his senior year of high school, the #1 overall recruit committed to play for BYU and head coach Kevin Young. He also won gold and MVP for Team USA in the 2025 FIBA U19 Men’s World Cup in Switzerland during the summer before his college season. Standing at six-foot-nine, Dybantsa serves as the main offensive option for the Cougars, which has allowed him to be the nation’s leading scorer. Unquestionably, he has shown elite scoring prowess alongside upside as a playmaker and defender. Dybantsa has certainly impressed many with his skills and the growth he has demonstrated as a playmaker.
On the season, Dybantsa is averaging 24.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.0 steals in 34.2 minutes per game. Additionally, he is shooting 51.2% from the field, 33.9% from three, and 75.3% from the charity stripe. Dybantsa made First Team All-American, earned an All-Big 12 First Team selection, and won the Big 12 Freshman of the Year award.
Strengths
Offense
There is plenty to like in terms of Dybantsa’s offense. Unquestionably, Dybantsa has the upside to be an excellent three-level scorer on the wings. He is certainly elite as a driver, where he uses his strength, fluidity, footwork, and long strides to get past opposing players and finish at the rim. In fact, he is shooting an impressive 69.3% at the basket. With his athleticism, he can throw down monstrous dunks and also be a major threat in transition. He can use all sorts of different moves and counters, like drop-steps to free himself of defenders. Additionally, Dybantsa knows how to utilize the pick-and-roll to get downhill and attack the paint. Considering his rim pressure, Dybantsa can also consistently get to the line, averaging 8.4 free throw attempts per game.
Another important weapon in his arsenal is his mid-range game. Dybantsa is an efficient mid-range scorer, shooting 45.9% on short mid-range shots and 45.8% on long two-pointers. He is great at using his size and strength to find his spots, then shooting over his opponents. He can also create excellent mid-range shots using the pick-and-roll. Additionally, Dybantsa is capable of knocking down threes. Specifically, he can be used in various three-point situations, such as a spot-up shooter or pulling up beyond the arc. While not a consistent shooter, Dybantsa has shown upside in that area.
Playmaking is something that Dybantsa showed major improvement in throughout the season. He has demonstrated solid court vision and passing ability as a playmaker. He knows how to utilize his driving ability to collapse defenses on himself and create opportunities for his team. Dybantsa has the vision to find open teammates along the perimeter and the passing ability to make tighter reads to his big men in the paint.
Defense
At six-foot-nine, Dybantsa possesses the size, strength, and athleticism to be a great defender. He has the physical tools and quickness to be a versatile defender who can guard multiple positions. Dybantsa is certainly capable of staying in front of guards while having the size to deal with bigger wings. His size and quickness grant him great capabilities defending on the ball. Additionally, Dybantsa also possesses a long wingspan that allows him to be disruptive in the passing lanes. Furthermore, he has flashed some potential as a weakside rim protector. That wingspan also helps him on the boards as well. He has all the tools to be an elite defender, and when Dybantsa is engaged, he certainly can be the two-way wing he is advertised to be.
Weaknesses
Offense
Mar 7, 2026; Provo, Utah, USA; BYU Cougars forward AJ Dybantsa (3) dribbles the ball while being defended by Texas Tech Red Raiders guard Jaylen Petty (11) during the first half at Marriott Center. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Baker-Imagn Images
To be sure, Dybantsa is an immensely talented wing prospect who has the upside to be an elite wing scorer in the NBA. However, he does possess several holes in his offensive game. In particular, one concern with Dybantsa is his three-point shot. While he has demonstrated major shot versatility in terms of his three-point shot, he hasn’t found consistency in his shooting. . Also, he can settle for tough mid-range shots at times, instead of putting his head down to drive.
Another area that Dybantsa should look to improve is his ball-handling. He can be turnover-prone on his drives, with his turnovers per game sitting at 2.9. His handle can be bothered on those drives against great point-of-attack defense. Speaking of defenses affecting him, Dybantsa can struggle to gain separation from opposing defenders due to his handle. Dybantsa can also be a bit slow in moving the ball to the open man.
Defense
Despite his amazing combination of physical tools and athleticism, Dybantsa does have issues on the defensive end. The clearest concern with Dybantsa’s defense is his relatively poor defensive playmaking. Specifically, Dybantsa isn’t a great shot blocker despite his athletic abilities and physical tools. While he averages a steal per game, he isn’t as impactful as a defensive playmaker as one would expect from a wing like him. However, one major concern with Dybantsa’s defense is simply the lack of engagement he demonstrates at times. He can struggle to fight over screens or stick to his man, mainly due to low effort. To be sure, Dybantsa has everything he needs to be a great defender and has shown flashes of that potential. However, he must improve his defensive playmaking and be more engaged on the defensive end. If he can do that, his two-way potential would be very real.
NBA Comparison
In terms of NBA comparison for Dybantsa, two specific names come to mind. The first is Boston Celtics wing, Jaylen Brown. The second is Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero. Dybantsa shares similarities with Brown as a perimeter creator who provides great rim pressure on the wing. Furthermore, Dybantsa also has similar weaknesses to Brown as they both are not the most consistent three-point shooters, and they both have problems with their handles. As for the Banchero comparison, both players love operating in the post to get to their preferred spots and knock down mid-range fadeaways over opponents. They utilize their strength and size to outmuscle opposing players. Additionally, Banchero and Dybantsa also share issues with their three-point shots and defensive concerns despite their athletic profiles.
2026 NBA Draft Projection
Featured Image: Ben Queen-Imagn Images